Abstract

Childhood granulomatous periorificial dermatitis (CGPD) , also known as Gianotti-type perioral dermatitis or facial Afro-Caribbean childhood eruption (FACE) is a rare granulomatous skin disease of unknown cause.

Signs and symptoms

CGPD is characterized by the presence of small, raise, dome-shape papules primarily distributed around the mouth, eyes, and nose. Affected children may also have papules on the ears, eyelids, cheeks, forehead, and nose. CGPD skin lesions affecting areas of the skin other than the face are rare.

Treatment

Oral antibiotics of the tetracycline class such as minocycline, doxycycline, and tetracycline have been recommended for CGPD. However, their use is limited by side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity of the skin to sunlight. Tetracycline antibiotics are not recommended for children under the age of 8 since tetracyclines are known to deposit in teeth (thereby staining them) and impair bone growth in children. The use of calcineurin inhibitor creams such as tacrolimus or pimecrolimus on the skin is controversial and results have been mixed. Certain studies have found the use of topical calcineurin inhibitors led to resolution of CGPD whereas others found incomplete resolution or prolonged symptoms. Topical azelaic acid has also been used successfully to treat CGPD.

Prognosis

CGPD is known to be a temporary skin disease with a benign course. The skin papules typically resolve after a few months to a few years. After CGPD resolves, the skin may return to normal without scarring or may have small atrophic depressions with collagen loss, milia, or small pit-like scars.

Epidemiology

CGPD occurs most often in children of African descent before puberty though reports of this disease occurring in Asian and Caucasian children have also been described.