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Original poster

How long can you use hydrocortisone for?

31 replies

gingerninja · 10/03/2007 19:24

We've been using it on the advice of the doctors since Christmas time for DD's eczema. We average once a day sometimes we go once every other day but I'm worried that we're using it too much. Dr. didn't seem concerned about us using it long term but I guess they wouldn't. Anyone had any advice not to use it for extended periods?

OP posts:
hillary · 10/03/2007 19:25

My sister has eczema & has used it for many years, when I got a patch she told me only to use it for 5 days as it thins the skin.

themildmanneredjanitor · 10/03/2007 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
gingerninja · 10/03/2007 19:29

Yes it's a 1%. Obviously I don't want to keep using it but if we stop, even for a day it just flares up.

OP posts:
brimfull · 10/03/2007 19:30

we've been using it for nearly 4.5 yrs on ds with no problems.

hillary · 10/03/2007 19:31

Have you tried Oilatum? I found it worked really well on my dd1 she had really bad eczema which would bleed, I used oilatum ointment 3 times a day and oilatum oil in the bath. Found it better then hydrocortisone

themildmanneredjanitor · 10/03/2007 19:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

brimfull · 10/03/2007 19:33

that is sometimes on a twice daily basis for a few months then sporadically ,maybe every other day .
It's better than him bleeding.I have been trying to suss out what triggers his outbreaks but still can't figure it out.

foxinsocks · 10/03/2007 19:35

I think you can use it for a while

just one word of caution - dh has had life long eczema and his skin has gone all thin on his worst areas but then he never used discretion in applying his creams!

Original poster
gingerninja · 10/03/2007 20:54

Thanks hillary but we used oilatum in the bath and it didn't do any good. Are now using ballenum which is better but doesn't really control it, rather just hydrates the skin.

MMJ we started using it twice a day and then when it was under control started once a day then tried every other day so never really completely gave up. We can get away with it every other day at the moment but it will always flare up, sometimes worse than others. She also develops a bumpy rash which the Dr brushed off as being part of the eczema but I wondered if it was an alergic reaction however, I have no idea what is causing it and have tried to eliminate all sorts of things, including dairy, from my diet (she is exclusively bf), washing powder, cats etc but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

OP posts:
friendlyedjit · 10/03/2007 21:06

howdy..hydrocortisone pretty safe for extended periods twice daily but...moisturising thing often underrated as part of eczema treatment. Its a waiting and hoping game as there is no cure, only control, but on the plus is 3/4s of little un grow out of by 7, so fingers crossed for us all.
Sometimes using the steroid prescribed for a couple of weeks and weaning down to once or twice weekly twice daily is enough to keep at bay for some.
I love epaderm/hydromol and emulsiderm ( as can wash this out of hair so lovely little one doesn't look like oil slick)

fizzbuzz · 10/03/2007 21:08

Well when I was little, people didn't use moisturisers as part of treatment, I was just told to use betnovate until it cleared up, and then to use it again if it flared up

I don't have any areas of thin skin, but my doctor told me it was ok to use 1% hydrocortisone every day. There are new eczema creams out that aren't steroids BTW

foxinsocks · 10/03/2007 21:09

betnovate and eumovate is what dh used to use I think!

friendlyedjit · 10/03/2007 21:16

think the idea of using moisturisers is to smooth skin, make less itchy and help skin absorb the steroid.. but gawd my mammy used to put seaweed on me....and it was revollllting!

donttouchthefruit · 10/03/2007 21:19

I agree about moisturising, I didn't know that you couldn't moisturise too much. We were only doing it twice a day when infact more like 5 or 6 times was needed. Not a massive grease up! just a quick spread of the cream over the bad areas.

But only steroid cream will bring the really sore areas under control. Then when it has settled you can keep it under control, you hope, with creams.

I also found Epaderm cream the best, oilatum in bath, ecover washing powder, no fabric softner etc, etc!!!

Also I have to say, with all respect, that my GP gave me limited advice about eczema. Had to really push my HV to get an appointment with a specialist community nurse, think she was a childrens nurse? She said eczema would flair with illness, teathing, etc. Also found summer a nightmare with suncream, sweating, and running/rolling in the grass!!

