6. Excessive Dryness: When Your Skin Turns into a Desert
Ah, dryness! But don’t think this is the everyday dryness you combat with a bit of moisturizer. No, this is next-level aridness. It’s like your skin has turned into the Sahara, and no oasis is in sight. Now, this may contradict the idea of pustules or bumps, but hey, perioral dermatitis is full of surprises.
Let’s delve into the visuals. Your skin starts to look like cracked earth, each line representing a cry for hydration. But don’t be fooled; slathering on moisturizer won’t fix this. In fact, it could worsen the condition. It’s not about external hydration but rather an internal imbalance that’s causing your skin to lose moisture at an alarming rate.
Switching lanes, have you ever wondered why this happens? Well, one theory points to an impaired skin barrier. Your skin acts as a shield against environmental aggressors, and when this barrier is compromised, it can lead to excessive dryness. It’s like having a fortress with a broken wall; all sorts of issues can waltz right in.
Diving deeper, this dryness doesn’t play fair. It particularly targets the areas where the other symptoms have appeared, as if teaming up to make those areas even more uncomfortable. Imagine already irritated skin turning painfully dry; it’s like adding salt to a wound, except this salt is invisible and can’t be washed off. (6)
