Outside of masks keeping me covid-free so far, this summer they played double duty. In June, I was diagnosed with Perioral Dermatitis (PD) which is a stubborn rash around the nose, mouth, and eyes. Dermatologists don’t understand the cause of PD but have theories and my doctor and I believe it was fluoridated toothpaste that started my rash. The condition is basically a breakdown of the skin’s barrier, irritated by nearly everything – topical, environments, even food, has no known cure, and as such – is extremely hard to clear. Wearing a mask allowed me to control the environment, kept UV rays off my face without using potentially irritating sunscreen, and heal in private. I tried a myriad of RX and OTC products aimed at calming the skin with no success. So after a few months I finally gave in and tried an oral antibiotic that has been known to (but doesn’t always) decrease inflammation in the body enough to let the skin begin healing. I asked for a low dose so that it wouldn’t disrupt my gut flora, and while on this for two months I was told to not use anything on my face. For the first month I followed directions, but I’m accustomed to sensitive skin issues being the delicate flower I am, plus I believe in products. So I found the zero product rule equal parts difficult and questionable. I figured if I could just find the right product, introduce it sparingly, and at the right time it would support the skin’s healing.
The first product I found that was Biossance’s Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream $54. Biossance’s entire line is free of parabens, fragrance, and SLS (all known irritants) and plant-derived squalane mimics body’s natural hydrating oils, so I felt safe enough to try it. When I saw it working, it wasn’t long before I was using it all over my face. As eye creams generally come in tiny jars- I had to find another product I could use. Biossance’s Squalane + Omega Repair Cream $58 was heaven sent! After two months, I slowly tapered off the antibiotic and started Organic Olivia’s Parapro $70 to rebalance my microbiome and heal from the inside. On the outside, I kept using the Biossance formulas along with The Ordinary’s 100% Plant-Derived Squalane $8, which I used as a base layer before the creams or alone on really warm days. I still see some redness and bumps try to emerge from time to time, but I now feel confident to manage. So for anyone ever afflicted with this annoying rash- there is actually more to this story but for the sake of brevity just reach out. For those who never have to deal with PD but are just looking for a clean, ethical, sustainable skincare line that is gentle enough for delicate skin- I can’t recommend Biossance enough. The final silver lining of this pandemic and mask-wearing is that while if you’ve taken mask wearing seriously – we’ve lost a lot of UV aging! So when this is all over, we’ll look the same as when it started. Hooray?