Would also recommend reading The Eczema Solution (Amstrong-Brown) although mainly aimed at adults gave me real insight into the condition and good advice. I also read Understanding Childhood Eczema (Titman).

Good luck!

elastamum · 10/03/2007 21:35

We used it for about 4 years with no problems. We also got a water softner which really helped as we have really hard water here

themildmanneredjanitor · 10/03/2007 22:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tatt · 11/03/2007 09:06

I'd second the warning about lanolin, can be really bad for some people. As long as you don't plaster hydrocortisone on its better than the eczema.

Problem with eczema is that different people seem to respond to different creams. Dairy is a common cause of eczema flareups and its quite hard to eliminate completely because whey, casein and skimmed milk powder get into lots of foods. Adding probiotics to your diet/ giving drops to your child might help, it's had some success with eczema. Some children improve being bathed less often and with a sachet of oats in the water. Sorry its just trial and error to see what will help your child most.

Original poster
gingerninja · 11/03/2007 10:36

Many thanks everyone for your advice. I feel more confident about continuing with the Hyd. Thanks again

OP posts:
tibsy · 11/03/2007 11:03

hi GN!
just been looking on links re. dd's eczema (mine, not yours!) and another way of hydrating and nourishing skin is by placing oats in the bath. just thought you might be interested. am going to try it with lo and see how we go.

Original poster
gingerninja · 12/03/2007 09:25

Hi Tibsy

I did the oats in the bath for a while and it's absolutely fine, better than oilatum but I found balenum (sp) a bit more slippery, it's mostly soya oil. The 'cream' you get from the oats is lovely tho.

OP posts:
maretta · 12/03/2007 09:36

I took my ds to see a dermatologist last week and he's got me using betnovate and hydrocortisone for at least the next 5 weeks. His opinion is that the bad side of hydrocortisone is over hyyped.

I'm obviously a bit nervous about it but moisturisers are sometimes not enough and the poor little mite is so much more comfortable.

I've always been told to use hydrocortisone 2x daily and to keep using a few days after a flare up has subsided.

Good luck.

tibsy · 13/03/2007 15:46

ginger - have you any experience of using hemp oil? a friend recommended it today and i wondered if you'd tried it?
i think dd has been getting too hot in with us at night as shes covered her forehead with scratches. do you find that with your lo at all, that heat aggravates it?
sorry, am asking for your advice rather than offering suggestions

Original poster
gingerninja · 13/03/2007 19:43

Tibsy, not sure if I've mentioned to you before but I was advised to try Shea Butter from this lady that runs a website called www.theremustbeabetterway.co.uk She is herself a life long sufferer of eczema and has done lots of research into conventional creams and 'alternative'. She was quite good to talk to. Anyways, we do use it on DD. It is very gloopy but seems very nourishing. It's quite a good barrier cream too because it's so thick.

I haven't tried hemp but I have read that it works for some people. I imagine the key is to try and find some that has minimal other ingredients in. I've been getting my shea butter from 'The shea butter cottage' and they do loads of natural butters (fairtrade stuff) not sure if they've got hemp.

It's definately about trial and error. I find it quite depressing that her eczema flares up so frequently for no obvious reason. Yesterday she looked OK, today she is covered in a rash again, under her arms and behind her knees are red raw and she's scratching at her head. I find it quite upsetting as there is so little I can do about it.

OP posts:
tibsy · 14/03/2007 09:22

ginger - thanks for that
i know you're lo is not liking the spoon idea atm but are you planning on avoiding dairy products like cows milk yoghurts etc. my dd was having yoghurts, but i've now bought some sheep/goats milk yoghurt to try.

sorry to keep asking you, really should get my own thread! will look on other threads too

ipanemagirl · 14/03/2007 09:43

Gingerninja, I haven't tried any of these products yet but I've cut out the article from Guardian family section - seems to have some good products:
have a look at this

my ds's eczema has suddenly exploded on his face after a vacc booster - very depressing.
We've been using hydrocortisone (1%) and Ultrbase which I think is a brilliant moisturiser and use it myself for my eczema. It's clearing up now but I don't know how long to carry on with the cream - I'm going to go and read the instructions actually.