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Reversal of Corticosteroid Damage?

For about a year, on and off, I was prescribed various anti-fungal and hydro-cortisone ointment and creams by my doctor, and later my dermatologist to deal with itching on my scrotum and at the base of my penis shaft (where it meets the scrotum). No treatments seemed to help, so I eventually gave up on all prescription, about a year later and hoped the issue would resolve itself. It has now been a year since I gave up on doctors, and nearly two years since my problem began (august of 2009), and I find that my scrotal skin is hypersensitive. Just wearing pants causes me to experience itching and soreness. I don't know if its normal because i can't really remember how the skin used to look, but there is a "shinyness" about the skin, particularly where the penis hangs over the scrotum. In addition, the fordyce spots in this area are extra pronounced. I did a bit of my own internet research, having given up on my doc, and came across some unsettling information about steroid induced skin atrophy. I am in a panic that the cortisone treatments have permanently damaged my skin. Is this likely? I notice no striae, which i've read indicate atrophy, but the skin does seem to have lost some of its colour, and is, as i mentioned before, "shinyer"than before. Is soreness and itching a symptom of atrophy? Will the atrophy be resolved over time on its own? (I am only 20 yrs old.) In my panic I have searched the web for methods of reversing atrophy, and have come across a great deal of information about a product called "Tretinoin," which apparently helps to reverse skin atrophy. Is it advisable to use this or something similar on an area so sensitive as the scrotum? Obviously I will return to my dermatologist in person to ask, but I was hoping to get some insight from you. This condition is severely depressing as it is always on my mind.  
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Avatar universal
I wish I could post a picture on my penis here so you could see what happened to me 8 years ago. I used flutivate two weeks. The skin then broke down" so to say and became burning red and thinner. If I can pinch my skin with my fingers and feel and see the difference in thickness between the untreated part of my shaft and the treated one I for one say that´s atrophy. If I can see the red small veins popping up" closer to the surface and if I can feel pain much more  intense due to the nerves being closer to the surface and If I have doctor confirming the atrophy I absolutely no doubt consider this atrophy.

Now I give you one thing...and that is the odds you were talking about...what are the odds of this happening.. It does´t take a rocket scientist to figure out this is rare. If this was common steroids wouldn´t be prescribed like this. Of course this is not common...But it happened to me!!! If you want to see it give me your mail and I send a pic and I´ll show you!  

I didn´t want to post anymore on thos forum but when somebody suggests it´s not atrophy I had to reply.

Now to answer this even more specific I agree with you that there is a chance this atrophy could be in companion with allergic reaction or nerve damage or whatever...I´m not saying you´re wrong on that...but saying there is no atrophy makes me really wanna prove it to you.

Finally I wanna say to all of you reading this and have read all my earlier post here. A couple of months ago I finally was remitted to a neurologist/pain expert. He prescribed me Lyrica and since then I have step by step raised the dosage and I can say now there is some relief. The medicine blocks some of the pain and if you add xylocain I guess the pain can come down to a level where you can live with it.

After 8 years I have started to work towards acceptance...and the antidepressive cipralex makes it a little bit easier but still this is so freakin hard to accept...I couldn´t care less about the atrophy if it wasn´t associated with pain....The pain is there all the time...when I put on my clothes...when I lie on my stomach...when I move...and don´t even get me started about mastrubating.

I have a feeling more and more people will end up on this forum after being hurt  by steroids and reading all this for the first time ...does that make it common..of course not, but it happend to us in here..and that´s a fact!
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
Do you have an update?
Avatar universal
NEVER NEVER EVER USED STEROIDS FOR ANYTHING IT WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE FOREVER........ I know from personal experience i suffered for almost 10 years numerous ailments with no cure or diagnosis in sight. it all started after using cortisone creams and nebulizers both contain very powerfull and dangerous steroids . this class of drugs should be banned the side effects outweigh the conditions they are meant to cure.
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Avatar universal
Why is it that NO doctors talk about the rebound effect that happens after applying topical steroids to the skin, especially the groin area. The groin absorbs 30-40% of the steroid, much much more than other parts of the body.

LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS.

ANY Doctor who prescribes lotrisone for a guy to apply to his penis for a fungal infection has NO clue what risk they are taking with that persons life. IT IS NOT WORTH IT.

So Doctors, if you are really out to ruin peoples lives then keep telling your patients to apply a steroid to their penis, because that's all you are doing.



  
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Avatar universal
Hey has anyone considered Dr fukaya's lotion it apparently helps to reverse skin atrophy does anyone know if it actually works for atrophy from corticosteroids. Apparently the 2 percent 50 to 100 dalton one is the one that might work.  If someone can say if it has worked for them that would give me more confudence to try it. Thanks everyone
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Did you try it?
According to research 50-400 kDa sized hyaluronic acid could reverse skin atrophy.
Avatar universal
I used hydrocortisone and Eumovate on the advise of a derm and it has ruined my life. All of my genitals are red raw, burn and are so thin the veins are almost popping out! All started from a little irritation on the tip of the penis and a doctor not telling me the dangers of topical steroids (should I need to do my own research)!!!!???
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Avatar universal
I typed a long long piece about my experience too just now but it didn’t post! I have the same issue and so bad that it’s become systemic and my skin all over my body has become shiny/soft and lacking thickness.
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Avatar universal
Corticosteroids have been a mainstay of skin diseases for decades now. More people have used potent creams including betamethasone and clobetasol on their scrotums to treat various infections and skin problems than this forum seem to suggest. IF corticosteroids did cause widespread 'skin atrophy' on the scrotum, there would have been more commotion. Yet, only very few people online have reported to have severe skin reactions to topical corticosteroids. Fungal infections are widespread amongst both men and women. These creams are also widely used. It must be odd that a couple of guys on medhelp are the only ones with issues.

Remember, if doctors had indeed prescribed Lotrisone to treat your scrotal/penile issues, it is most likely standard practice. Doctors are not that creative.

I have cancer, and I have used Lotrisone to treat a fungal infection for two weeks. The Lotrisone was prescribed by my oncologist and he assured me that he regularly prescribes Lotrisone for stubborn fungal infections. He also assured me that skin atrophy, as it is clinically defined, does not happen with short-term use of corticosteroids. Yes, even on the scrotum. The Lotrisone cured my itching and I am currently applying Daktarin cream to make sure the fungus is gone for good. I have had no reaction to the cream. Before using Lotrisone, I have used creams like Betnovate and Daktacort. The latter I've used for weeks at a time.

What many of you have described sounds more like a skin reaction to the steroid creams than skin atrophy, which does not happen that quickly. Redness, burning, and pain, sounds more like an allergic reaction or TSW, i.e Red Scrotum Syndrome. Steroids can also worsen fungal infections. Fungal infections can cause symptoms skin to skin atrophy - thin, peeling, dry skin, sometimes revealing open sores which may bleed. There are many rare diseases of the scrotum that may give rise to the symptoms that is described here. Some of which, such as genital dysaesthesia, is mostly neurological. How hard is it to get your skin examined under a microscope to check whether your skin has actually undergone atrophy?

If you're thinking, what are the odds of my having a rare skin condition that literally fewer than 10 people online and on medical journals have reported to have? I have a cancer that affects only 2.6 people out of 100,000 every year. It happens. Corticosteroids may have been the trigger, but I can assure you that people have been using steroids on sensitive parts of their bodies for ages. Steroids do not cause skin atrophy in such a short time period.
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1 Comments
That's not true. A doctor wrote in a paper that certain steroids can cause damage in as little as 3 days, which is what happened to me. I got serious steroid damage by day 5, but now I know that the faint tingling I felt on day 1 was the beginning. And it kept getting stronger. I got a doctor on the phone, but all he kept saying was that he wasn't concerned. I made the mistake to let my guard down. That was 2005 when it happened. 2021 now and I am no better.
Avatar universal
tried everyting now and there is no cure

goodbye
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1 Comments
Hey man, don't give up! I personally want you to find peace in this lifetime. It doesn't involve self-surgery either...

