topical corticosteroid side effects

[tony1233]

i have a skin question. i'm an african american and recently used hydrocortisone 2% for about 2 weeks on my face to clear up some rashes. i used it 3-4 times a day and the cream worked perfectly but now i have noticeably light spots on my cheeks, t area and corners of my mouth. i stopped using it about a week and a half ago but theres still no change. i just wanted to know if this is permanent or not and what works to restore my even tone

[tony1233]

i recently started using cetaphil restoraderm but since i am currently overseas it is very difficult to see a dermatologist. if possible i could send a picture

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It looks like hypopigmented patches as a result of side effect of the steroid cream. It is very difficult to treat but sometimes it goes away on its own after exposure to the sun. Creams like  Elidel cream or Protropic can be used on these hypopigmented  areas but they should be used only after consulting a dermatologist . If the symptoms still persist then you can talk to your dermatologist about laser-assisted chemabrasion(LACA).

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.