Hydrocortisone on face eczema???

[elephantseverywhere]

I know you're advised not to use steroid cream on your face, but I don't really understand what the risks are - guidelines talk about thinning skin etc - but what is actually likely to happen practically if I just use a tiny bit of 0.05% hydrocortisone cream on my cheek? I assume thinning skin would only be an issue with long term use?!

I've suddenly developed a patch of what looks like eczema which started in the crease where my nose joins my cheek and is slowly spreading outwards. Has been there about a month now, haven't used any new products so no idea why. It's only mildly itchy and not that big (yet) but obviously making me self conscious having this red patch on my face. I asked pharmacist and all she could give me was moisturiser (which I use already).

Have had quite bad eczema elsewhere in recent past so have the cream already... would it really be so risky to try a little dab of it on my face?!?

It sounds like dermatitis, its so annoying and stubborn. The only thing that got rid of dds was fucidin h which is a cortisone and antibiotic in one. It came back again after a year or so.

We used steroid creams on my son's face for a long time with no bad effects. He had severe eczema. It can make you more prone to sun damage, but if you're in the UK now, that's not much of a consideration!

I use it on my face-but just a bit.

Yes you can use 0.5%. This is prescription only whereas you can buy 1% over the counter but it's not supposed to be used on the face- and they usually ask you where it's for if you try to buy it.

I have used 0.5% on face in the past- prescribed.

Only use it short term. Any longer and you can get stretch marks and thinning of skin.

If it carries on see a dermatologist- there are other things now apart from steroids for the face but your GP cannot prescribe.

The patch on your cheek- is it/does it have

• a bit bumpy, as if tiny blisters
• red and mildly itchy/sore
• tiny flakes when a micro blister pops
• quite a distinct patch/area

?

If so, it's worth trying dermol cream or lotion for a week or so. I had a patch of (possibly) dermatitis that I misidentified as eczema and lasted for three years and then treated with dermol and cleared up in two weeks. I only switched because I was beginning to see skin thinning etc from the steroid cream.

Thanks everyone! I guess I just assumed eczema as I've had it so much before, although it's usually a reaction to certain soaps etc, mostly on my hands.

It's red and looks bumpy, but can't see distinct blisters like I get with the hand eczema. The bumps look like they're under the skin. It's mildly sore and itchy. Doesn't seem dry or flakey. When it first appeared it was the size of an angry spot, but just wouldn't go away and now the red patch is spreading outwards :(

Sounds like my cream is pretty low strength tho - it's called Dermasone 0.05% (I'm not in UK so not sure if the brand name would be different...)

I had very bad exzema all over my body till I was about 16 or 17. Used cortisone cream regularly- really really needed to.

I have great skin now - very few wrinkles and I pass for mid-40s when I’m now 60. I put it down to excema and cortisone! I think there’s quite a bit of over reaction about how “bad” such topical treatment is. It’s not oral steroids.

But just one little patch - I’d probably just let it clear naturally.

Google perioral dermatitis

My DD has the same issue. Red bumpy spots around nose creases and under nose between nose and Cupid's bow.

Tried all kinds of creams: fucidin, hydrocortisones, fungal creams and nothing worked - her Drs were baffled.

I then decided to suggest washing face with plain water or a dermol 500 soap substitute and water then applying Diprobase cream (eczema moisturiser) and it has 80% cleared up so we are continuing with this route as although it wasn't dry was like eczema with the bumps and redness and it's working.

@Blarneybear google perioral dermatitis

That's what I think mine was. It cleared up very quickly when I treated it as if it was that.

OP, Dermol is a wonder-product. It's anti-pruritic (stops itching), anti-microbial (not an antibiotic but sorts out some things eg micro fungus) and is quite a decent light moisturiser. I'm allergic to loads of things and I think it is almost impossible to be allergic to it. It doesn't smell of anything either. I do recommend.

I googled perioral dermatitis, it does look similar to mine (Altho most online photos of mild face rashes look similar tbh!) so could well be...apparently it can be caused by steroid cream too so that's put me off my original plan a bit! 

Seems like I need to find some Dermol :) will have a hunt in shops tomorrow and see if it's available in these parts!

All these tips much appreciated!

My doctor told me it was fine but not to tell the chemist I was to use it in my face

I used it on my daughter's face and she developed Red Skin Syndrome. Couldn't understand why her eczema was getting worse and spreading and my gp made me aware of steroid induced eczema. I think he said something like the face is more absorbent than rest of body so much higher risk of becoming dependent on the topical steroid. She's clear now from the red skin syndrome after stopping steroid creams but the withdrawal wasn't pleasant. Original
Eczema she seems to have outgrown thank goodness.
Just make sure you do your research on side effects of steroid creams , even the low percent ones. Wish I had but I do think my daughter was way over prescribed it by another gp.

Dermol sounds amazing. Am going on the hunt!!

You can get it from any pharmacy- got mine in Tesco. It comes in a massive bottle. I like the lotion better because I use it as a normal moisturiser and the dermatitis hasn't come back for about 18 months now.

London yikes! Ok having read your experience and the common causes for perioral dermatitis I'm not going to risk the steroid cream after all!!

Especially since this morning i can see red spots popping up on my chin and the other cheek  so p. dermatitis is looking even more convincing. Ugh.

I guess plan for now is stop using all products on my face (not that I used many before!) and search for Dermol (I'm in Asia right now so not sure what brands I might be able to get here...also had a terrible reaction to an 'eczema friendly' soap substitute before so v cautious about experimenting...).

If it keeps spreading I'll get it checked out, feel a bit silly going to docs as it's quite mild and not uncomfortable, but so self conscious already! Why must these things just pop up all of a sudden?! I had eczema as a kid, grew out of it, then suddenly all these skin issues hit me in my 30s  so frustrating!!