What you will need to do is begin compiling all your research, penis pictures and a thorough account of doctors visits, attempted therapies and symptoms over time.

Then, we will need to look for an online forum that allows for the posting of this type of information. There are legit forums these days where you can upload your whole medical history and multiple professionals can look at it and collaborate. Start looking for the best ones!
We can't have you dying on us just yet...

So hang in there a little longer!
Avatar universal
http://www.plasticsurgerypractice.com/2013/09/study-supports-use-of-autologous-fat-grafting-for-hard-to-treat-scars/
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so I´ve tried protopic and lyrica and no effect. I will see a plastic surgeon and discuss my problem. Sometimes I wanna take a knife and cut out the skin myself.
Avatar universal
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7576658_Treatment_of_Local_Persistent_Cutaneous_Atrophy_Following_Corticosteroid_Injection_with_Normal_Saline_Infiltration
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Avatar universal
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130924122451.htm
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1 Comments
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/14764172.2015.1114639
Avatar universal
does anyone know if there are more longterm working numbing creams like lidokaine on the market. I think the only way to cope with this nightmare is just using numbing cream for ever and maybe bring it with you and put it on several times day. When it comes to rethicken the skin it seems like doctors only say one thing works and that is retinol. But retinol will sting bad and there is no guarantee it´ll work. I can´t have that **** on my **** everyday it hurts a lot due to the peeling effect. Lidokaine is the only thing that takes the pain away but it´s so short time. I wonder if I can accept what has happend to me and live my life anyway. I just think it´s so sad i have lost interest in sex. I have problems keeping an erection cause i believe it will hurt when a girl touches me...Therefor I can´t perform like before. My confidence is zero. When i think about sex i associate it with pain. I guess however it´s time to give up now after 7 years and accept it or commit suicide.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
ok so I quit the antibiotics since it doesn´t help me anymore...I don´t understand why it helped and then stopped working. But now I just put on protopic for the first time 5 minutes ago. So let´s see what happens. I think I´m gonna book a meeting with a plastic surgeon to discuss what fillers or fat transplant or skin graft can do. If it´s even possible at all. I read a lot about people who got fat transplants for steroid induced atrophy from injections and some have good results. Don´t know if this can be done on my penis shaft skin though. Today the itch was hell and it feels like ants are biting me and the burning sensation. When I look closely i see shiny striae stretchmarks going reddish and irritated. There is nothing I can do about it..I stopped moisterizing creams all together..there is simply no point anymore...the skin will never heal on it´s own.never ever.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
http://journals.lww.com/dermatologicsurgery/Citation/2016/11000/Therapeutic_Use_of_Hyaluronic_Acid_Fillers_in_the.16.aspx
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Avatar universal
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
One of the important and distressing cutaneous side effects of steroid therapy is skin atrophy, which has no definite and effective treatment. To the best of our knowledge, laser therapy for steroid-induced atrophic scars has not been investigated to date.

OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulsed dye laser in the treatment of steroid-induced atrophic scars.

METHODS:
In this pilot study, 15 patients with at least one atrophic patch were treated with the 585-nm pulsed dye laser at 4-week interval sessions until achieving complete improvement or until patient were lost to follow-up. Clinical outcome was assessed via standard photographic method before each treatment session and after the final visit. An independent dermatologist evaluated the photographs.

RESULT:
All of the patients (13 females and two males) with 25-59 years of age experienced some degree of improvement, except one patient who withdrew from the treatment after three sessions. The treatment was well tolerated.

