From: “Linda Sy MD”
Date: Thu Dec 7, 2000 4:55 am
Subject: Re: [rosacea] the cortisone story continues
Hi Patricia,
Yes, what a bummer. There is no easy way to manage steroid induced dermatitis. Your skin has become addicted. How does one treat addiction? You either go cold turkey (in which case, you will undergo dramatic flares not just once but perhaps multiple times); or you can go easy on yourself and withdraw gradually (in which case, you may be delaying the eventual total withdrawal).
The latter method of course, is probably more practical, especially if you are working. One way of doing this, is to decrease potency & frequency of use (ex. from daily use to 3X per week, 2X, 1X etc. etc.) and keep stretching the duration. Then start diluting the concentration with a moisturizer. Skin is resilient and can adjust. Either way, you will get flare ups, sometimes even in other parts of your body (sort of metastatic rebound phenomenon).
So, do not be discouraged or surprised when you have a flare – it is not a set-back. Just keep on your program. Meanwhile, when you do get a flare, here are some ancillary suggestions:
- Apply cool water compress on your face 3-4 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Follow immediately with lubrication. If skin gets tight during the day, keep applying your lubricant as often as necessary.
- Take an antihistamine to help contain the itching.
- Use a lubricating foundation to camouflage the erythema (for emotional support).
- Keep up with your oral antibiotics if you are on this for your rosacea. This is not the time to phase out on this.
- Last but not the least, patience and give it time.
Some good news: There is a topical medication called Tacrolimus ointment. I read that it will be available in the near future. From published reports, Tacrolimus has been impressively effective in treating the “red face syndrome” induced by long-term continuous use of steroids in atopics. So, you may not have too long to wait…
Linda Sy M.D.
Linda Sy Skin Care
See Also:
- Over the Counter Steroids can cause Steroid Induced Rosacea
- How to cure a red face
- Related Rosacea Articles: moisturizers, cleansers and steroids.
1,028 Comments over 21 pages ↓
I have been struggling with a very red face for the last year and a half. In the beginning I went to the doctor and he diagnosed me with contact dermatitis and prescribed mometasone cream along with Zyrtec. I put this on, and my symptoms lessened but the next day it was worse. I stopped taking it. I went to a dermatologist and he gave me Elacon Cream and Hydroxyzine. Same thing happened. Then my doctor prescribed predinisone 10 mg. As guessed same thing happened. In the beginning I was told that I had tested positive for EBV and that could be contributing to my symptoms. But after a year and a half??? I have heard of chronic mono but I dont have the symptoms such as fever,severe fatigue etc.
MY QUESTION IS THIS: How do I know if I have rosacea, steroid induced rosacea, or is it just an atypical presentation of the EBV(mononucleosis virus)?
Hello, everyone:
I suffered with acne for 15 years. 10 of those 15 years it was severe. I finally found a dermatologist who prescribed me two courses of Accutane. For the first time since I was 9 years of age, my skin began looking incredible. I was very happy. There was just one problem: the small, flat, red spots my previous acne had left behind were taking an abnormally long period of time to heal. For most people they normally take 3-4 months to completely fade away, but a year came and went and mine were still clearly visible. So I decided to ask my dermatologist if there was anything she could give me that would help quicken the pace they were fading and make them heal faster. She gave me a small tube of Tri-Luma and told me it would help.
HUGE MISTAKE!
I used it the night before Christmas Eve ’07 and put it on in an upside down triangular shape on the side of my right cheek (because that’s where most of the flat, red spots are located). The next morning I woke up and everywhere I put the Tri-Luma was a dark purplish/reddish color and it felt like my face was on fire! And the flat, red spots were an even deeper color red! I obviously had some type of allergic dermatitis reaction to it.
HOWEVER, the story doesn’t end there….the first 3 or 4 days after the intense flare-up, the color faded to a light pink, but the pink upside down triangle was still clearly apparent. Keep in mind, that was THREE MONTHS ago and the pinkness still has not faded away. Now all the surface area of my skin that I put the Tri-Luma on acts like Rosacea. So imagine a large, pink, upside down triangle on the right side of my cheek that constantly flares up whenever I get hot, or anytime I’m near sunlight, or anytime I do strenuous activity, etc. It’s a nightmare.
I am scared to death that permanent damage has been done. By the way, Tri-Luma has a steroid in it as one of its ingredients (which I didn’t find out until after the fact).
*Tri-Luma ingredients:
– fluocinolone acetonide 0.01%
– hydroquinone 4%
– tretinoin 0.05%
I have heard of people who use steroid creams long-term and end up suffering with permanent damage to their skin, but I have never heard of permanent, intense damage being done to a person’s skin after only ONE use. The thought alone blows my mind and makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. I even called the makers of Tri-Luma and spoke to their “medical liaison representative.” He said he had never heard of anyone experiencing permanent damage to their skin after only one use of their product either. He kept telling me not to worry and that he didn’t believe it was permanent (even though I don’t see how he can make that evaluation when he’s never even seen the current condition of my skin.)
But my question is this: If the pinkness and the flare-ups are not signs of permanent damage, then wouldn’t they have been gone a long time ago? How could I still be having a problem with pinkness and flare-ups, THREE months after the initial flare-up, if the current condition of my skin is not permanent?
