Rocky Mountain TCM
Acupuncture · TCM Dermatology
Siddha Varma Therapy
Rocky Mountain TCM
Acupuncture · TCM Dermatology
Siddha Varma Therapy
Specialized Chinese Medical Dermatology for chronic perioral dermatitis
Perioral Dermatitis Deserves More Than Another Round of
Trial and Error.
Recurring bumps, burning, redness, and sensitivity around your mouth or nose can be frustrating—especially when products that seem helpful at first leave you flaring again. Explore an individualized Chinese Medical Dermatology approach that begins with your history, triggers, and specific presentation.
Recognizing perioral dermatitis
Recurring facial irritation is not always acne or rosacea.
Perioral dermatitis often presents as clusters of small red or skin-colored papules around the mouth, nose, or eyes, sometimes with burning, tightness, dryness, or scaling. The skin immediately next to the lip border is often spared.
Perioral Papules
Small, recurring inflammatory bumps around the mouth and chin.
Redness and tenderness
Dryness or fine scaling
Often spares the vermilion border
Perinasal Dermatitis
Inflammation extending around the sides of the nose and nasolabial folds.
Red papules
Stinging or sensitivity
Recurring localized flares
Periocular Dermatitis
Similar eruptions around the eyes require careful assessment and differentiation.
Small papules around eyelids
Burning or dryness
Delicate skin considerations
Steroid-Associated Flares
Facial corticosteroids can trigger or aggravate periorificial dermatitis, with rebound flaring after withdrawal.
Prior topical steroid exposure
Repeated cycles of improvement and recurrence
Review of medication history
Barrier & Product Sensitivity
Heavy occlusive products, cosmetics, and irritating skincare may worsen symptoms in some individuals.
Burning with products
Overlapping dryness and irritation
Review of topical routines
Conditions to Differentiate
Acne, rosacea, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and infection can resemble perioral dermatitis.
Distribution and lesion type
Exposure and medication history
Appropriate medical evaluation
Is this approach right for you?
For people who are tired of recurring facial flares and product trial and error.
You may be a good fit if you have persistent papules, burning, dryness, steroid-associated recurrence, or sensitivity around your mouth, nose, or eyes. We emphasize individualized assessment, realistic expectations, and ongoing reassessment.
Chinese Medical Dermatology
How Chinese Medicine differentiates perioral dermatitis.
Chinese Medicine evaluates the appearance, color, moisture, distribution, sensations, and recurrence of the eruption alongside digestion, temperature, sleep, and other symptoms. The following are traditional pattern frameworks, not biomedical diagnoses;
they are not assigned solely from a photograph.
01 / HEAT
Stomach Heat
Considered when redness and inflammatory papules cluster around the mouth, with additional signs of heat helping establish the overall pattern.
02 / HEAT
Damp-Heat
May be considered when inflamed papules occur with oiliness, pustulation, or other signs of dampness and heat.
03 / HEAT
Blood Heat
May be differentiated in prominently red, reactive eruptions, interpreted with the full constitutional picture.
04 / DRYNESS
Blood or Yin Deficiency with Dryness
Considered when dryness, tightness, and chronic irritation coexist with broader signs of deficiency.
05 / CONSTRAINT
Liver Qi Constraint with Heat
A possible framework when stress-associated fluctuations accompany signs of constrained heat; stress alone does not establish this pattern.
06 / MIXED PATTERN
Heat with Barrier Irritation
Some presentations combine inflammatory heat signs with marked surface dryness and sensitivity, requiring a more nuanced formula strategy.
The Rocky Mountain TCM approach
Individualized care for recurring perioral dermatitis.
Chinese Medical Dermatology combines careful lesion assessment and traditional pattern differentiation with a review of medications, skincare exposures, and the history of your flares.
01
Understand your history
We review when the eruption began, where it spreads, steroid exposure, cosmetics, oral and topical products, symptoms, and previous treatments.
02
Differentiate your pattern
We evaluate redness, papules, dryness, burning, and accompanying signs to identify a Chinese Medicine pattern and consider individualized herbal options.
03
Monitor and adjust
We track changes in flare frequency, skin sensitivity, and inflammation and refine the care plan as your presentation evolves.
01
Understand the pattern
We organize the full history, flare behavior, digestion, sleep, stress, medications, topicals, and treatment response.
02
Differentiate the root
Your case is evaluated through Chinese Medicine pattern differentiation rather than a diagnosis-only protocol.
03
Build the strategy
Recommendations may include herbs, nutrition, topical care, acupuncture, lifestyle changes, or functional testing.
01
Understand the pattern
We organize the full history, flare behavior, digestion, sleep, stress, medications, topicals, and treatment response.
02
Differentiate the root
Your case is evaluated through Chinese Medicine pattern differentiation rather than a diagnosis-only protocol.
03
Build the strategy
Recommendations may include herbs, nutrition, topical care, acupuncture, lifestyle changes, or functional testing.
A clearer path forward
The goal: calmer, more comfortable facial skin.
We work toward reducing recurring inflammatory papules, redness, burning, and sensitivity while identifying potential aggravating exposures. Responses vary, and no specific outcome is guaranteed.
PATIENT STORIES
Real patient experiences. Not generic success stories.
Your consultation process
Know what happens before and after the discovery call.
STEP 01
Schedule a discovery call
Talk about your perioral dermatitis history, previous treatments, and whether our approach may be appropriate.
STEP 02
Complete your intake
If you proceed, share photographs, medications, skincare and medication history when relevant, and other clinical details.
STEP 03
Differentiate your pattern
We evaluate your lesions and broader symptoms using Chinese Medical Dermatology alongside relevant modern medical history.
STEP 04
Begin individualized care
Discuss a tailored treatment direction, how changes will be tracked, and when your formula or strategy may need adjusting.
STEP 01
Reserve your appointment
Select the consultation, complete
payment, and choose an available time.
STEP 02
Complete your intake
Share your eczema history, treatments,
diet, medications, labs, symptoms, and
major concerns.
STEP 03
Review the full pattern
We examine your case through Chinese
Medicine and an integrative clinical
framework.
STEP 04
Receive your direction
You leave with an explanation of the
likely pattern and the most appropriate
next steps.
YOUR PRACTITIONER
Seth Drake, L.Ac., MSOM
Licensed Acupuncturist
18+ Yrs Experience
Board Certified
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Integrative Dermatology
Chinese Medical Dermatology
Functional Medicine Dermatology
Seth Drake has more than 18 years of experience in Classical Nei Jing Style Acupuncture and Chinese Medical Dermatology. His clinical work brings together Traditional Chinese Medical Dermatology, Chinese herbal dermatology, nutrition, functional testing, and individualized lifestyle guidance.
His practice is built for patients with chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune, dermatological, and difficult-to-resolve conditions who need a broader, more organized clinical approach.
“The goal is not simply to suppress symptoms. It is to understand the pattern well enough to help the body move toward greater stability.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs about perioral
dermatitis care.
Understand the condition, your options, and what an individualized consultation involves.
Is perioral dermatitis the same as acne?
No. Although both can cause facial papules, perioral dermatitis typically affects the skin around the mouth, nose, or eyes and often involves burning, dryness, and sensitivity rather than comedones.
Can topical steroids make perioral dermatitis worse?
Yes. Topical corticosteroids on the face are a recognized trigger and can cause rebound flares. Medication changes should be discussed with the prescribing clinician.
How does Chinese Medicine approach perioral dermatitis?
A practitioner differentiates traditional patterns using the skin presentation and broader symptoms, then considers individualized herbal and supportive strategies. Evidence for Chinese herbal treatment specifically for perioral dermatitis remains limited.
Do I need functional laboratory testing?
Not routinely. Any testing is considered only when the history and clinical findings suggest a specific reason.
How long does treatment take?
The course varies depending on severity, duration, triggers, previous steroid exposure, and response. No specific clearance timeline can be guaranteed.
What happens during the discovery call?
We discuss your history, previous treatments, current symptoms, and whether a full individualized consultation may be appropriate.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Let’s talk about your perioral dermatitis. Not sell you another product.
Tell us about your facial symptoms, what you have tried, any steroid or product exposure, and what you hope to change. We will explain our assessment process and whether working together makes sense. There is no obligation to begin treatment.
A conversation about your skin history
An introduction to our clinical approach
An opportunity to discuss whether we are a fit
You know your perioral dermatitis history. Let’s explore a more individualized approach.
Start with a conversation.
If deep, recurring flares are affecting your comfort and confidence, start with a conversation about your experience and what a personalized care plan could involve.
Rocky Mountain TCM
Classical Chinese medicine for the treatment and management of chronic and resistant inflammatory conditions. Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and evidence-informed functional medicine.
Explore
Home
About the Clinic
Conditions
Acupuncture
Siddha Varma Therapy
Testimonials
Contact
DERMATOLOGY
Eczema
Psoriasis
Rosacea
Perioral Dermatitis
Functional Medicine
Cystic Acne
Rheumatoid Arthritis
CLINIC INFORMATION
@2026 Rocky Mountain TCM | All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use