CONCLUSION:
The results of our study indicated that pulsed dye laser therapy could be employed as a new method in the treatment of steroid-induced atrophic scars. Pulsed dye laser might affect the lesions through inducing collagen deposition and production of more superficial dermal elastin as well as less unidirectional collagen in clusters.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Topical corticosteroids decrease collagen synthesis during short-term treatment and can induce skin atrophy when applied over the long term. In contrast, short-term tacrolimus ointment therapy does not affect collagen synthesis.

OBJECTIVES:
Our aim was to evaluate the long-term effects of 0.1% tacrolimus ointment on collagen synthesis and on skin thickness in adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and to compare the findings with the effects of conventional steroid-based therapy.

METHODS:
Fifty-six patients with AD were treated with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment in a 1-year, open-label, prospective clinical trial. Thirty-six patients with AD applied conventional steroid-based therapy and 27 healthy subjects were recruited as controls. The primary endpoint was the change in levels of procollagen propeptides I and III measured by radioimmunoassay between baseline and month 12. Additional endpoints included the change in skin thickness measured by ultrasound between baseline and month 12.

RESULTS:
Procollagen propeptide baseline values were significantly lower in the group to be treated with tacrolimus ointment than in healthy controls. One-year treatment with tacrolimus ointment was associated with an increase in collagen synthesis; the median increase in combined procollagen propeptide levels was 272 micro g L-1 (+ 140.9%, P < 0.001) and was accompanied by a significant increase in skin thickness. In three patients with visible skin atrophy, this condition ameliorated. Corticosteroid-based therapy had no significant effect on collagen synthesis; the median increase in combined procollagen propeptide levels was 11 micro g L-1 (+ 3.9%). A significant reduction in skin thickness was demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONS:
Long-term tacrolimus ointment therapy in patients with AD is nonatrophogenic and reverses corticosteroid-induced skin atrophy.
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Avatar universal
my theory is that steroid atrophy and nerve pain go hand due to the fact that skins barrier is weakend and therefor more prone to pain. I have had this for 7 years now. There is no way in hell we can find something that will rethicken the skin. This **** is permanent. However surgery is one option and annother option is fat transplant injections.You can just google it and find lots of info about that. For the pain itself antidepressive medicine like cymbalta, lyrica or antiepileptic medications could work. Local lidocain will work wonders but just for an hour. Protopic and antibiotics could ease as well. Then creams to help the skin hold water.

But as far as it comes to find something magic that will thicken the skin again back to normal...I mean just give it up please...I still see this debates and conversations all over the internet in different forums like these.

My doctor said she will prescribe me all these meds and let me trial and error on myself to see if the pain will ease. So far I haven´t tried anything more than the antibiotics I told you about. I will try lyrica, cymbalta, protopic and everything else under the sun...2017 will be another year down here in hell due to the doctor that destroyed my life in 2010. If all this will lead me to suicide one day I will find him and kill myself in front of him. These doctors all over the world prescribing this **** should be tortured and beaten to death. My life will never be the same...Everyday I have pain, itch and burning sensation on my penis shaft skin. My sexlife is dead and all thoughts of sex is combined with thoughts of pain.

I often pray that I will die in my sleep
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dermal atrophy secondary to potent steroid use can be permanent. It is a good idea never to use potent steroid creams or ointments for more than 7 days at a time.

While mild atrophy and telangiectasia might be reversible upon  discontinuation of corticosteroids, overtly visible changes in skin  texture and striae are considered permanent manifestations of  corticosteroid-induced atrophy and are resistant to treatment.

The therapeutic effects of topical steroids can be negated by the  resulting thinning of the stratum corneum. Such thinning impairs its  barrier function and allows transepidermal water loss that can lead to  skin irritation.

Sometimes, the visible and textural changes to the skin are described  as looking like “cigarette paper.” The skin thins because of decreased  production of fibroblasts and abnormal deposition of collagen and  elastin. Loss of hyaluronic acid leads to decreased retention of dermal  moisture.

The structural changes and the signs and symptoms of chronologically  aged skin and those of corticosteroid induced chronic atrophy of the  skin are partially very similar. Thinning of epidermis and laxity as  well as dryness, purpura and echymoses occur in both conditions.  However, in chronologically aged skin striae are not observed, while in  corticosteroid atrophy premalignant or malignant tumours are seldom  observed.
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Avatar universal
Anyone???
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Avatar universal
medicine is not working anymore...had amazing relief for a week and now back to normal pain...i guess I´m just a loser who don´t deserve to be happy. bye
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1 Comments
:( really sorry to hear that
Avatar universal
"I have not been on this site for months. Sorry. My problem is almost entirely gone but I am on Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Oxycodone. All are for nerves. I have non length dependent small fibre neuropathy. It spreads fast and to almost everywhere on the body. I don't know if the sting in the head of my penis was a first symptom, which I believe is the case, or just a separate issue. In any case the meds for nerves has calmed it down to almost nothing. I first went to a dermatologist andwas told abrasion from rubbing on underwear. Then neuropathy by a three different urologist. Of course the neurologist insisted it was a urology problem until just recently. Get someone to prescribe meds for nerve pain and see if it helps. If it does it is a nerve problem. Good luck."
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medicine is not working as good as before..don´t know why. Atleast I know what the problem is now and I will go see a nuorologist.
Avatar universal
the last two days have been difficult cause the pain is back again. Not like before but that amazing relief i have had for a week has subsided a bit. I don´t know why. Still taking the antibiotics though and still convinced i found the right diagnos. I don´t understand....

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1 Comments
I´ve been reading other forums about penile dysasthesia and it seems like some people have had big relief from Lyrica.

"Ive had this exact problem for almost a year now. Im not sure what caused it, but it is extremely difficult to live with. Even a slight amount of rubbing against underwear hurts a lot. My doctor decided that it was likely nerve pain and prescribed me pregabalin. The relief I've gotten is amazing. But, the pain is still there sometimes, although its much reduced, and if I forget to take the pill on time, I can feel the pain coming on a few hours later. I've been on pregabalin for about three months. The doctor says that it should help the nerve heal, but I havent seen any improvements on the odd day or two where I forgot to take the pill on time. I'm going to request to see a specialist because I dont want to take a pill for the rest of my life. I hope this helps some of you. If anyone else has had success with another drug or treatment, please respond
Avatar universal
I promise to keep you updated...the pain is down 50 - 70 percent...some days around 50 others 70.. this most dramatic difference is the burning sensation...there is still itch from time to time but not like before. The skin is still thinner and therefor I guess it´s always gonna be a bit more sensitive than before. This medicine is not a cure for the atrophy it´s a cure for steroid induced rosacea and nerve damage caused by the cortisone. I don´t know how many of you in here who are just concerned about the atrophy itself. I have no good news there and i strongly believe once it occured it´s irreversible. What I´m saying is that for you who like me have got chronic PAIN from the cortisone. I urge you to try these antibiotics. I just want to make that clear so you don´t think I found a cure for the atrophy. But for someone like me this is a dramatic difference to get a pain relief of this degree. Maybe this will only help during the time I take the medicine and don´t know the answer to that and time will tell. But i think it´s amazing I found the diagnos. There is absolutely no hesitating that this is what happened to me. NERVE DAMAGE. I´m thinking about booking an appointment with a neurologist and discuss this and see if there are more treatments. WIll keep you updated.
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1 Comments
so it seems the relief is still around 50 percent. I want to be cured and get it down 100 percent but i´m realistic and understand it won´t happen. But as I have said before...this is the only thing that has worked and you should try it if you´re in pain. I fear the pain will come back when i quit the meds though. I don´t know...feeling a bit less depressed at least...can´t believe that this thing that happened to me has stolen my life like this...if you´re in my situation I feel your pain.
Avatar universal
AFTER 6 ****** YEARS!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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