Right after it happened (back in late December), I panicked and made an appointment with my derm. She told me not to worry and that it should fade within a few weeks. When I went back to see her about a month ago and told her I was worried that the pinkness still had not faded away, she got very defensive (a side of her I had never seen) and told me my face was just pink because it was still sensitive from the Accutane. BULL. I told her it obviously was due to the Tri-Luma because the discoloration and the flare-ups were/are in the exact same pattern I put the Tri-Luma on my skin. She tried to blame it all on me and said: “Well, YOU’RE the one who asked me to give you something to fade your red spots…..” Then she just rolled her eyes and said to come back and see her in June. She acted very rude and unprofessional. She was not helpful at all and the entire appointment with her was a complete waste of my time.
That said, I want to issue a warning to anyone thinking about using Tri-Luma to be careful! Try it on a pacth of skin on your arm or something first to make sure you don’t have a negative reaction to it. My derm told me to do that, too, AFTER I had already experienced the massive flare-up. By then, her suggestion was way too late.
Can anyone PLEASE help me or give me any advice on what you think might have caused such a severe reaction? Has anything like this every happened to anyone else? Do you think the damage is permanent? Do you have any suggestions on how I should treat it to help it go away?
I would be very grateful for any opinions or advice.
Thank you.
Hi Christian,
Do you think it could have caused vascular damage on your face, thus, you now have broken capillaries under your skin, which are causing the redness? That is what I currently have, on one particular spot on my right cheek. My dermatologist is suggesting that I do IPL therapy. Thinking about it… I would def. go to a dermatologist that you feel you can trust and respect, and respects you back. It made a huge difference for me. Good luck, keep your chin up.
I was afflicted with sterioid induced rosacea for close to a year before I finally found a dermatologist who knew what she was doing…Thank god! I had been applying steroid cream to my face for a year, on the advice of a derm, who I’m pretty sure went to the same medical school as Dr. Nick from the Simpsons. Anyway, the only solution is to discontinue using the steroids. This is awful because as the steroids are causing the problem, they are also keeping it in check. Discontinuing their use causes a rebound effect that for me was unbelievably painful, and encompassed most of my face. Tacrolimus is absolutely essential for speeding up the process, along with an antibiotic. Sorry you have to go through this mess I feel for you.
Thanks for the note Dan. Great to hear that you are on the other side of getting better. Do you have any more tips for stuff that helped you cope with the rebound ?
I am suffering from steriod induced rosacea. I am having a flare up right now and trying to slowly get off of the steroids. The issue I am having that is slightly different is that I am pregnant. I can’t take anything orally. Has anyone else experienced this withdrawl while pregnant? I am just miserable and depressed. My 2 year old son has also going through the same thing. We were mis diagnosed with eczema and have been using the steroids for about 18 months. What do you do with a 2 year old that has rosacea? I am really scared to treat him like I am treating myself. We have been using Finacea cream for 2 days. Does this work as effectively as the anitbiotics? If someone could answer some of my questions, maybe my mind can be put at ease. Thanks, Worried Mom
i am suffering from steroid induced rosacea.i have using the steroid cream since 14 years old because of my eczema problem and now im 19. At first i tried to stop but my face become much more worse. Than i continue with hydrocortisone 1% which is mild than elomet the one that i used before. And now i find out the side effect of hydrocortisone to my face which is it makes my skin become thinner, very sensitive to sunlight and my face become red and difficult to go away. then i discontinue from using this steroid cream but i find out the rebound effect and it fill worse ever.i fill very uncomfortable to go outside to hang out with my friends.futhermore there are some pimple come out from my face which is it never come before as i had very clean face. now im using herbal cream from hope relief product.i find out it cure a little bit but now im using for 1 week but the improvement is verryyy slow n i dont know is it worth it to use it and to wait the result or should i try another ceram.now im confused. before this i’ve met dermatologist and she gave me elidel but it make my face sunburn and my skin felt very tight and i find out that it has a very bad side effect which is skin cancer so i stop.now i dunno what to do because my skin are becoming red, very dry even i’ve put moisturizer on it 3-4 times a day. and the pimple is strt to coming out even my skin is dry.pelase please give some comment about it. and one more how long does it take to recover from rebound rosacea effect? im very woried about it!!
sorry about my english is very bad.=(
i hope u will understand
Hi
I’m currently trying to work out what on earth is wrong with my skin and the doctors aren’t helping much at all. I discovered I have an allergy to nickel which caused eczema on my face – I was given Euvomate (moderate strength steroid cream) to put on which worked brilliantly for the first 3 weeks then came the rollercoaster of trying to come off it, as well as avoiding all contact with nickel and weird horribly itchy tender spots started to erupt. They can come up anywhere on my face but the dermatologist told me that she thinks I have rosacea and it’s not caused by the steroid cream – how does she know that? I didn’t have it before and I don’t have what could even begin to be called typical rosacea pattern of spots – they appear wherever I have put steroid cream at some point but nowhere else.
I have now been off the steroid cream for 3 weeks and have had a lot of nightmare days and red flushing (particularly on my nose) and a general feeling of tenderness but (hope I’m not saying this too soon!) the reactions are not as severe as they were so I am hopeful that it is the steroid cream that has induced the rosacea and it wasn’t there all along.
Anyway – what some of you might like to know is that I have to find something to calm everything down as my derm refuses to prescribe tacrolimus (she won’t accept the steroids could have caused this new problem – duh!) so I have been making a very strong cup of green tea each morning – once cool I put some in a pot and apply it liberally throughout the day wherever and whenever I get inflamation. My face remains horribly dry but the inflammation is less and the dryness is not as bad. It’s not a miracle cure but it is helping me to just about keep sane through this unpredictable ride. Hope that helps someone and if anyone has any other tips I’d love to hear them.
Topical steriods do worsen flushing.
You have to wean off the steroid slowly, to lessen the rebound flushing.
Many drs recommend Elidel and Noritate during this.
Many drs will also put you on oral antibiotics like Clarithromycin.
Some drs will put you on accutane at 5 milligrams a day.
This approach hopefully lessens the rebound reaction. You can’t just stop the steroids cold turkey.
After the storm has passed you might want to consider getting IPL or V Beam treatments to lessen the redness and to rebuild the collagen in your skin.
I have been using a topical steriod for over a year. I went to the dermatologist because I got tired for the rash returning. She prescribed an antifungal cream. The rash only got worst. Then she suspected I might have a steriod dependency. I had red itchy bumps all over my face especially on my cheeks. My face felt like a carpet. All the makeup in the world couldn’t hide it. I was given some topical antibiotics but it did not work. Through my own research I asked my Derm about Doxycycline 100mg and Tacrolimus ointment. She agreed but prescribed Elidel instead of Tacrolimus ointment she said they were the same. Today is day four and I am happy to say 90% for the rash is gone. My face is finally feeling like mine again. Not too fund of the Elidel as per the side effects but I will use it for a short period of time.
I FIND ALOE VERA HELPS A LOT STINGS A LOT FIRST TIME BUT AFTER THAT IT CALMS DOWN A LOT NOW DAY THREE OF USING IT I FEEL GREAT STILL A FACE LIKE A BEETROOT BUT IT FEELS OK
MY STORY: I had acne when i was in grade 6. My mom took me to the doctor, BIG MISTAKE, and i was prescribed differen. Using this on my acne dryed my face out and made my face red. So we went back to the doctors, another BIG MISTAKE, and I was prescibed a Topical steriod moisturizer cream and it made my face look very nice but once I stopped using it my face got red in the location where I applied it, so a kept on using it….why you ask? I don’t know, i was a kid. It’s GRADE 9 now! I’ve stopped using acne meds but still have acne. It’s no longer a concern of mine. I go to the doctors because I find I’m having to use too much of the Topical steriod moisturizer cream multiple times a day to stop my face from looking red, blotchy, dry, peeling and flaking………….. I’m prescribed a NON-STERIOD moisturizer called ELIDEL, it helps at first but FOUR YEARS later, I’m 19 now, my ance is gone, no thx to any meds I’m sure, but i have to apply ELIDEL to my face too often to keep my face from blotching and drying JUST LIKE BEFORE. I stop using prescription creams cold turkey because i feel betrayed by a system that supposed to look after my health, not make things worse. I have lost all faith in the medical care system as far as prescription medications go. It’s horrible, i use normal moisturizers sparingly but not much helps. I tryed Skin Zinc for a few months but it barely helped and in the end it made things worse. I’m 22 YEARS OLD NOW, and this is where the time-line stops. I’ve stopped using prescription meds for 3, almost 4, years now and my face still has big red blotches where i used to apply the creams. They flare up 75% of the time and flake and peel 20% of the time. I wash and scrub my face daily because it keeps the flaking down but it makes the redness worse. ALOE VERA GEL makes my skin feel really nice. i recommend it too. its the only moisturizer i use. does anyone have any advise other NON-MEDICATED moisturizers that may help with redness and smoothness of skin? Has anyone ever tryed sueing there doctor or the prescription company? Because I am sure no one here knew the consequences of using these drugs.
pst. if anyone wants to contact me to chat about this or other things, message me over facebook.com. my name is Jonathan Dahmer(no relation *wink*). I’m the guy holding a gray kitten……. idk why i desided to google skin damage from steriod moisturizers today but im glad i did because i really thought i was the only.
If you’re looking for something non medicated to use as a moisturiser it might be worth trying: http://www.naturesense.co.uk.
As I developed perioral dermatitis trying to treat facial eczema and steroid rosacea I had to look for something I had never tried before. This site stocks 2 items which have been the only things to help me since my skin problems started. I am suffering from flushes, papules and dryness still but it is no way as bad as it was.
First item is the Earthbound Organic Cleanser and the second is Paul Richards Organic Chickweed Ointment.
I would definitely recommend using both together. That’s all I now use followed by RosaceaCare Sunscreen from Rosacea Care – also worth checking out. They do sample kits which are good but slightly too drying for me. If you can’t get hold of these where you live you could find a herbalist who could concoct something for you (the site lists the ingredients – but I guess that might be a little pricey).
Hope this helps somone.
My story is like many of yours. My hope is that I caught my steroid dependence on my face at the earlier stages. I have gone cold turkey for 17 days now. It has been a little bit of a roller coaster with the dryness, redness, and even a little weeping. Overall though, the tenderness and extreme desire to itch seem to be minimizing day by day, but progress is slow and it of course occupies so much of my thoughts.
Has anyone gone through this withdrawal long enough to really see a light at the end of the tunnel and make it through with little or no damage?
