Steroid rosacea

[anoyomous_Q]

4 years ago i was prescribed a mild hydrocortisone steiod cream to treat a rash on the underside of my penis which worked but was reacurring and so i having used the hydrocortisone for over 3 years on and off to stop flair ups.

It now has occured to me that the rash i was initialy treating has gone and i think i have developed steriod rosacea from this long term use.
I have stopped using the cream.
Symptoms - you can see small capiliries on under the skin and i get flair ups which is just a red/purple inflamed rash which is irratating.

Flair ups are caused by the following which i have noticed:
Stress - the biggest factor
alchohol
sweating/excercise

Picture of the problem!:
http://members.aol.com/xboxbecks/image

I would like to hear if you believe this to be correct and if so what treatments you can recommend, creams etc?? also will they clear it up long term?

[anoyomous_Q]

Thanks john, not sure what exactly triggers my flair ups whether it be food or chemicals, anxiety/stress seems to be the biggest factor.
I have been using e45 cream for over a year now and just using the hydrocortisone as little as possible. ie only when i have to.

Is there any other creams/ointments you would reccomend? as also after applying e45 mousturiser there is a slight flair up so i feel as though i cant do right for doing wrong!

[johnke]

To prevent future eczema flare-ups, consider changing your diet and avoiding chemicals and irritants. There is an ELISA food intolerance test that you can consider taking that should single out foods you're sensitive to.

Good luck,
John
http://savemyhealth.com

[johnke]

Forgot to mention, take a look at http://www.savemyhealth.com/Health/Eczema/tabid/79/Default.aspx, there are some good tips there on how to treat eczema naturally.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Sorry, but I can't access the picture.

You may be right about the steroid's causing the problem, but if so it would be atrophy (skin thinning) rather than rosacea.  The best approach to this is to not use steroids, which you've already started doing.  It takes a while, but the thinning reverses itself and the sensitivity settles down too.  The redness and capillaries may not go away, but who's looking?  For the time being, just use non-medicated moisturizing lotions, and show the problem to a doctor when you get a chance.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff