Desonide %0.05 bad/ages my skin?

[melydee]

I have combination skin, however my cheeks get extremely dry. They often get red, dry, flaky patches on them, that make my skin feel super tight and it's a little unbearable. Last year my doctor gave me Desonide %0.05 stating that it would reduce this but not to use it for more that two weeks. Well it cleaned up my skin after two days and I stopped it. However, probably once every 2-4 weeks I get these patches again. I put the gel on from anywhere to 1-3 nights before bed time and it clears up. I have tried EVERY lotion but nothing helps like this does. I have had it for over a year and have only used 1/3 of the tube.  I'm worried that this is severely damaging my skin but afterward my skin is baby soft. I need an alternative.

[jemma116]

Desonide %0.05 is a corticosteroid cream.  
Corticosteroid creams thin the skin when used long term and there are other side effects too, that is why your doctor advised you to use the cream for only 2 weeks.

The symptoms you describe, red, flaky, tight, dry, sounds like a condition called Rosacea.

When you see your doctor ask him if he thinks this is Rosacea.
I suffer with rosacea.  Initially I had the symptoms you describe, but much worse, my skin felt on fire as if I got badly sunburnt.  It was very dry, red, peeling and very sore and very wrinkly, there were a few spots, but not may.

The first doctor I saw did not diagnose my symptoms and condition as rosacea, but the second doctor did.  He prescribed me with Rosex cream and a high sunblock.  The Rosex worked great and healed my skin, but the doctor did advice me to use it every day, but to apply it once a day rather than twice.

It does flare up from time to time.

Keep a diary to find out what triggers off your condition.  Sometimes a hot shower can trigger it off, certain climatic conditions as well as some foods and drinks.  The triggers vary and are different for different people.  Men and women can get rosacea.  

[Life360_Dave]

Hi and welcome. You know what you might try, go to a fine dept store like Nieman Marcus or Sacks and go to the skin care area. They make some really great high end creams like La Mer, Sisileya, and Natura Bisse. These are really expensive but really work well. The counter person will estimate your skin needs and give you some free samples to try. If you cant afford these, there is a less expensive one but almost as good by Kate.
Go to the mall and have a ball finding the right skin care product for your skins health and needs.