The texture and colour of skin on my face has changed after steroid use

I've been having a battle with eczema over recent years, with it recently (last 8 months) appearing on my face. After seeing many doctors and having them look at a red itchy flaky flare up on  my face, down my jaw line, top lip, eyebrows, hair line and ear crease (with oily discharge from behind the ears) I was told to use dactarin behind the ears and Benovate RD on the facial areas (after hyrdo cortisone had no effect).
After a short course of benovate the eczema cleared, but as soon as I stopped it was back the next day. I used it again, managed to maintain it but began to see a difference in my skin. I asked my gp and he was unsure if the difference in colouration was the eczema or my skin. I saw a dermotologist for patch testing, and including the hair dye range nothing came up but an allergy to malamine formaldyhyde.

Now the skin above my eyebrows and right side of my face gets very dry, is slightly darker and feels different (possibly thinner) to the rest of the skin on my face. Is this the permenant skin damage? I've been moisturing with a regular moisturiser several times a day, this maintains it, but nothing is changing in the condition. My face still gets read and my eyelids are slightly puffy.

Is there anything you would suggest?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Topical steroids when used for a long period of time is notorious for causing unwanted side effects like thinning of skin , steroid induced rosacea, skin atrophy, telangiectasias etc. In your case it can be due to long term use of steroids. Most of the skin conditions revert back when steroids are discontinued.

In most cases of eczema no one treatment will be effective. Medical research shows that the most effective treatment plan for eczema involves using a combination of therapies to treat the skin and making lifestyle changes(prevention of triggers and application of lots of moisturizers) to control flare-ups.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.