Steroid cream on eyelids - how long it too long?

[NatterNatter50]

Hello - please help. I’m having a really awful flare of dermatitis on both eyelids. It started a few weeks ago with dry and peeling skin on eyelids which then led to both eyelids becoming red, flaky, itchy and swollen. GP prescribed a steroid cream that I used alongside emollient cream. Said not to use it for longer than 2 weeks (1 week twice a day and another week just once a day). It worked instantly. I completed the course and then thought that was the end of it.

It was all fine for one week and then it’s started up again a week ago. Probably because I wasn’t as careful with using emollient etc. So now I can’t get an appointment with the GP until another week and a half! I’m in agony. Taking antihistamines and using epaderm ointment but my eyes are still dry and itchy and burning. This morning I’ve woken up and they’re really swollen. Can starting to get a bit wrinkled too.
i have some steroid cream left over…would it be the worst thing if used it again to get it under control until I get to see my GP? Has anyone done this before? I know steroids can thin the skin with long term use but I’m wondering in an extra week counts as “long term”. As soon as I see GP I’m going to push for a referral to a dermatologist. Just really frightened skin around eyes is getting damaged the worse this gets. Please help.

Following as I’m having a psoriasis flair up so have the same question.

@RandomMess ive given in and just put the steroid cream on again. Using it for another few days to get it under control until I see a dermatologist doesn’t exactly mean im using it long term and leaving it like this is only making it worse.

I found the E45 dermatitis cream excellent for this. Suffered with really sore stingy painful flakeky eyelids, with some swelling for a couple of years. The dermatitis cream really helped. It's about 27 euro in boots. They have a cheaper dermatological one in similar packaging - so just make sure you get the dermatitis one.

@KookyDenimBalonz - thanks! I am just prepared to try anything

You can dilute your steroid cream with your emollient to make it less strong.
Check everything else you are using - make-up, cleanser etc - to see if anything is setting it off. If I’m having a flare, even my normal products irritate my skin so I have to avoid eye-make up.
I get tacrolimus ointment from GP but was initially from a dermatologist so I’m not sure if GP can start it.

Thanks @Bootsineedboots thars Easley what I want…the tacrolimus/ Protopic so I’ve not found a dermatologist to prescribe it but just need to wait a week and half for my gp appointment so I can get a referral. In the meantime I am spending the Easter weekend just miserable.

Talk to a pharmacist; you can just walk in and ask them, and they’ll be able to advise you.

My pharmasist said put a thin layer of e45 then the tiniest bit of steroid so diluting it.

Thanks @helpfulperson . I’ll try that as I have some e45.

ive seen 2 pharmacists this weekend and both said they couldn’t help and that I need to see my GP so not very helpful.

I suppose it depends to some extent how potent the steroid is, it’s generally only mild or moderate at the most for eyelids as your skin is very thin there. It should say on the dispensing label. The National Eczema Society website is a good source of information.

I've been using betnovate on my eyelids for years on dermatologist instructions. She said that thinning of the skin is a myth. I do only use a tiny amount though.

Emollient creams make everything worse for me.

Just a left field thought - I get excema around the corners of my mouth and I use anti bacterial cream called fuicidin mixed with betnovate. It's on prescription but works almost overnight.

@Ilovelowry - thanks so much! This is exactly what I needed to know. And yes the steroid cream worked instantly overnight so glad I used it now as it was making me miserable and ruining this lovely long weekend for me.