Address of Corresponding Author

Dermatology 2005;210:300-307 (DOI: 10.1159/000084754)

  Key Words

• Erythromycin
• Evidence-based medicine
• Metronidazole
• Perioral dermatitis
• Tetracycline

  Abstract

Background: Presently, problems exist with the rationale of oral therapy and the nature and indication of topical and accompanying treatment of perioral dermatitis. Objective: Providing the basis to overcome these problems by a quality evaluation of treatment reports and assessment of the consistency of treatment experience. Methods: Sources were Medline (1964-2004), Embase (1966-2004), the Cochrane Central (1971-2004) and 526 ref erences of 3 textbooks, 2 recent reviews and 30 papers on perioral dermatitis. Thirty English and German articles were selected. These studies were evaluated according to principles of evidence-based medicine and related criteria. Evaluation of 28 papers was carried out by the authors and of our own 2 papers by 2 other reviewers. Consistency of results was qualitatively assessed by the authors. Results: There wereonly 2 therapeutic trials of medium-range quality. The other studies were of low quality. Consistency was noted concerning treatment with oral tetracycline (with 1 exception), discontinuation of topical corticosteroids and cosmetics and, to a lesser extent, regarding no therapy. There was inconsistency in respect to topical therapy. Conclusion: The presented data help to interpret and conduct studies on the treatment of perioral dermatitis.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Klaus Weber
Eichgrabenstrasse 17
DE-82340 Feldafing (Germany)
Tel. +49 8157 7112, Fax +49 8157 922995
E-Mail Dr.KlausWeber@t-online.de

  Article Information

Received: May 21, 2004
Accepted: November 5, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 40