Hailey Bieber is known for “glazed donut” skin—dewy, poreless, and blemish-free. But as it turns out, she’s just as susceptible to skin issues as the rest of us. This week, while in Europe with husband Justin Bieber to celebrate the release of his new album Swag, the Rhode founder took to her Instagram Story to share a close-up of her skin, saying that she was experiencing a “perioral dermatitis flare.”
For the uninitiated, perioral dermatitis is a rash. “Think of perioral dermatitis as if acne and eczema had a baby—tiny red bumps like acne, paired with an itchy, rash-y vibe like eczema,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a dermatologist in Connecticut. “Despite the name, it doesn’t just show up around your mouth—it can sneak up around the nose, eyes, or even the chin.” In the photo Bieber shared, it looks like her perioral dermatitis is mainly visible on her chin and around her mouth.
“It always flares when I’m traveling a lot, sleep deprived, hormones, the wrong SPF, new products, stress,” she wrote. It makes sense—perioral dermatitis is an extremely common skin condition.
According to Gohara, this rash can be brought on by common everyday products.
“It’s often triggered by too much of a good thing: heavy moisturizers, topical steroids, fluoride toothpaste, essential oils, or overuse of skincare actives like retinoids,” she says. “Hormonal changes and stress can also stir the pot.”
Gohara says that if you’re experiencing a perioral dermatitis flare, your new mantra should be less is more. “Think gentle cleanser, bland moisturizer, and no steroid creams,” she says. “Dermatologists may prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic to help calm things down.”
Bieber’s pared-down perioral dermatitis skin care routine is perfect for helping calm irritation. When she’s experiencing a bout, she keeps things “so minimal.” To combat the condition, she forgoes cleanser altogether and instead rinses her face with water, then uses a prescription azelaic acid, hypochlorous acid, clindamycin (an antibiotic), and (naturally) Rhode Glazing Milk. Below, a more detailed look at the two over-the-counter products Bieber uses to help get her skin back to baseline.
