What Is Perioral Dermatitis? Hailey Baldwin’s Skin Condition Explained

Hailey Baldwin seemingly has it made. Trained as a ballet dancer, photographed for Vogue, strutting the runway for likes of Tommy Hilfiger and marrying pop sensation Justin Bieber, the 24-year-old lives a life few of us can dream of. But now she is opening up about a secret flaw: she has perioral dermatitis.

So what exactly is perioral dermatitis and what triggers it?

Baldwin took to social media to explain how she struggles just like the rest of us, and she wants us to know about her condition.

The daughter of Stephen Baldwin and frequent cover girl turned to social media, sharing her experience with skincare while presenting as a high-profile fashion model on Instagram. She gives a close-up look at the issue with skincare expert Dr. Barbara Sturm below:

On Monday, Baldwin peppered her Instagram feed with close-ups of a recent breakout.

“It gets triggered by different things and usually shows up on my cheeks, around my mouth or sometimes around and under my eyes,” she posted. “Some things that I noticed trigger it: trying a new product, a product that's too harsh, weather, masks, sometimes certain SPF."

So what is perioral dermatitis? The Cleveland Clinic notes that it looks like acne, but it isn’t.

“Perioral (periorificial) dermatitis is a red rash that circles your mouth,” the clinic explained. “Your skin can be scaly, dry and flaky with swollen, inflamed bumps called papules. It is one of many types of dermatitis. Perioral dermatitis can look like acne and is often mistaken for it.”

Baldwin seems to know her stuff. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic studies at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, told Glamour it flares up because of external, not internal, factors.

“It's thought to be caused by extra inflammation in your skin caused by outside influences like using topical cortisone creams, long-term use of heavy, occlusive skin-care products, or even perhaps a reaction to toothpaste,” he revealed on Tuesday.

Baldwin says her “Yummy”-singing husband actually coached her through treatments given his struggle with acne.