hydrocortisone 1%

[Fayecorgasm]

My4 yr od dd's been given this today for her execma, the doctor says it's ok to use indefinately, but I'm sure that's wrong. The package says only use for 7 days, and everything I've read about it says it is dangerous for long term use.
So, what to do......

ignore your doctor and go with what you read about it
plus try to get another gp / get referral to dermatologist

It's usually used for a few days to control the flare up, then leave it off for a while, then use again when symptoms recur, rather than constant daily use. The emollients are usually continued all the time.

Have a chat with the pharmacist if concerned, it's a fairly mild cream and available without prescription ( although not for children or facial use unless prescribed)but no need to delay starting the treatment. Would agree that requesting an appt with dermatology clinic would be a good idea, HTH

thanks, good idea about the pharmacist, will do that. In the past within 2 days of stopping the hc the redness has appeared, but I don't think it's right to continue it just for that reason.
Never had any experience with eczema before, it's a minefield!

This was a miracle cream for my ds.

As a baby, he had eczema, never really badly but had a few persistent and nasty patches.

The hydrocortisone cream would literally solve the problem in these areas overnight! Gp also said it is safe to use whenever required - we didn't need it very often.

Give it a go. Obviously, your dd might have it a lot worse than my ds ever did but you won't know until you try.

If it does not work, you'll have better grounds for asking for a specialist referral.

I think you can get weaker than 1% hydrocortisone, you could try one of those and see if that controls it?

Yes, you can get .5%

I think you have to trust the GP though too.

Afterall, all medicines that we use frequently have side effects when you read the info inside the box but I would still give my dcs calpol and I take the antibiotics that are prescribed to me, if required.

Pain killers can safely be given in much higher doses than written on the box too (obviously, only on the advice of a Dr!)

no, don't trust your gp on this, they are wrong

if dd is suffering faye, then do use it

if you are needing to use it all the time then you need a referral to a dermatologist

we use 1% hydrocortisone and other steroid creams but I certainly wouldn't be happy using them every single day. I think for an outbreak it's fine, but not permanently.

and dh, who did overuse these creams as a young adult, now has significant thinning of his skin (though he was overusing a FAR more powerful steroid cream)

Are you keeping up with the moisturisation when you are applying the hydrocortisone? If the skin gets dry it will flare up again.

She has only had this problem for about 3 months. I think I might not have been using the steroid cream for quite long enough to begin with, so have not totally got rid of the infection before stopping the hc. Am going to blitz it for 2 weeks, and see if that helps. I'm also applying hydromol cream 3 times a day.

DesperateHousewifeToo - I see what you are saying, but tbh, I wouldn't want to give calpol on a daily basis either!

FrannyandZooey I'm sure you are right, it can't be good to have steroids every day for the next however many months!

Anyway, many thanks to everyone for your help!

Foxinsocks, you said what I was trying to say but much clearer than I seemed to manage it.

Wasn't suggesting to give calpol on a daily basis for forever but I would (and have) given for a week or so when necessary.

Hope you can find out what has caused flare-up. New washing powder?