New White Patches

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi Everyone,

i had a horrible flair up a few weeks back. The pain/itch/burning is now well under control with daily clobetasol application. My problem is that I can't seem to cut back to any less than a once a day application. If I do that the itch starts to come back and the white becomes very noticeable (for like 12 hrs after clob application the skin is pink, but by 24hrs its looking like soggy white patches) I am bothered because before that flair up, I only had to apply 2x's per week. a tube lasted almost a year... in this case I have gone through one in less than two months. Does this just sound like what a "flair up" is, do the go on for weeks even if the itching symptoms are gone? or perhaps I need a few more weeks of daily clob to knock it back into submission before scaling back?? I guess my biggest fear is that I am becoming resistant to the clob, would switching steroids help? I have heard this disease likes variety. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi

    I am no expert but I was told that the flair up cycle lasts 6 weeks and so you need to apply the clob every night for 6 weeks, then every other night for 4 weeks and then back down to 2 times a week. It seems extreme but it seems a good way to make it go back into remission if its a bad flare up.

    • Posted

      This actually makes me feel a lot better. Its really not so bad since the itch/burning/pain is gone. It just bothers me that the white patches are so quick to appear if I try to scale back. I have a specialist appointment on March 18th (the earliest I could get) I will keep up with the daily clob until then, it will put me around the 6 week mark of daily application. I am on vacation so I haven't been able to do my nightly soaks and had been eating lots of sweets and gluten, so I suppose that could definitely be a contributing factor.

    • Posted

      Did that advice come from your doctor or someone posting? Sounds very specific so am thinking a doctor gave it(?)

    • Posted

      Nope. I booked an appointment with him when this whole thing started back in January, the earliest they could get me in is March 18th. When he put me on the clob last year he said that if I have a flair up to apply daily as needed and then scale back. The itch/pain is gone and after I apply the clob the area is nice and pink and comfortable for at least 12 hrs but if I go more than 24 hrs without applying the white patches become very noticeable which is really bothersome

    • Posted

      Then it sounds as though you are following his directions re the steroid. I don't blame you for being afraid of it, but if it's the only thing that works, what are your options? If you use it every other day does the white still appear?

      You can try the other remedies that people suggest and see what if anything stops the visible whitening.

      If you are sure the sugar and gluten are triggers then they can't be worth what you're going through. I'm lactose intolerant and could look at ice cream all day and not be seduced. (There are other enjoyable things that don't give me severe cramping.) And you can ease off sugar to the point that sugary things just taste TOO sweet. Gluten free I find problematic though. It all costs so much!

  • Posted

    Suggest you might want to check in with your doctor. The medication used daily can cause irritation too. That was my experience once. I thought I was doing the right thing by doubling up on it, but when I visited the doctor, she said, stop applying it for a few days..... To ease the itch on the in between days, you can try some olive or coconut oil to sooth things. Good luck with that!! I hope you feel better soon.

    • Posted

      Thank you. I have an appointment with a specialist on March 18th. I will be sure to clarify with him about the application schedule.

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