Thinning skin and purpura from inhaled steroids

[gazza02]

Hi all.

I have been taking a low dose inhaler ( fostair 100/6 for the last 3 years and already have issues with crepe paper skin, which cuts easily. Also if a bang my arm or even give it a scratch I get blood under the surface ( think that’s what is called purpura)

I’m only 58 and always have kept fit, so having skin like a 70 year old is bugging me.

On a more serious note I will be having to take warfarin to thin my blood in approx 5 years as I’m due for a heart operation. So not great if my skin tears easily.

Has anyone had any treatment for this as I’ve read that topical retinoids can reverse the damage if used long term.

Any thoughts welcomed.

[Poobah]

I've been on Fostair for about 3 years now, and I'm slightly older than you, but I've definitely noticed my skin become more crepe like and I get red bruising. I use Bio-oil generally and No 7, Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced, on my hands and lower arms. It certainly helps the crepe appearance to some extent. I must admit that my skin started to deteriorate quite quickly when I started Symbicort some years ago and my hands looked about 80 years old almost overnight (just my perception as to how quickly it happened). I was too busy to keep up a maintenance regime with creams & lotions, so that didn't help.

I never thought of asking my doctor about topical retinoids and will be interested if anyone has been successful in securing this treatment on prescription.

[Gwalltarian]

I think this is an issue you should discuss with your doctor and inform the Fostair makers about. Topical steroids thin the skin but this seems a serious reaction to me. I was taking over the counter antihistamines to control my asthma more than 20 years ago when I developed a haematoma (bruise) on my foot that didn’t go away. I was sent to see a dermatologist who said it was the antihistamines and I was never to take them again. She put me on montelukast instead. Perhaps the Dr can put you on a different type of medication. Your lungs are lined with skin too.

[Celie1]

I bruise really easily eg just sliding a rucksack off will bruise my lower arms. I alway have bruises on my legs ( it has to be said I am a bit clumsy 😆). I started with the bruising years ago when I started on symbicort. I’ve just learned to live with it. Having said that my skin isn’t so thin that it cuts easily though, that seems a severe kind of reaction.

[Jjude1003]

I have thin skin and bruising as well. It’s awful. I haven’t found anything that helps.

[Wimple]

This is an interesting discussion as I’d never previously made the connection between inhaled steroids and my fragile crepey skin that bruises easily. In fact doctors had always assured me that there was no or minimal systemic transfer, so I’d always put it down to topical steroids used when I was younger to control eczema. After reading this thread I found this medsafe.govt.nz/profs/puart...

If anyone has ideas on how to reverse crepey skin, it would be great to see it posted here.

[Poobah in reply to Wimple]

That's a very good link, thanks Wimple.

[Yatzy in reply to Wimple]

Yes, very interesting article, Wimple, thank you. I’m already applying moisturisers but might now be more cautious with sunlight….what a shame!!

[Gwalltarian]

Having read the link to the skin thinning etc caused by steroids of all types and the cumulative effect of topical, inhaled, digested - tablets, inhalers, creams, nose sprays drops etc, I think any problem with the skin should be brought to GPs/consultants attention and questions asked about the likely effect on the lungs. They might be protected from the sun but they must be affected by the cumulative steroid effect on the skin too - not to mention the adverse effect steroids have on adrenaline production and bone thinning etc .

[awilso]

You might consider DHEA as a supplement, as it has a beneficial effect. It reversed my condition. I take 25mg per day. I found this article too which refers to a topical application pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/182...