Steroid addiction withdrawal.

[lorna2]

My 17 year old has stopped using his creams for 5 months now. He has found it impossible to function on some days and the first two weeks he was a raw, lobster red, skin shedding wreck. He has had a terrible time but is determined to follow it through and the breaks between now last up to two weeks and are getting slightly less each time. Nothing except Aveeno and pain killers and anti-histamines are used. He had mild baby eczema and his creams only escalated in potency when he was about 14.5 years and they only got up to 2% on his knees, neck, wrists. He failed to achieve his A level grades and has now started the A level period again. I am so proud of him but now think we should have put it off until his summer holidays. I have had to dress, bathe and feed him and apply his Aveeno as his body did not function. Be warned it is not easy to do a withdrawal but he and I believe it will be worth it in about 4-6 more months!

[Voula]

Hi! Sorry to hear he is going through this. Probably the hardest thing both of you will ever have to do. I'm assuming you looked at itsan.org and the Facebook group for support?

[johnsmith]

Did he stop it cold turkey or did he slowly reduce the strength of the steroid in the cream?

It is worth having a look at evening primrose oil. Taking this orally may be helpful. The reason for this is that a number of people with eczema do not produce enough skin oil for various reasons. Evening Primrose oil in some people helps in the production of skin oil which in turn helps protect the skin. This is a very much a try an experiment and see if this works.

Hope this helps

[lovesradio]

Good luck to you both, really not easy to do xx

[Shell567]

Hi lorna2, I'm so sorry to hear that your son is suffering this way.

Slow withdrawal of steroid creams is recommended to help reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Pimecrolimus cream is sometimes prescribed as an alternative to steroid cream. DermNet NZ states 'It can be used on large areas of the body and for long periods of time without adverse effects, due to low level of absorption internally.'

Atopic eczema - Treatment: NHS Choices. nhs.uk/Conditions/Eczema-(a...

Eczema (Pimecrolimus 1% cream): NHS Choices. nhs.uk/Conditions/Eczema-(a...

Pimecrolimus: DermNet NZ. dermnetnz.org/treatments/pi...