10. Intermittent Redness: The Come-and-Go Phenomenon
So here we are, at the last symptom on the list, but this one comes with a twist—it doesn’t stick around. You’ll be going about your day, perhaps even enjoying a rare moment of minimal discomfort, and then out of the blue, parts of your skin flush into an alarming shade of red. And just as quickly as they appeared, the flushed areas revert to their normal color, as if playing a cruel joke on you.
The catch? This intermittent redness often occurs when you least expect it. You could be calmly reading a book, and then suddenly, it’s as if someone slapped your skin from the inside. The sensation itself can vary; sometimes it’s just visual, and at other times it’s accompanied by a fleeting warmth, almost like a blush, but far less endearing.
And here’s where it becomes tricky: this intermittent redness is a bit like a chameleon, often blending in with other symptoms. You could mistake it for the herald of a new flare-up or another stinging episode. But it’s a separate entity, a lone ranger making guest appearances in the grand drama of perioral dermatitis.
What’s even more puzzling? Unlike other symptoms that may worsen due to triggers like spicy foods or stress, this one seems to have a mind of its own. It comes and goes without any discernable pattern, adding an element of surprise and unpredictability to your already perplexing condition. (10)
