A 32-year-old male presents with clusters of small bumps around his mouth and chin. He reports they sometimes become red and filled with pus. He recently started using a corticosteroid cream for a rash on his face. What could be the potential cause, and what would be the treatment plan?
This patient's presentation is indicative of perioral dermatitis, a type of acneiform eruption. Perioral dermatitis can be triggered by the use of topical corticosteroids, as in this case. The first step in treatment is to discontinue the corticosteroid cream. If the rash persists after this, topical treatments such as metronidazole or azelaic acid, or oral antibiotics such as tetracyclines, can be effective.