Am Fam Physician. 2002;66(3):479-480
A 56-year-old woman presented to the dermatology clinic with a six-month history of erythematous papules around the mouth (see the accompanying figure). A physician had prescribed a topical steroid cream for this eruption three months ago with initial improvement in the rash. The patient had continued to use the steroid cream until two weeks before this appointment. The erythematous papules never resolved during treatment and quickly worsened after stopping the topical steroid.
Question
Discussion
The answer is A: perioral dermatitis. This patient’s condition was exacerbated by prolonged topical steroid use, and rebound with discontinuation of the topical steroid is typical. Perioral dermatitis is a facial dermatosis most often affecting women. It is characterized by erythematous papules classically located at the nasolabial folds, chin, and upper lip with sparing of the vermilion border.1
The superimposed steroid withdrawal is a common problem seen in the clinic. Whenever the patient stops treatment, a rash flare results, usually worse than the initial rash. The patient then restarts the topical steroid not knowing it is perpetuating the problem. Discontinuance of the topical steroid is essential for successful treatment, and patients should be advised that a short flare of the rash may result, before improvement.4 Oral antibiotics (tetracycline) or topical antibiotics (metronidazole) are typically used to facilitate clearance of the rash. This patient improved rapidly on tetracycline, 250 mg orally once daily, and the rash resolved in six weeks.
Acne often affects the perioral area, but will typically have a generalized distribution on the face, back, forehead, and chin. Acne is usually most active at younger ages.
Lichen planus often presents with the sudden onset of a localized papular rash that initially responds to topical steroids. Pruritus is usually seen. White lacy lines (Wickham’s striae) on the buccal mucosa or on moistened lesions are diagnostic.
Dermatomyositis usually presents as a periorbital, confluent, macular, violaceous erythema (heliotrope rash). Muscle pain and weakness are signs of more serious disease.
Seborrheic dermatitis causes scaly erythematous skin lesions most often found in nasolabial folds and eyebrow areas. Dandruff of the scalp and flaking skin in the auditory canals are also common.