My little girl is 3 years old. 10 days ago I noticed what appeared to be a dry spot by the corner of her mouth. Last night it turned into a red rash spot that seems to be getting bigger. When I wash her face she complains that it hurts her. She isn't scratching or touching it or complaining of itching. Is this a form of impetigo? Or and allergy and what can I apply to make it go away?
If it were just in the corner of your mouth, it might be a yeast infection called angular stomatitis. (Nothing serious--you would just apply a cream like over-the-counter clotrimazole 1% for a week or two.)
On the other hand, if it affects the crease between the nose and the cheek, then most likely your dermatologist was correct to diagnose perioral dermatitis. For this Noritate (metronidazole) is appropriate, but treatment can take several weeks. You might want to ask your skin doctor about adding oral antibiotics like doxycycline for a few weeks. This speeds the process considerably.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff