Perioral dermatitis is a very frustrating condition to deal with. Luckily, you can lessen its symptoms by following an elimination diet. Here are top 5 foods to avoid with perioral dermatitis. 

Perioral dermatitis (PD) is a skin condition where a rash develops around the mouth. It is often confused with acne or eczema because it is characterized by small, red, pus-filled bumps that may peel.

Although it primarily affects the mouth region, it can also affect the skin around the nose, cheeks and eyes. 

One of the sure-fire ways to reduce perioral dermatitis and get rid of it forever is by changing your diet to eliminate some foods that aggravate it. In this article, let’s see the list of top foods to avoid with perioral dermatitis:

 5 Foods to Avoid with Perioral Dermatitis 

1.   Spicy Foods 

One of the worst foods to avoid with perioral dermatitis is spicy foods. This is because spicy foods are hot and can cause burning sensations in and around the mouth area when consumed. 

Hot spices can make your symptoms much worse by causing the area to become more inflamed, red and rash-filled. Cinnamon, cloves, chili, ginger and other hot spices should be avoided because they trigger the already existing lesions.

2.   Citrus Fruits 

Citrus fruits are another culprit that exacerbate perioral dermatitis. They include oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, grapefruit, strawberries and even tomatoes, which is not exactly a citrus fruit but contains some vitamin C. 

Avoid eating citrus fruits and also juices containing them to keep your perioral dermatitis under control.

3.   Alcohol 

You must stay away from alcohol consumption when you suffer from perioral dermatitis. It causes inflammation in the body, which worsens redness, lesions and wounds associated with perioral dermatitis. 

Alcohol also causes acidity in the body which throws the internal pH of the body out of balance. An acidic environment inside the body aggravates inflammatory skin conditions including perioral dermatitis.

4.   Caffeine 

Consuming too much caffeine especially coffee and black tea should be avoided by perioral dermatitis sufferers. This is because caffeine in high amounts induces inflammation in the body which contributes to inflammation around the mouth in perioral dermatitis sufferers. 

Replace caffeinated beverages for non-caffeinated ones. Instead of tea or coffee, you can take water and herbal teas such as green tea. 

5.   Gluten 

Last but not least on this list of foods to avoid with perioral dermatitis is gluten. Gluten containing foods such as wheat may be avoided by those who suffer from severe perioral dermatitis. This is because too much gluten can cause digestive troubles such as constipation that induce perioral dermatitis. 

Must-Reads:

• 12 Best Foods to Eat with Perioral Dermatitis