Skin problem resolved with prednisone

[lupette]

Ok here is a photo of the skin problem that has finally responded to treatment with prednisone. It was red and inflamed and the skin peeled off in thick pieces every week or two. I had tried every cream available prior to the steroid treatment. It started as a small patch but it grew larger with every peel. It was beginning to get very painful especially at night when I would get sharp stabbing pains. Anyway I am happy that it now seems to be resolved.

[catjellycat]

Oh, did they say what it was before the steroid cream helped?

[WinterSwimmer]

That's interesting (Sorry - I am sympathetic - honestly). I had something similar for a very long time (years!) that no one seemed able to cure (not the pharmacist, nor the doctor, nor the rheumatologist - who brushed it away as 'looks like athlete's foot'). The peeling skin drove me mad - thick scales of it everywhere, and the whole foot - including the soles, was affected. My feet were embarassing and painful. Then the lupus flared and I was prescribed steroids, and finally (thank goodness) mycophenolate. My feet completely cleared within weeks.

That made me suspect that whatever had been wrong with my feet was lupus related and therefore autoimmune. It's good to know someone else has had a similar thing - it makes me feel less bonkers!

[lupette in reply to WinterSwimmer]

So amazing the someone else has had a similar experience! I was treated for a fungal infection so many times, that I thought I had picked up some resistant form of one. Finally, after a year of trying every cream, for fungus, eczema, psoriasis, etc., the skin Dr. looked at it under the microscope, and pronounced that it is NOT a fungal infection! He never said what it was, but he said . . ."we will get after it" and prescribed the prednisone. Upon taking it, the foot felt better almost immediately. It took around 3 weeks and until well beyond the completion of the meds for it to begin looking better. Today it is still peeling some but the redness is gone and it feels almost normal. I am thankful!