Because perioral dermatitis frequently reacts to what's applied to it. Rich creams, occlusive balms and active ingredients are all commonly associated with flares, so loading the skin during a treatment risks setting you back. The work is done through body acupuncture and the underlying pattern instead, with only selected facial points where they're clinically appropriate.

That decision belongs with whoever prescribed it. Stopping topical steroids can be uncomfortable and is best done with your prescriber's guidance, not on our advice. Bring the details to your assessment so treatment can be planned around where you are in that process.

This is worth discussing rather than ruling in or out. Bring what you use, or photograph the labels. Some formulations sit better than others on skin that's flaring, and the point of the assessment is to work out which of the things on your face may be contributing — not to strip everything away at once.

Only where it's clinically appropriate, and never into inflamed or broken skin. Most of the treatment is done through body points away from your face. Facial acupuncture is selective on this condition rather than routine.

The three can look similar around the mid-face, but they're handled differently. Rosacea and acne treatments include more direct facial work; perioral dermatitis is treated with deliberately less, because product and occlusion are so often part of the picture. The Chinese medicine pattern behind each is also assessed separately, which is why they aren't offered as one treatment.

Sixty minutes, beginning with a full Chinese medicine consultation and pattern diagnosis, and a review of everything currently going on your skin. Treatment may then include individualised body acupuncture, selected facial acupuncture where clinically appropriate, and LED light therapy. Chinese herbs are prescribed to your individual pattern where appropriate, following traditional use.