Steroid Induced Rosacea

[Meggg]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Meg. Six years ago I had an allergic reaction to make-up. I was given oral predisone for this reaction . After taking the predisone, I started to to get red round circles on my face when I was sleeping. These circles looked like ringworm. I saw an allergist and a dermatologist about this. The allergist didn't know and the dermatologist said it was an allergy even though I wasn't putting anything on my face-not even water. I was given cortisone to put on this. It seemed to take it away but then it would cause redness below where I was putting it, so I would put it where the redness went and pretty soon, I was coving my entire face with it. After doing much research on this, I now realize that the circles were not even an allergy. It was an yeast infection. Yeast grows where it is warm and I slept on my side with my face against the pillow. Predisone lowers ones immume system and yeast infections from this is pretty common. My face used to just flare red with any kind of emotion. It has got better over time. This is really difficult for me because I have always been extremely pale. My dermatologist diagnosed me with Rosacea. When I asked him if I could have got this from the cortisone, he said, "No." Finally I bought a book that had information in it on Steroid Induced Rosacea. When I took it to my dermatologist and showed him, he said, "Well you obviously know more about it than I do." I haven't been back to the doctor in five years. I just don't get the answers I'm looking for. Cortisone causes a wide spread dialation of blood vessels. That's why I was getting the redness below where I actually put the cortisone. At first this it was really bad-My face would flare daily. I can kinda keep it under control but it's really difficult to do. I have to limit my stress and make sure the room is kept cool. Which really limits me to what I can do. I can't go outside on hot and humid days and I most certainly can not lay out in the sun, which was one of my most favorite things to do. I know a lot of people would think, "Well why don't you just go about your life and not worry about it?" Well that would be nice, but it's not that easy. First of all, when it flares, it gets extremely red and painful. And second, I look ridiculous-maybe because it's not a natural flushing. It's steroid induced, so it gets redder in some spots than others. I have read that steroid induced rosacea goes away, but mine has not. I'm sure I did permanment damage. Don't get me wrong, it has got better, but it's far from gone. I also have problems with hives because the steroid has made my skin so sensative. When I get nervous, this makes my face break out in these terrible looking blotches. This has made getting a job next to impossible.

Is there any help out there? Does anyone know anything about this?

[Jimmy D]

hey megggg,

i too used a topical steriod given to me by a dr for a long period of time, and it no doubt caused my rosacea. i was bad at first, but believe im getting better through combination of ipl, a good moisturiser and sunscreen, and suppliments. one suppliment i found helps greatly for my sensitivity to the sun is GliSODin, might be worth a look at, as i know that it has visibly helped me.

fuck those peeple that say "Well why don't you just go about your life and not worry about it?", unless they have rosacea, then i would admire them.

There's not a lot else i can say, other than finding a good regime that works for you, and if you can afford perhaps some laser, although people have had mixed reults so i hesitate to suggest it, but i know its helped me enough to go back to university.

steriod rosacea is a bitch, esp. as we have done it to ourselves (with the help of so called dr's), but if its possible we have to try to calm the skin so it can get better.

if you havnt already, find a good moisturiser for starter that doesnt irritate, i like pure aloe gel, everything else messes with me. better yet, buy dr nase's book, it has pretty good info on just about everything.

feel free to ask me anything.

[Meggg]

Hi Jimmy D,

Thanks for the kind works. I was beginning to think that I must be the only one in the world who has done this to themselves.

I looked up that GliSODin. They had a few different ones. One was a powder. The others were pills. One was 250mg; the other 500mg. What dose do you take? I wasn't sure on what to try and how much to take. If you could give me some info on this, I would greatly appreciate it.

I have Dr. Nase's book. That's how I diagnosed myself since my Doc told me that one couldn't get rosacea from steroids. When I brought in my book and showed him, he said, "Well I guess you know more about it than I do." That's why I haven't been to the doctor in 5 years.

I use Aveeno lotion and that works great for me. It took a while to find something that wouldn't irritate my skin.

Mine also has gotten better over time but it has been six years. I suppose I did permanent damage. I totally agree with you about calming the skin so it can heal. I've told people before that if I could just sit in a cool room, not cook or eat and not have any stress for about three months, this might just go away. Too bad it's not possible. :?

Thanks for the info. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Meggg

[Jimmy D]

Hi again meggg,

i pretty much had to diagnose myself too, as the many dr's i went to said similar things to me, which is a pity cause it means that steriod induced rosacea could be happening more that i think.

ive had it for about 4 years, thats after most derms told me it would go away once i stopped with the steriod cream. one even laughed at me for suggesting some of the treatments fron dr nase's book. like you im very easily flushed to hot environments and stress, food, and pretty much everything.

anyway, the best place i found for glisodin is www.vitacost.com (although they seemed to have stopped shipping to australia, bastards), they sell it cheap and in 500mg capsules, and i take two a day - one morning, one night. dont expect too much but as ive said, i really do believe it has helped me, esp. with the sun, and considering it catalyses anti-oxidant production it can only be good.

ive no doubt that with the proper treatments and care we can get better.

i hope you do.
James.

[Jan Jones]

Include me in on the steroids. I was given oral steroids for what they thought was poison ivy. I was given dose paks and when the rash began to spread down my legs they gave me shots of steroids. The shots brought out hives all over my legs and arms. I then began to have swelling on the right side of my face in the cheek. It became very red and very irratated when in the sun. Went to several doctor for a year before one diagnosed me with rosacea. I already knew what I had by the time I got to that doctor as I found it on the internet. I am allergic to steroids even tho these doctor's told me no one was allergic to them! I try my hardest to stay away from all doctor's now. I still get hives once in a while. I am now also allergic to peanuts, cashews etc., never was before, never had rosacea before the steroids either.

[Meggg]

Hi Jan,

Thanks for sharing your story. So, did you just take oral steroids or did you also use a cream? I guess we would have to agree that medicine isn't always necessary-even when prescribed by a doctor.

How long ago did this happen? Is it clearing up or remaining the same? It's a bitch to live with, I know that.

I get hives a lot too. Stress is the worst for me. I've been taking benadryl but I hate how tired it makes me.

I wish you the best. Feel free to let me know how you're doing, or if you find anything that works really good for you.

Meg

[Jan Jones]

Hi Megg-they had me on oral and cream on my leg where the rash was. As far as now, my rosacea has never left and I battle with it each day. I find that with hives they leave after a couple of weeks. I don't get them alot but do have breakouts now and then. My skin has become very sensitive after taking these steroids. I also think some of my problems are hormone related. Hope your better soon, Jan