I have redness along the sides of my nose and redness in blotches on my face. The dermatologist prescribed an antibiotic and an anitfungal cream. Still red after showing and shaving. This is a crazy time. I really feel self consious going outside. Does anyone know how long til the antibiotics start taking effect. Should I take elidel? for the redness. I dont have any bumps . Just bright red. If anyone has something that cured them or help alot with the redness. Email me at tenstar1@aol.com. I would really appreciate it. Tom
Everyone must read http://www.eczema.net/AnotherRedFaceJournalArticle.pdf
I found this because of the issues I was having. I am 60 days into withdrawal and let me tell you – it is the hardest medical thing I have ever been through. I have a journal I am trying to keep at http://rebaurevich.livejournal.com
I have missed a week due to a huge flare and the holidays. My legs were like tree trunks, as well as my face and arms being swelled. I HAD BEEN TOLD TO USE TRIAMCINOLONE LIKE LOTION! “TO GET RID OF MY ECZEMA ALL AT ONCE”. Yeh, right. My skin was already addicted at that time. Anyone that would like to talk to me on this, email at reba@poollady.com and put TOPICAL STEROID WITHDRAWAL IN THE SUBJECT.
I am going to make it through this but it is tough I will not sugar coat it for anyone.
I wish everyone wellness for this new year. I wish I had someone to talk to that was going through the withdrawal cold turkey. I am in the “burning phase” today.
If I just keep one person from using steroids in the future for their skin it will be worth all the misery I am going thorugh right now.
Peace.
Reba Urevich
Thanks Reba for posting that link ‘Another Red Face’. It gives me hope that eventually my skin will be back to normal and it may answer some of my queries about what I am reacting to. One thing is clear: this is a long process and there is no quick fix.
I wish you all the best for 2010.
Ali
I have steroid induced rosacea. It was horrible, Bumps, Itching, redness. I went to one dermatoligist and they tried everything and it didn’t work. I went to another and he prescribed me ELIDEL (primecrolimus) cream 1% and within the first week I noticed a difference and the second week it was almost gone. He also prescribed tetracycline 250 mg. To me it was a miracle drug.
ZsaZoe – Could you tell us how long it took for your symptoms to completely clear up and how long you were on the tetracycline?
They gave me 100 tetracycline pills four a day however I am not good at taking medicine so I decided to try only the creme first. I am on my thrid week and it is 90% better. I am going to give it another week and if it is cleared totally I will not take the pills. But he prescribed the two together.
Also I have extremly sensitive skin and the Elidel has not bother my skin. I also have seborrhea and he is going to address that after this completely clears up. With the elidel the dryness is clearing up too.
I had been using hydrocortizone 1% throughout most of 2009 for a little patch of eczema on my face. After my regular dr. rx hydrocortizone 2.5% he referred me to a dermatologist. A month later I saw my dermatologist and was told to stop using hydrocortizone altogether. She rx me tetracycline and gave me a plan to wien myself off of the hydrocortizone in Dec 09. By day 3 of withdrawing from the hydrocortizone I had developed steroid induced rosacea. To make matters worse, sun exposure with the use of tetracycline made my condition far worse over time. I’ve tried 3 different antibiotics since, along with prednisone and pure petroleum jelly as a topical ointment to moisturize, but they do nothing to get rid of the rosacea. I recently ordered a natural remedy to detox internally and a topical cream with herbs that’s supposed to reduce and/or eradicate rosacea. Although I’m a few hundred dollars into beating this problem, I’m extremely determined to get postive results! I’ll let you know of any progress with the natural remedy once I get it. I’ll only recommend something if it actually works! In the meantime, hang in there…I too feel your pain.
.
I have been using ALOE VERA GEL in combination with VITAMIN E GEL for a few months now and the two together really help calm the redness alot. Apply aloe vera in the day and vitamin e before bed, but if you’re only going to use one get the aloe vera gel, it’s really green gold in a bottle, it feels soo nice. it helps more than any other skin product ive used and its alot less costly too. But no dermatoligist would ever agree with me since it doesnt put money in their pockets. One last thing, ZsaZoe, if i was a betting man i would put alotta money down on things only getting worst once you stop using ELIDEL creme, its just as bad as the steriod crap. but then again, im pretty baddy jaded.
i hope this helps
Jon,
So far so good but I am just keeping my fingers crossed.It just seems so much better than it was. I don’t have redness and just a few bumps left but I will keep ya posted when its all said and done. It was horrible when I went to the doctor so we will see what happens.
Tips:
Avoid: creams or serums with chemicals, Dairy, nuts, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, lamb, tropical fruits, too much sugar, stress and anything else that MIGHT trigger flare ups. Learn what triggers YOUR flare ups and avoid those things.
Do:
Wear 30spf sunblock or higher and a hat whenever you go outside. Neutrogena works best for me as it doesn’t sting when applied. It does make your skin dry so apply petroleum jelly if needed. Avoid direct sunlight by staying in shade or indoors if possible.
Drink plenty of water. I take a multivitamin, 1000mg of vitamin C, and Fish Oil – Omega 3 every day.
Use vaseline pure petroleum jelly as a moisturizer. Apply liberally over face, then dab gently with a clean, soft cloth (microfiber) for a matted vs oily look.
Cool down when flare ups come on by applying a clean, soft wet cloth (use cold water) for about 5-10 minutes. Rinse cloth under cold water as needed.
Use OTC anti-inflammatory drugs (benadryl, ibuprofen) to control inflammation and itching during flare-ups. Be careful NOT to over use these products for an extended period of time (ie., everyday for several days or more than the recommended doseage).
Try walking, Yoga and different breathing techniques to bring your stress level down. I stretch each morning and use hand weights to tone arms. The idea is not to heat up your body temperature but to lower your stress level.
Keep a journal. You could list the things you’re grateful for, what you ate, how you felt afterward.
These things work well for me, I hope they help some of you. All the best.
Sounds like a good plan Karen. I also use the petroleum jelly as a moisturizer and it helps. I think Yoga is next on my agenda.
PLEASE READ THIS IT MIGHT HELP YOU. My face turn bright red and was burning. I went to a dermatologist after reading everthing on the internet so I new that is was Rosecea and that I was going to ask him for Minocycline and an antibiotic cream. Im using bactroban and antibiotics twice a day. Take them at the same time everyday so they are effective. Dont take antiacids it effects the antibiotics. I also changed my diet and got rid of sugar because it causes flushing. I also changed facial soap to Dove. Its for sensative skin and has no fragrance. I changed shampoos to one with no SLS. SLS is to be avoided with Rosecea. I also Got rid of Fluoride . ITS TOXIC. Horrible for Rosecea. I get Gallon refill of reverse osmosis water that filters out Fluoride. I changed toothpaste to one without SLS and Fluoride. I have food allergies so get those checked and avoid triggers. Your diet is critical as well. If you want a diet that I eat email me . Tenstar1@aol.com. Get the Allergy test for food . That is was a main cause of acne and skin problems. Most people dont know what they are allergic to. Wine , Cigarettes, Sugars are bad and cause flushing. Wine is especially a trigger. Even cheese with alittle wine irritated my skin. Drink lots of water. When you shower use the Dove soap and avoid hot water. I use warm water to avoid flushing. I also researched moisturizers and I found a great one. It has no fragrance and does not burn at all. its called VANICREAM. The pharmacy will order it for you without a prescription. 5 dollars very reasonable for all of its benefits. Its been 45 days and my face has cleared up. Im a male so I shave my face . SLS free shaving gel. No fragrance. After shaving it gets alittle red but thats natural because of showering and the razor but after shaving I wait 15 minutes and put on the vanicream to moisturize and no redness. So I changed my diet , Got rid of SLS and Flouride. Avoid Flushing triggers and Allergens. Use products with no fragrance and let the face heal. I heard Jojoba two drop was really good for healing your skin if you go cold turkey of of steroid creams . Use it while your face is still wet and rub it in . Its natural and its suppose to be great. I havent used that yet because all is good. Again your diet avoiding processed food and lots of carbs is crucial. This has worked for me so far. I am going to take the antibiotic for another 10 days and then get off and hopefully all is good. I will keep you posted. Hope this helps someone it has worked great for me.
This website helped me a great deal. They have everything to avoid and diet and talk about creams and things to do it naturally. They sell a product and I did not buy the product but there info on Roseace is GREAT. I tried it and it works. I do not work for them I hadjust been looking all of the internet and this was the common denominator . They Know what they are talking about. They tell you what the Dermatologist tells you about Fluoride and SLS and hot water. I doing alot of what they say and it working. I really think the body PH balance is off and avoiding allergens and chemicals are really important. Natural . They talk about Jojoba . Which will heal your skin naturally. The toxins from fast foods and SLS and Fluoride in the water and diet stresses out the system until it shows. The website is http://WWW.Rosacea-LTD.com. Go to natural Rosacea treaments. They are right on the money. They know what they are talking about. When I went to the dermatologist they didnt talk about diet and changing water and toothpaste. I researched all this online and put it together and then I hit this site that had everything I was researching all in one place. Im willing to sacrifice drinking and a few other of life pleasure . In the long run your body will love you for it. I cut out sugar and im feeling so much better. Goodluck. My email is tenstar1@aol.com. If you have any diet questions or need anything. This Rosacea is traumatic and it woke me up . I needed a change in lifestyle and I changed . Out of something bad comes alot of good.
This whole rosacea thing sucks! Now on top of that i have the steriod induced thing going on. I used cutivate lotion(steriod cream) for about 7 months and it worked great, but then i got a horrible flar up, and the doc said it was from the steriod cream. the same cream that she prescribed me. Go figure. Now i am going thru my second bad flare up. Got a new Doc and he put me on Elidel cream. it works pretty good when you use it, but when you stop using it, it all comes back. I can’t wait until summer, the sun actually helps my rosacea.
I am 41 Years old and i had clear skin up until my mid thirtes. I did modeling when i was 32 years old. Now i could only model halloween masks. Very frustrating.
Somebody put a spell on me!!
I find the comments here very interesting. I never knew of the dangers of using steroid cream on your face. I had an allergic reaction probably caused by some new toothpastes and a dermatologist prescribed steroid cream. I used it unknowingly and it caused perioral dermatitis, which is similar to acne rosacea. In the end what helped me was to take OTC anti-histamines and get patch tested for allergies. I stopped using ALL creams and soaps and cosmetics on my face. I use only fragrance free detergents on clothes and bedding. I was going to wean off of steroids but the dermatitis seemed to clear up once I stopped using the products. I am still getting flare-ups, which is hard to deal with and difficult to explain. I take antibiotics to reduce inflammation.
I have had a rash on my face for 4 yrs. First started with Perioral Derm. Drs prescribed fungal creams, steroids topical & oral. I now have rosecea from yrs of creams & hydrocortisones. I stopped all uses of everything on face & pain was horrible. It is getting better but face still hurts after 2 weeks & is peeling bad. Very dry. I put vaseline on in shower then rinse off to protect moisture level some.. I take tetracyclines. I hope I get better soon. I will keep you updated. Good luck to all.
Hi Chrissy,
I’m sorry to hear you’re still battling after all this time…Vaseline (100% pure) is the only thing safe to use on my face and entire body. I was on tetracycline back in Dec. last year but unfortunately had a bad reaction after several days and had to stop. What I didn’t know was that it stays in your system for several weeks afterwards, which is why I’ve been having flare ups for the past few months now. Stress is the primary trigger however I’ve never had this before so I’m pretty sure it’s drug induced. I recently saw an herbalist who says it has to do with my immune system. He gave me an herbal tea to drink for the next 7 days to see if it helps. I’ll let you know.
P.S. Try applying vaseline (only 100% pure with no aloe or vitamine E etc.), several throughout the day to keep your face and/ body moist. And always apply 1st thing in the morning and before you go to bed.
Don’t apply in the shower, take a luke warm shower (not hot), towel dry and apply vaseline afterward. Just follow the 3 minute moisturizing rule…always apply within 3 minutes after drying off. Hope this helps..all the best!
Chrissy,
One more thing…be very careful with tetracycline or any antibiotic that causes photosensitivity! I had a bad flare up because I was in the sun while on that stuff. For several weeks after I stopped taking it I couldn’t be in the sun AT ALL!!! If so I would get a severe sun burn. And I couldn’t use sunblock because it irritated my skin! The last time I went to the Dr. my entire face was dark red, itchy and it burned as if it were on fire! I was told I didn’t have rosacea but a severe case of eczema that was now infected. I was given a very strong dose of Amoxacillin as I’m not able to tolerate any other antibiotic (I’ve tried 4 since Dec). That one seems to be working. Today is my last dose and the rash on my face is almost gone. It did spread to other parts of my body but that seems to be clearing up as well. I’ll start my herbal tea drink tomorrow for seven days and let you know how that goes.
Thanks KAS I will keep all that in mind. Still on tetracyclines and still have rash. I have 13 days left of treatment. Then my 60 pills will be gone.. I am getting better lil by lil.. Ill keep everyone informed best I can.
Hi all.
It is unbelievable that doctors let people use steroid creams on their faces, when they know that the side effects makes people sicker than they were before treatment. I have just found out that I was getting sick from using a topical steroid cream for more than 3 years. Because the cream worked, I continued using it. Slowly I began to develop hives, get irregular periods, night sweats and hot flashes. I thought that since I am 45 years old that it might be perimenopause. I changed my diet, cutting out sugar, coffee, tea, alcohol and started eating only organic and homemade dishes. At this time I stopped using the cream and got a terrible flare up all over my face and neck. the iching and heat wakes me up every 2 hours at night.
I began to really research what was happening to me and found that all the symptoms was side effects from the steroid cream use. I am not happy about getting an antibiotic because I have lost faith in doctors. I hope that slowly with my new diet, yoga and faith that my face will return to normal after awhile. I have been using apple cider vinegar on my face when the burning and itching has been unbearable and it seems to soften my now super dry skin. My face is much less red and I will keep you posted on my progress. May we all get better from this nightmare.
Hi Patricia – I didn’t know that steroid cream can cause all the symptoms you describe but then I can’t explain all the reactions my skin has been having and nor can the medics. I also had been wondering if it is my age – 41 but I haven’t used steroid creams since July 2009 and my skin is, very slowly, getting better but every time I think I’m back to normal I start with symptoms again – particularly the flushing and also spots but not like the rosacea spots I had initially. However, having read the link that Reba provided ‘Another Red Face’ I am persevering, taking antibiotics and using gentle skin products and telling myself to expect the flare ups.
I used steroid cream because the dermatologist insisted that I should whilst I was being tested for allergies. It turned out that I was allergic to nickel – but then the eczema wouldn’t go away even though I was avoiding nickel so the dermatologist told me to keep using the steroid cream. Looking back I can see that I started reacting to the cream within 3 weeks but was told that it couldn’t be the cream although they couldn’t explain what it was – they just said that as I was an atopic person I had to expect such problems and to continue using it. Turns out that steroid cream can even cause eczema! I ended up seeing a Professor in Cardiff who insisted that hydrocortisone was ‘as mild as milk’ so I should use that even though he said I had rosacea! And he wouldn’t accept that it had been steroid induced although I hadn’t had it before I started using the steroid cream. Needless to say I didn’t go back to him and I did tell what I thought of his outdated advice!
What I don’t understand is why the medical profession is so reluctant to admit that topical steroids can cause such mayhem even when used under the guidance of a dermatologist. So very frustrating and painful for us all.
Dear Ali.
What a nightmare you have been through, it breaks my heart to hear how you have been treated.
When I changed my diet I read Diane Schwarzbein’s book “the truth about losing weight, being healthy and feeling younger”, and although I didn’t need to loose weight, it was an eye opening book. In the book Diane advice you, if at all possible, to get off all manmade drugs, change your eating and living habits to support you immune system in order to restore health. She goes on to say that it takes time to restore the immune system, so one must be patient.
The cortisone affects the adrenals and I think creates an imbalance of hormones in the body. Maybe thats why it feels just like perimenopause. Since I have stopped the cream the hot flashes has gotten a lot better and the hives are nearly gone. I do have dry eyes, another side effect of steroid cream and my skin is still very dry and itchy. Much less red than in the beginnng about 2 weeks ago.
I use apple cider vinegar every other day, then rest my face and no lotions at all. Cold water on my face and not going in the sun.
I thought that changing my living and eating habits would be difficult, but found that it was easier than expected. When one is determent to get healthy, one has great willpower. I wish you healing and be patient. blessings to you and all other who are suffering.
Hi all.
