cool cashncarry, i would love to visit T&T, especially tobago.
saadia, any 'soap' has a drying effect. aveeno lotion 2x a day or even more often. dd's face only cleared up after putting aveeno on 4x a day. and always the aveeno and then the hydrocortisone if there is a flareup. if no flare up aveeno everyday anyway.
rowan, moisturise first, then the cortisone cream or ointment on top. keep applying the hydrocortisone after all redness has disappeared. if it keeps coming back after a day or 2 reapply again. always moisturise.
a stubborn patch takes longer to clear up than a small patch there for a day or 2.
and yes hydrocortisone can be used on the face. the problem with thinning skin happened in earlier times because the strength of the creams and ointments were higher. they don't make them in those dosages anymore because it has been found to be just as effective in lower dosages.
btw, hydrocortisone is in the same family of drugs as birth control pills. in the 60's and 70's, like hydrocortisone creams, the dosages were higher. later on they found out taht lower dosages were also just as effective and less unwanted symptoms too.