[Statistical studies and results of treatment of patients with perioral dermatitis].

279 patients suffering from perioral rosaceiform dermatitis have been treated during the past 5 years. With the exception of two men and one five-year-old girl, all patients were female adults, mostly in their thirties. Skin eruptions had been present for 1--2 years in 73% of the cases. Two third of the patients had been treated locally with corticosteroids and one tenth of this group had previously undergone systemic therapy. In 22,2% of the patients, typical signs of local corticosteroid overtreatment were seen. There was a great number of patients holding rather high-ranking jobs and showing remarkable zeal to advance either in their habitual professional field or in a new career. 90% of the perioral dermatitis patients suffered from concomitant vegetative disturbances, especially nervousness, insomnia, headaches and fatigue. In 40% of the cases, symptoms of general neurovascular lability were stated and 60% complained of digestive troubles, particularly obstipation. Out of 220 patients, 206 (=93%) supervised since the end of our treatment showed no relapse of their dermatosis. Our therapeutic program since 1970 consists of mild, corti-costeroid-free local treatment and psychotherapy (see A. Thurn). In the majority of cases, the skin lesions disappeared during the first 3 months and in 90% after 6 months. In 33 cases, under conditions of stress and conflict, one or several relapses occured before final recovery was attained. The evaluation of therapy results showed a progredient reduction of recovery time corresponding to the increasing psychoanalytical experience of our interdisciplinary team. However, in perioral dermatitis patients showing no concomitant vegetative symptoms (10%), a conspiciously longer recovery time was noted, when compared with the remainder of our cases. Patients suffering from several concomitant vegetative symptoms may possibly stop, taking out' psychic problems on their skin when partially resolved by short-term therapy, tending instead to ,somatize' their conflicts in other susceptible organs.