Eczema and Topical Steroid Withdrawal: What You Need To Know

Prescribed TCS treatments range in strength from very mild (hydrocortisone) to super potent (clobetasol propionate-Dermovate) with gradations in between. GPs will typically prescribe very mild to moderate TCS creams for short periods (up to around 2-4 weeks) but refer your child to a consultant if stronger or more prolonged treatments are needed. Emollients should be used continuously even when the skin is good and the eczema is under control – as it often reduces the need for topical corticosteroids. Mild creams of 1% strength can be bought at pharmacies, whilst stronger ones, up to 2.5% strength can be prescribed by a doctor.

• It is worth noting that there is a huge difference between the creams prescribed for eczema and high doses of cortisone taken orally.
• There is a stronger hydrocortisone cream called hydrocortisone butyrate.
• This is based on the whole area being treated therefore if only a proportion of the area is affected the number of FTU should be adjusted accordingly.
• Dr Hunt recommends using mild or moderately potent steroids as soon as the skin starts to flare.

It was then that I came across Dr Amiee Vyas at GetHarley in December 2020. I booked in for a virtual consultation where Amiee listened to my skin journey and recommended a skin regime for me. I’d never really had a skin regime before, just a tonne of moisturiser, so this was a positive step.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

‘Following application instructions are key – using too little can result in long-term use and a prolonged flare because the inflammation is never properly controlled,’ says Dr Vyas. If you are using one of the weaker preparations, on the lower rungs of the ladder, and your skin seems to have become worse, the doctor may suggest that you “go up” a step or two and use a stronger ointment. Note that they are completely different from the other family of drugs, so called “anabolic steroids”, which are drugs sometimes taken by athletes. Up to 1 out of every 5 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, and 1 in 40 babies are born with a birth defect.

Waiting for the skin to deteriorate beyond what is tolerable often results in the need for stronger and longer steroid treatments. Many studies have shown that used appropriately, the symptoms of eczema can be rapidly controlled without side effects. A 2019 study into steroid phobia surveyed 3000 general users of corticosteroids and found that 31 per cent had steroid phobia.

Steroid tablets

With more than 35 years of experience as a Medical Consultant and Holistic Nutritionist, Anna has developed her own alkaline-based approach for natural well-being. Annas holistic methodology helps slow down the ageing processes, cures problematic skin types and helps increase physical strength and mental clarity. In these cases, doctors will usually advise that they’re used once a day, sometimes twice, with a gap of at least eight to 12 hours between applications. If you’re prescribed such an ointment, use only on the affected area and take good notice of how you’ve been told to manage it in order to avoid an allergic reaction.

Who can use topical corticosteroids

This is a card which lets healthcare professionals and emergency workers know you are prescribed a steroid and has the details of your medicine and dose. No moisture treatment (NMT) really didn’t work for me, and I had no real medical knowledge about how to deal with it properly. I was afraid of going back to my GP who would most likely try to offer me steroid creams again. A couple of weeks later, I was left trying to battle both recovery and topical steroid withdrawal.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Hydrocortisone Cream?

The strength of the products range from 0.1% (1mg of hydrocortisone in each gram) to 2.5% (25mg of hydrocortisone in each gram). Antihistamines are also useful and there are non-sedating products for use in the daytime like Piriteze and sedating products for the nighttime like Piriton – which can help with sleep. One of the key aims of treatment in atopic dermatitis is to break the itch / scratch cycle. The HIV medication may increase the level of corticosteroid in your body.

Who Shouldn’t Use Hydrocortisone Cream?

The preferred formulation for corticosteroids is usually ointment as they are more moisturising than cream, and contain less or no preservatives. If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please ensure the doctor or health care professional treating you is aware of your pregnancy. However, it is always sensible to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using a topical corticosteroid to ensure that a minimal amount is absorbed into the bloodstream. Fingertip units can be helpful when determining prescription quantities.

Enhanced Services Survey for Patients

Eating well, avoiding stress and sleeping well are all part of our recommended holistic way of managing your skin. Plus, our alkalising range has been specifically developed by us (and tested on our contrary skin!) to support the needs of a non conformist anabolic-androgenic steroids price complexion. You can also purchase them over the counter from a pharmacy, but again they will be low dose and only for certain conditions. See below for the quantities that should be sufficient for two weeks treatment of once daily application.