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General health

Why are people hesitant to use steroid creams? What are the side-effects?

21 replies

Bozza · 16/08/2006 22:43

2yo DD has developed red patches on the backs of her legs and sometimes insides of her arms. At first we put it down to the heat because it started during the hot spell. However it has not cleared up. I have tried various creams on it to no effect.

I am now thinking it is excema. I have used some hydrocortisone on it that was prescribed for DS when he had secondary excema from scratching his molluscum and it works really well if used regularly but is running out. I just wondered why people try to avoid steroid creams and what alternatives there might be. I think I will have to take her to the doctor but we are going to France on Saturday.

OP posts:

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Jasnem · 16/08/2006 22:45

I'm not an epert but I'm pretty sure it thins the skin if used regularly over a longish period.

Jasnem · 16/08/2006 22:45

I'm not an epert but I'm pretty sure it thins the skin if used regularly over a longish period.

iota · 16/08/2006 22:46

skin thinning

Jasnem · 16/08/2006 22:46

I'm not an expert, either!

It does help if used as a last resort though(for me and my dds)

gingernut · 16/08/2006 22:52

Yes, it can thin the skin but there is some debate over whether or not this side effect is actually important IYSWIM. Medics on the continent are taught a different interpretation of the data and are far more inclined to prescribe steroids than British medics.

TBH hydrocortisone is unlikely to cause any problems but you may find that you can keep your dd's symptoms under control with a good emoillient e.g. Aveeno, with maybe occasional use of steroid. I think if I were you I would try to get hold of some hydrocortisone (1%) and emollient to take with you (tell the pharmacist the hydrocortisone is for you, to use somewhere other than the face - otherwise they will not sell it to you) before you go away, then see the GP when you return.

Jimjams2 · 16/08/2006 22:57

Biggest porblem with steroids is getting them off them, You have to taper. If you just stop they'll flare up again. DS1 had eczema herpeticum at 11 months, had to have strong topical steroids and I had to really taper to get him off, so from the strong ones to strong ones one day 1% hc the next for about a week or 2, then only 1% hc for a week or so, then 0.05% hc, then every other day 0.05% hc. Took ages, and trying to speed up getting him off just resulted in another flare up.

I wouldn't use steroids for mild eczema, I would if severe, but I would still rather rely on something like wet wrapping with l;lashings of emollient, than steroids. They have their place, but you need to be careful with them.

nuttymum1 · 16/08/2006 23:10

get some epiderm cream from the doc its what i use on my ds's eczema its not a sreroid but its really good

LaDiDaDi · 16/08/2006 23:33

I have heard that aveeno cream is great and means that lots of people can get away without steroids. I should buy some for myself but then it will just be another cream that I have but forget to apply regularly.

Bozza · 17/08/2006 09:43

I have rung the doctor and there are no appointments until Monday which is not much use to me. I think I could have swung an emergency appt if I had tried hard but it is not really an emergency. The receptionist suggested taking her to a pharmacist.

So I am not sure whether to go to Boots at lunchtime and speak to the pharmacist or whether to go to the local pharmacist when I pick DD up from nursery. Either thing will be a rush because I have lots of errands/shopping to do and little time!

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 17/08/2006 10:03

Best bet is to go to the doc to make sure it is actually excema.

DD1 has sensitive skin. She appears to be allergic to SLSs.

But she got this rash around her mouth that wouldn't go away, so we finally went in.

It was impetigo.

Bozza · 17/08/2006 10:14

Sorry to everyone that I did not thank for the advice. Very remiss of me. I am grateful.

Also sorry to expat because I don't know what you mean by SLSs. I feel rather guilty about this because I should have sorted it out before it got to us going on holiday. But from the experience of the last couple of months, I expect that lots of time on the beach and generally outdoors will make it worse.

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iota · 17/08/2006 10:17

just a thought - it could also be fungal - ds2 had patches on his arms a couple of yrs ago and it was a fungal infection - steroids no use- needed Fucidin.

Get the pharmacist to look at the patches if you can rather than going by yourself

expatinscotland · 17/08/2006 10:36

SLS = sodium lauryl sulphate

Often used as a lathering agent in toiletries, including toothpastes.

frogs · 17/08/2006 10:41

If you are going abroad, I would definitely buy a tube of mild, over the counter steroid cream to take with you, just in case it gets really nasty.

Ds had what started as mild eczema when we were on holiday in Spain, and it flared up mightily and got infected. We then spent 2 days negotiating the Spanish health-care system, only to be prescribed a super-strength triple action steriod cream, much fiercer than anything we'd have needed if we'd stepped in earlier.

I now never go away without a tube of Hc45 or similar in the sponge bag, just in case.

Mum2FunkyDude · 17/08/2006 10:42

Too much can have adverse effects apon adrenal gland functions, you should not use cortisone unless prescribed...according to leaflet from Biorex Labs. They say limit to 7 days in babies and infants. HTH

gingernut · 17/08/2006 20:19

iota, Fucidin should be no use on a fungal infection as it is an antibiotic not an anti-fungal substance.

Bozza has said the patches imrpove with the steroid cream so they are very likely to be eczema. I def. agree with frogs, a using a bit of hydrocortisone is preferable to having to deal with infected eczema.

youknowwhat · 17/08/2006 21:05

When I saw the eczema nurse (english) for ds1, she totally reassure me re using hydrocortisone. To put it short, strong steroid can thin the skin BUT hydrocortisone is not one of them. It is the weaker steroid you can have...
So don't worry about using it!
However, if this is exzema, there are a lot of other ways to control it that steroids. And you also need to avoid to end up with a bad flare up and broken skin. This is all a question of balance.. Good luck!

Jimjams2 · 17/08/2006 21:07

UK eczema expert dr, whose name escapes me, repeatedly says that more damage is done by not using steroids (because of increased risk of infections) than over-use. Just be aware of the need to taper, and at first sign of infection get going with fucidin or fucidin h.

Bozza · 17/08/2006 21:49

Actually it turns out it is fucidin but contains hydrocortisone (1%). Which makes sense if you think that it was prescribed for DS when he had irritated his molloscum and made the surrounding skin sore. I am off to the chemist with DD in the morning.

OP posts:

iota · 17/08/2006 21:55

oops gingernut - I stand corrected I meant Daktarin - it was a couple of yrs ago though - anyway my point was that it would be best to get the pharmacist to look at it as it would need different medication if it were fungal

gingernut · 17/08/2006 23:28

Oh well, a bit of FucidinH won't hurt, Bozza! Hope you have a nice holiday.

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