Week 3 after the cessation of cortisone cream on my face. I am so dry and itchy and has not been able to find any moisturizer to alleviate the symptoms without getting severe flare ups. So now I only use cold water compresses and live with the dry skin. I read that it will take from weeks up to 6 month for the skin to heal itself, and it was nice to finally read that healing will happen at some point. The redness is much better and only once in a while do I get hives. I must admit that my mood has been like a roller coaster. Some days I am not so bothered and other days I am depressed about it, and these 3 weeks has seemed very long.
I stopped using apple cider vinegar on my face because that will eventually dry out the skin, but started taking 1 teaspoon of cod liver oil and 1 tablespoon flax seed oil every day. I also treated myself to a massage which really improved my mood.
I hope to hear of others who have improved or overcome this condition and may we all get better soon. Patricia.
Hi all,
the treatment that i have been given was quite different than yours.
basically i got some kind of weird rash on my cheeks and chin when i was 21, ignored it and went away by itself gradually.
Neway this reaccured every once in a while randomly, so decided to see a doc. This doc recommended betnovate ointment – it was great and although there wasnt nething wrong with my skin at the time, i used to use it all the time to avoid getting the rash or even before an event cuz it made my skin look so smoooooth. I was too stupid to not read about the side effects then, and i believe the doc shudve also advised.
so neway, continued this till i was 24. Thats when this started getting worse, and the rash starting appearing more often and on a weekly basis.
I went to see 3 – 4 doctors, they all didnt take me seriously cuz my skin looked fine when i went to see them (i work so i had to stilll used steroids to avoid flareups so my skin would look normal) and they all told me to continue using steroids – and once i realized the side effects of steroids i freaked!
one of the docs told me it was eczema and i had an allergy from dustmites – i wasnt convinced. He also said, it COULD BE rosacea but i should still continue with the steroids and there will be no side effects if im using it once a week its fine. what the hell?
By then 2 years had passed and still – steriods were the only solution.
neway, i found out about an excellent doc, he was the one who finally told me i had: steroid induced rosacea.
This is what he told me i should do for 3 months before going to see him again:
1. Stop steroids completely and yes i will go through a bad phase
2. Put me on a gel called Rozex gel (Specifically for rosacea sufferers) to be mixed with Bioderma Sensibio Rich for mornin and evenig
4,gave me all kinds of vitamins (centrum and 1000mg of vitamin C daily)
5. antibiotics tablets
6. morning and evening anti allegy pills.
My face was bad for the first 2 months, then got much better, but i still had those little bumps all over my face and couldnt put ne make up to cover it up, cuz it just made the bumps and rash look worse.
I went to see the doc again and this is wat he gave me for 4 months before i go to see him agian:
1. Roaccutane 10mg every other day
2. more vitamins
3. zyrtec (anti allergy) for evenings
4. antibiotic gel for my face + rozex gel + bioderma sensibio rich, to be mixed together and rubbed on the face before bedtime
5. 50+ sunscreen for mornings
i felt that my skin was a bit sensitive from the rosex gel (rozex CREAM would generally cause less sensitivity but this is not available where i live) so the doc told me i cud stop using it and continue with the rest. its been a month since ive done so, and my skin feels good, very tiny bumps (MUCH LESS THAN BEFORE) which i hope will go away, but generally im happy with the result.
I hope this was helpful.
P.s. I do recommend Bioderma Sensibio rich as a daily moisturiser and Bioderma Photoderm Spot 50 + as sunscreen.
Good luck
Hi all.
Week 4, and I feel and look much better. Started using coconut butter on my face and it both hydrate and soothes my skin. It is a little messy, but well worth it. For the first time I do not wake up at night from severe itching. I am still on my diet, no sugar, no alcohol, no caffein and I hope I can avoid any more pills or medicated creams. Hope this will work. Patricia.
Patricia, I am glad you are slowly getting better! I am on month 3, I am doing great! I had to shower 1-2 xs daily to remove extra dry skin.. Now, I barely peel. My skin barely itches. I found that light light light dabs of vaseline helped, I took tetracycline for 2 mos 120 pills. I also found that allergy meds plain ol Walgreens brand antihistamines stoppped itch & pain. I no longer take anything. My cheeks barely flush, or itch. I do not break out with postpules or pimples anymore. I read that the demodox mite is found in steroid induced rosacea suffers. I started changing my pillowcase every few days and make sure u wash your face at night-as the demodox mite eats bacteria off the skin in the dark. These mites live in your pores & die there turning into white liquid infecting your pores.. I do not stay in hot or humid places long, and this has really opened my eyes to my health. After battling rashes on my face for almost 6 yrs now, and learning my meds were my cause.. I am glad to see an end in sight. This had caused anziety, depression, and alot of bad days. I am happy to report to you all that it gets better! Good luck to all & I will talk to you soon
Keep your chin up
Hi Chrissy.
Thank you for your letter which brings hope to all of us. I will change pillow case also every 3 days. My skin really likes the coconut butter. I massage it into my face after warming it up in my hands first. Coconut is anti fungal, so maybe it will help kill mites. It stings a little at first, but feels great after. May we all be well. Patricia.
Hello,
I have seborrheic dermatitis and have been washing my face with Nizoral shampoo (ketoconzaole 1%). Ive been dependent on a high percentage steroid for over 2 years now.
Even when my face was clear I applied cotisone for fear of breakouts and finally realized I have steroid induced rosacea.
I was wondering if washing my face with nizoral will make rosacea worse for my face?
