In serious need of help - persistent facial rashes

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi all. I am a 29 year old male. I suffered with eczema in childhood, but then it entirely disappeared, but came back with a vengence about 4 years ago (head to toe).

Thankfully most of it has cleared up/has become more manageable...except my face...Basically, I am getting reccurent rashes, and I recently have barely been going a day without a blotchy/red/sore face.

I have been to a number of dermatologists who pretty much are unanimous in saying it is 'eczema' (one has suggested sebboreic, and possibly perioral - the other atopic), but all of the treatment to date has made little to no difference. I have tried a number of steroid creams, and all have the same effect..clear it up, but then I get the rebound effect as soon as I come off them. I'm now currently trying elidel without much luck either. I use aveeno as a moisturiser, and have tried a number of products. I'm now concerned that I have been using the steroids for too long, and have decided not to apply them anymore.

The strange thing is - I never scratch my face, and despite it being red/sore/burning - the skin is always perfectly smooth and soft to the touch. The rash has two phases - red and "moisturised" or clear and peeling. It's a constant cycle with the odd 'clear' day here and there followed by more redness. It is not an itchy rash, but can be sore/hot or can tingle. It almost looks like sun burn. After four years, I'm getting quite depressed about it, and it has effected all areas of my life.

How can I post pictures?

Thanks.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Calidad, I can understandthat it is frustrating that dermatologists could not find the exact cause of your skin problems.

    I was in a similar situation and it took me years to find out that I have a contact dermatitis. At some point I was prescribed medication for seborrhoeic dermatitis containing stuff I was allergic against.

    I am replying because my symptoms are a bit similar to yours. If I come into contact with allergens the skin initially becomes red and moist and inflamed. In my case it itches as well. I then carefully clean the area and apply steroid lotion if the inflammation is severe or propolis solution. The rash then clears within days and in the second phase the skin is dry and scaly.

    In my case the rash appears mostly around the nose and up to the eyebrows thus overlapping with symptoms of seborrhoeic dermatitis.

  • Posted

    Hey Calidad look back at some of my answers in other post. My post should help you out on what exactly is going on with you. 

    I need to create a separate group on here specifically talking about steroid withdrawal syndrome. This is what you have. From all the research ive done it usually takes anywhere between 10 to 20% heal time from the time you first began steroid creams. 

    This also includes on and off time. So if you been on and off past 15 years that would take anywhere between 1.5 to 3 years to fully recover. And in the meantime your goin to be experience what we call in the steroid withdraw syndrome community your good days and bad days. Bad days will be all flared up and red then vanish, eventually youll get to a point where its only red in certain areas. The red might also start to spread like it has to me right now , which for me is good. It went down to my arms where i rarley used creams on my arms but now it has completely vanished from my face ( knock on wood) 

    right now im 7 months in from not using steriod creams and i used them for 10 years. The worse was my face, bright red, it burned, inflamed it was off and on like that for a good 3 months. Then about in jan- feb it just vanished, i get a little red here and there and eyes somewhat also around them but nowhere near what it was , now it seems the red patches have only been on my arms. 

    The bad part is everyone is going to get on here and tell you this and they tried that and diet and blah blah. Not to be mean but the truth is its the steroid creams. and the worst part is even if you go to another dr there going to try to describe stronger creams and so forth and so forth... THEY DONT KNOW i can reassure you on that. 

    Look up a dr named dr rappaport red skin syndrome. He pretty much discovered all this. Pretty much what he gets at is every single adult you see with red skin, adults with acne is because they have done it to themselves because of what dermatologist have prescribed them. Its an epidemic thats happening in china the red skin syndrome. Pretty much its the creams (which temporarily works) but once you get addicted and rely on them your body wants to withdraw. The only cure is to let your own body heal and eventually it will be all clear. 

    The downside is it takes time lots of time, so this will really play on you mentally, youre going to want to isolate yourself. Thats the hard part. But just realize theres others going through it and even me ive isolated myself here and there but i keep staying in there by knowing the facts and truth on what steroid withdrawal syndrome is. 

    • Posted

      I'm in total agreement with you. My boy was just told the same. He now has open wounds in the back of knees and skin is coming off in groin area. The new doctor says those are not eczema, theyre effects of steroid. What were the other doctors thinking? I think these people should lose their license. There are lots of articles warning and sharing their experiences on this very topic. He's going to help him get off the steroid. Please go to a good doctor and let him help you stop using steroid. There are non steroid cremes that can help manage the eczema until the patient body is clear of steroid. 

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