Perioral Dermatitis

Male, age 32.  Healthy.

Several weeks ago I had a small rash on my chin.  I had some betamethasone cream which was working well to clear up eczema on my arm so I started slopping it onto my chin.  Sure enough it worked great!  Rash was gone in three days.  I stopped the ointment last week and boom! my entire chin is rough and red with flaky skin and some irritation.  The dermatologist says perioral dermatitis from the steroid cream.  He prescribed six weeks of tetracycline and an antibiotic cream twice a day.

My questions:

1. Is there anything I can use to reduce the redness until the antibiotics take over?  It makes one VERY self-concious.
2.  Is this an appropriate treatment and how long should I expect before it starts to clear. (After three days of the antibiotics, the bumpiness is gone and the skin is less irritated, but no less red)
3.  Can I use any moisturizer to reduce irritation?
4.  I am using Aveeno Moisturizing cleanser bar to wash my face now, is that OK?

Thanks, Dave.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

1.  Makeup would help, or perhaps a coverup at the drugstore, but the redness should all go.
2. Yes, the treatment is quite correct.  Most people start to get better in 2-3 weeks, but the steroid treatment may delay improvement a bit.
3. Yes, any one will do.
4. Yes, that's fine.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff