But rest assured, there are many things you can do at home to hydrate thirsty skin around the mouth and prevent it from coming back again and again. To follow, the 101 on dry skin around the mouth and when you should see a derm. “The skin around the mouth is thinner and therefore more prone to redness or irritation than the rest of the face,” medical esthetician and founder of JTAV Clinical Skincare Joie Tavernise tells mbg. However, if you’re experiencing occasional dry and flaky patches, irritation, or tiny red bumps, there’s more going on behind the scenes. To follow, a few of the most common causes. However, in more severe cases, the skin can become so dry it may even bleed or become infected. But what causes perioral dermatitis? “The truth is, perioral dermatitis is a symptom that arises from a fluctuating set of circumstances unique to each patient, just as fever can be a symptom of numerous diseases,” skin care expert and founder of clean skin care brand Osmia Sarah Villafranco, M.D., once said. However, there are a few specific causes that are more common, including: What’s more, when you have a cold or the flu, your skin barrier is likely going to be compromised due to dehydration, “Making it more susceptible to environmental aggressors and irritants,” Tavernise explains. “Once the skin barrier is compromised from allergies or sickness, you are more likely to experience dry skin. This is especially true if you are blowing your nose and wiping your nose and mouth more than usual,” she adds. Dry skin around the mouth can also be from kissing, or what’s more often called “beard burn.” See, when you kiss someone, especially if that person has facial hair, your skin is naturally going to be exfoliated by the hair and friction. This could look like redness, flaky skin, and overall sensitivity. When the skin is overexfoliated, the barrier can be compromised. You can read more about treatments and tips for beard burn here. “I suggest using a serum that contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid under an occlusive moisturizer daily to help seal hydration (water) and moisture (oil) into the skin,” Tavernise notes. Ceramides are essential for mending dry skin. In fact, this clinical review1 analyzed 41 different studies on ceramides and found the use of topical synthetic ceramides effective at increasing water retention, restoring barrier function, and even improving the skin barrier in patients with atopic dermatitis. To sum up: Start with a hyaluronic acid serum, then follow up with a ceramide cream and a nourishing face oil. If you’re going to be outside, top it off with a trusty SPF. Be sure to drink 11 to 15 cups of water a day. If you’re already doing so, add a hyaluronic acid supplement to your routine for an extra boost—here are our top picks for the latter. Here are a few more soothing ingredients to prioritize: If your dry skin won’t budge with the protocol above, you should visit a dermatologist to get professional help and advice. Once there, they may even prescribe you a topical cream that will help nip the dryness in the bud ASAP. If you notice that environmental factors are causing your skin to peel, then try your best to cover that area of the face with a mask or scarf when you go outside, and always wear SPF. Allergies can be a difficult thing to prevent, so check with your dermatologist or another medical professional to get a handle on what may be causing your skin to dry out. As for topical ingredients, lay off the harsh exfoliators and retinol—even if it’s just in that area. For some people, sensitive areas like around the mouth and under the eyes are particularly prone to negative reactions from these products. If this is the case, apply an occlusive moisturizer like a botanical oil balm before using these actives on the rest of your face. This will help minimize the exposure and prevent the product from migrating to your mouth area.
