The Stress-Skin Connection: Understanding the Causes of Perioral Dermatitis
Imagine waking up, going to the mirror, and seeing a red, bumpy, angry rash wrapped around your mouth.
It’s not quite acne. It’s not quite eczema. It’s not quite anything people seem to understand.
It burns when you wash it. It flakes when you don’t. It feels dry, tight, and irritated.
You try to cover it up, but makeup exaggerates the dryness. You try to moisturize, but even the “gentle” products sting. You stop using products altogether, then stress because now your skin feels raw and exposed. Nothing works. In fact, everything seems to make it worse.
When you turn to Google for answers, you’re met with 50 conflicting opinions — from steroid creams to quitting toothpaste.
Then there’s the mental toll:
Feeling like your skin is unpredictable and out of control
Canceling plans because your confidence has taken a hit
Wondering what food, product, or thought might have triggered it this time
You start second-guessing everything. Was it the new cleanser? The stress from work? That one glass of wine?
Perioral dermatitis flares don’t just show up on your skin — they show up in your self-esteem, your routine, your energy, your social life. It’s not “just a rash.” It’s a recurring reminder that your body is sensitive, reactive, and asking for something more than surface-level fixes.
If you’re dealing with this you’re not crazy, you’re not vain, and you’re definitely not alone.
Perioral dermatitis is frustrating, but it’s also something you can get to the root cause of — with time, support, and a real understanding of what your body is trying to communicate. In the NUU GLO Skin Renewal Program we take a look at the three types of stress that are causing your perioral dermatitis; chemical, physical, and emotional.
Let’s break it down.
CHEMICAL STRESS refers to the chemicals we are exposed to in our environment, either externally or internally. These chemicals interfere with normal biological processes, damage cellular structures, and trigger immune responses.
Examples:
Car exhaust
Water pollution
Pesticides
Heavy metals
Medications (steroids, birth control, asthma inhaler)
Hormone Disrupting Chemicals (parabens, phthalates, BPAs, phytoestrogens)
Skincare products
Smoking
Radiation (cell phone, X-rays, flights)
PHYSICAL STRESS refers to the strain on one’s body from physical demands which disrupts homeostasis in the body.
Examples:
Diet (too many processed foods, nutritional deficiencies)
Exercise (lack of, high intensity workouts)
Sleep
EMOTIONAL STRESS refers to the psychological strain and discomfort that results from overwhelming negative emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, worry, or frustration.
Examples:
Relationships
Finances
Trauma
Work
Your body reacts to these stressors like it’s under attack, which can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and in the case of skin — irritation, breakouts, and chronic conditions like perioral dermatitis. If you’re starting to see the connection between stress and your skin, you’re on the right track. Perioral dermatitis is your body’s way of asking for deeper support, not just another cream. Healing begins when we stop treating symptoms in isolation and start looking at the whole picture — including the gut, hormones, nervous system, and lifestyle.
If you're ready to get to the root cause of your perioral dermatitis and break free from the flare-up cycle, I’d love to support you.