Face itching , redness and swollen

Hi, my name is raj and from last 10 years I'm using Betnovate-N cream on my face, recently someone tols me it has steroids u must stop it. When i stopped applying for 3 to 4 days my face had very bad itching , redness and soreness near eyes and under eyes, and again when I started applying Betnovate-N face become good, but i stopped from last week and I have very bad itching, redness and soreness.

So, please suggest me what to do, I wanna get rid of Betnovate-N cream.
Thankyou

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
Steroids are commonly given to people who are suffering from dermatitis. The good thing about steroids is that they are fast acting so the swelling and the itching on the skin often subside within a short period of time. Unfortunately, like many types of drugs, steroids can have some serious side effects on the body. A lot of people suffer from atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal when they are taken off the treatment.

The best way to avoid atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal syndrome is to avoid using steroids as much as possible. Steroids should only be used to treat severe dermatitis. People should try to find alternative ways of treating dermatitis.

Some of the factors that increase the risk of atopic dermatitis steroid withdrawal are potency of the steroid applied topically to the skin. Studies show that steroids penetrate the skin faster when they are topically applied on the groin area and on the face.

In cases of preceding long-term misuse of topical steroids, as it is in your case, gradual steroid withdrawal with low-dose 0.1-0.5% hydrocortisone cream can be tried initially. You could then start reducing this to alternate day applications and try to wean yourself of the medication. Keep reducing the frequency of application till you begin to notice no worsening of the rash on withdrawal.

ref:http://www.dermatitis-skin-disorder.com/Atopic_Dermatitis_Steroid_Withdrawal.html