Perioral dermatitis: etiology and treatment.

Ninety-five patients with perioral dermatitis were studied from an epidemiological aspect. Consistent clearing of the eruption was obtained with oral tetracycline in combination with a topical sodium sulfacetamide-sulfur-hydro-cortisone lotion. Comparison of the study group of patients to a group of 50 control patients revealed highly significant quantitative differences in the cosmetic preparations used by the two groups. This latter finding would suggest that lubricating and moisturizing products play some part in the etiology of perioral dermatitis.