Perioral dermatitis is a rash that forms around the mouth, often causing a burning feeling. It typically occurs in women. The cause is not known, but the use of steroid creams for other conditions might play a part.
Typical costs:
For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of doctor visit copays, prescription drug copays of $5-$50 or more, or coinsurance of 10%-50%. However, certain medications might not be covered in some cases. For example, an Aetna clinical policy bulletin states that the brand-name antibiotic Oracea is only covered for patients with a documented diagnosis of rosacea.
For patients not covered by health insurance, treatment for perioral dermatitis typically costs about $50-$500 or more for topical treatments, depending on the drug and the amount used. For example, Drugstore.com charges about $35 for a tube of sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur antibiotic and skin-drying lotion. It charges about $45 for a bottle of clindamycin phosphate antibiotic lotion. It charges about $150-$300 for a tube, depending on size and strength, of the immunosuppressant ointment Protopic. Drugstore.com charges about $175 for a tube of metronidazole anti-protozoal and antibacterial cream.
And treatment for perioral dermatitis with an oral antibiotic typically costs from less than $20 to about $50 -- but can cost almost $900 for the brand-name antibiotic Oracea. For example, Drugstore.com charges about $18 for a two-month course of the oral antibiotic tetracycline. It charges about $50 for a two-month course of the oral antibiotic minocycline. And it charges about $860 for a two-month course of Oracea, a brand-name, sustained release doxycycline antibiotic formulated for rosacea, but also sometimes used for perioral dermatitis.
Perioral dermatitis typically is diagnosed by visual examination. If the patient is using a topical steroid product for another condition, the doctor likely will recommend it be stopped.
For very mild cases, the doctor often will prescribe a topical antibacterial lotion, cream or ointment, such as sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur[1] , clindamycin phosphate[2] , or metronidazole[3] , to be applied once or twice daily for two months or longer.
For moderate to severe cases, the doctor might prescribe an oral antibiotic, usually tetracycline[4] , doxycycline[5] or minocycline[6] , typically for two months or longer.
PubMed Health has an overview of perioral dermatitis[7] .
Additional costs:
It is recommended to wear sunscreen for sensitive skin with SPF 30 or higher to help protect skin.
It typically is recommended to use facial cleanser and moisturizer formulated for sensitive skin.
Discounts:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a locator[8] for clinics with sliding fee scales based on income.
Some drug manufacturers offer patient assistance programs. Any patient without prescription drug coverage who is not eligible for Medicare typically qualifies for Together Rx Access[9] , a discount card that offers 25%-40% off many brand-name drugs.
Shopping for perioral dermatitis treatment:
A dermatologist should diagnose and treat perioral dermatitis. The American Academy of Dermatology offers a dermatologist locator[10] .
WebMD offers a guide[11] to care of sensitive skin.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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