So today 20/08/2015 is my first Official day of going "Cold Turkey" from using my Steroid creams. I have been using Advantan ointment Fatty ointment which is a 0.1% and is categorized as a potent Steroid.
i have been a Eczema suffer since i was a baby, and as most children do i grew out of it. My eczema came back when i was around 16 years old, and Hormones where the explanation i was giving from my doctor along with a steroid cream to clear it up. For me the eczema was on my eye lids meaning i could only use a weak steroid cream and only apply i when the eczema was at its worst. This would lead to my skin thinning and cracking which made blinking a difficult experience at times.
Eventually by 18 it had cleared and after 2 years on/off steroid cream use i thought i was finally free. Eczema rarely made an appearance for the next 4 years with moisturizers clearing up any random outbreaks in my elbow creases and knees.
When i turned 23 i work up with a eczema outbreak, this was down to a stressful time (a bad break up) I went to my doctors who gave me a Steroid cream. I have now on and off (my largest time not using a Steroid cream has been about 1 month in this time) used steroid creams for my Eczema for the past 5 years, i found washing powders, aftershave and other perfumed products i have used for years i am now allergic to which i always found strange.
It started in the regular places the creases of joints and then back of my knees and elbows but with cream it went away. I stopped the creams after it seemed to clear up, and then the old patches plus a new random patch appeared. This has been happening like i say for the past 5 years. I am now at a stage where i have red, inflamed, itchy circles over the majority of my back, Shoulders, Arms which only Steroid creams can soothe. The creams used to give me almost a week or two of itch free skin, but as time has gone on that relief has grown shorter and shorter and now i barely get a few hours without the red inflamed skin coming back.
When i turned 23 i work up with a eczema outbreak, this was down to a stressful time (a bad break up) I went to my doctors who gave me a Steroid cream. I have now on and off (my largest time not using a Steroid cream has been about 1 month in this time) used steroid creams for my Eczema for the past 5 years, i found washing powders, aftershave and other perfumed products i have used for years i am now allergic to which i always found strange.
It started in the regular places the creases of joints and then back of my knees and elbows but with cream it went away. I stopped the creams after it seemed to clear up, and then the old patches plus a new random patch appeared. This has been happening like i say for the past 5 years. I am now at a stage where i have red, inflamed, itchy circles over the majority of my back, Shoulders, Arms which only Steroid creams can soothe. The creams used to give me almost a week or two of itch free skin, but as time has gone on that relief has grown shorter and shorter and now i barely get a few hours without the red inflamed skin coming back.
I recently ran out of my Steroid creams and between getting a repeat prescription it had spread to my legs and chest, and like everyone else to me this was the Eczema getting worse. So i applied more creams to more of my body hoping it will help.
From reading the symptoms of RSS (Red Skin Syndrome) i wonder could i have it, and Eczema isn't the cause,
i have been given fungal oral tablets as the doctors believe i had a fungal skin infection which is why my skin between applications of Steroid cream would become flaky and never ending stream of snow as it would seem would occur.
I am now getting to the point where its spreading to my scalp and its slow driving me mental, and i am getting to a stage where i don't go 5 minutes without itching, with a comb being the only way i can get some relief.
So here is how it looks on day one.
I am now getting to the point where its spreading to my scalp and its slow driving me mental, and i am getting to a stage where i don't go 5 minutes without itching, with a comb being the only way i can get some relief.
So here is how it looks on day one.
Back:
Chest:
Legs:
Steroid creams take from 24 hours up to a week to leave the system so right now on day one there is a good chance i still have the steroid cream in my system. I am itching and feel uncomfortable currently experiencing random areas in need of a good scratch.
My plan is to use (Dermeze) and oatmeal baths to try and calm the itching and the dryness down.
Lotion i am currently using
So having been using Steroid creams on and off since i was 16 i have a feeling my recovery is going to be a slow one, but i feel this is something we should all be made aware about and have that choice to deny Steroid creams should the doctor offer them to us with an alternative available.
Current happiness/comfort level 8/10 :)
Chest:
Legs:
Steroid creams take from 24 hours up to a week to leave the system so right now on day one there is a good chance i still have the steroid cream in my system. I am itching and feel uncomfortable currently experiencing random areas in need of a good scratch.
My plan is to use (Dermeze) and oatmeal baths to try and calm the itching and the dryness down.
Lotion i am currently using
So having been using Steroid creams on and off since i was 16 i have a feeling my recovery is going to be a slow one, but i feel this is something we should all be made aware about and have that choice to deny Steroid creams should the doctor offer them to us with an alternative available.
Current happiness/comfort level 8/10 :)
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