Btw I use aloe vera gel to moisturize my face now.
thanks for any advice, it truly touches my heart.
Hi gsk28,
2 years is a long time to be on a high strength steroid. If you want to come off it have you spoken to your GP or dermatologist? Usually people with steroid induced rosacea require antibiotics and topical ointments to cope with the withdrawal stage that is very unpleasant and it can take a long time to get through. You definitely should get medical support for this stage if you can.
I have heard that coconut oil and/or high strength Manuka honey are very good for seborrheic dermatitis – the coconut oil doesn’t really suit me (I’ve got atopic dermatitis) but the Manuka honey has been my staple topical remedy for rosacea bumps and spots. Hope you get some help very soon.
Best wishes
Ali
Dear Chrissy.
Vaseline or petroleum jelly is the key to relieve the dry skin. A friend of mine was telling me of his cure for a rash on his face by scrubbing the skin first and then apply a generous layer of petroleum jelly afterwards for a few hours, then wipe most of it off before going to bed. Hearing his story and reading your story made me try it out. I scrubbed my face, neck and chest lightly with a clean pumice stone then cleaned with water, dried my face and applied a generous amount of petroleum jelly which right away soothed my dry and irritated skin. After 2 hours I wiped or dapped my skin so only a thin layer remained on my skin and went to bed. The result was astounding. Looking and feeling 90% better the next morning. Since then I have just applied a thin layer of petroleum jelly in the morning and evening after cleaning my face with a clean cloth dipped in very hot water. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you and all who has posted on this website. May we all be well. Patricia.
Hi everyone
Amazing stuff petroleum jelly and I’m glad it works for some of you but people reading this ought to be aware that some people do have an adverse reaction to the stuff. I used it for several weeks last summer thinking that it was the answer and then realised I was developing perioral dermatitis as a result.
Also, rosacea skin usually reacts badly to any type of exfoliation so whilst it’s great that it worked for you readers should be aware that it could have the opposite effect on them. Very hot water is a complete no for many as well – not only does it often trigger rosacea symptoms it can also aggravate underlying eczema.
The general rule of thumb with steroid induced rosacea is to treat it like true rosacea and be as gentle as you can. Before trying out any new skin regime you should try it out on a small inconspicuous area and proceed with extreme caution.
Sorry if I sound so cautious it’s just that what works on one person can be disastrous on another and we should be aware of that when giving advice. I’ve lived with the aftermath of steroid induced rosacea for almost a year now and researched this a lot and one thing is clear – we are all individuals and it is rare that there is a quick fix for this.
Dear Ali,
It is very true that what might be working for one person may be really bad for another. Thank you for pointing that out. Only time will tell if this treatment is going to cure me or not. I am also treating it with other elements such as yoga, diet and vitamins. In some way we are all on our own here. Even the doctors are not sure how to treat it. Patricia.
Ali, & all:
Yes very true. Not to over moisturize. I had perioral & that is the reason I started steroids from my dr. also cortisones. Perioral is from over moisturizing, using cortisones and steroids, or bacteria- like acne. However I used Clinique moisturizer with witch hazel. Witch hazel is an anti inflamitory that works like a cortisone. I believe witch hazel caused allllll my problems. I took the tetracyclines for two months, and perioral & rosacea are little better. The dryness is horrible some days though so i barely dab vaseline made for baby when needed. Steam is the worst thing on my skin. Humid days kill me. But I am wayyyyyyyyy better than when I stopped steroids and cortisones. I noticed that fresh air helps alot. I read 80% of toxins are released respritory, and that a med size plant can clear the air in a room in 20 minutes so I have gotten plants-sounds funny but works. Getting moderate amounts of sun helps me too.
I keep my face really clean. I wash really good at night. (Mites & fungus thrive in the dark) Keep pillowcase clean. I also read that dogs carry high levels of the mite that is also found in high levels in steroid induced rosacea suffers. This is the same mite that causes mange the demotex mite. Therefore I wash my dog in stationary sink not my tub, I use gloves, and I wash up good after. I do not let animals on furniture, and try not to pet animals alot.. There are new all natural cleaners with tea tree oil. This oil kills bacteria, fungus, mites, lice, ticks, fleas etc. Not sure how good it cleans but I am going to try it soon. They have dog shampoo human shampoo & household cleaners with this.
Hope everyone is doing better by the day. Together we will get through this. God bless.
Hi all.
Update. It is now 6 weeks ago I ceased to put cortisone cream on my face. Even before that, I had changed my diet and I am a yoga teacher, so I do yoga every day. I was really breaking out terribly the first 4 weeks, with very bumpy, flaky and dry skin and I was wondering if my skin would ever be back to normal. During week 5, I exfoliated my skin while sitting in my very hot bath and right after I applied a generous amount of petroleum jelly for about 2 hours. Then I dried of most of the jelly and the next morning I looked about 90% better.
Since then I have kept my face and hands very clean and the first few day I kept using petroleum jelly morning and night, but since the skin can not breathe when petroleum jelly is applied, I would start to develop hives. I then began using my regular face cream in the mornings and a little petroleum jelly before bed. I am still looking and feeling 90% better. I still get little flare ups, but my skin is now soft and I now feel I am going to heal completely. This has been a very difficult time and I feel for every person who has to go through this period of not knowing if or how to get better. I hope my story will help somebody, and although I know that all of us has different reasons for using cortisone cream and this is not a cure for everyone, the fact that it has, so far, worked for me, gives me hope that it will work for someone else. God bless us all. Patricia.