Steroid rash

[BinnieBoo]

I've been taking Prednisolone for a year and have developed a red itchy steroid rash on my face. Can it be managed naturally without running off to the surgery. I use make up when I go anywhere but I wonder if that irritates it further. I am reducing my Pred. but I'm on 9mg still.

[SnazzyD]

Hello there, it really is difficult to come up with a meaningful until there is more information to go on. Can you say and put into your bio why you are on Pred, when you were diagnosed, what your reducing plan has been, how you have been generally and symptoms and what you are on now? Your country of residence is important too because it affects the advice given; not all countries are the same.

[BinnieBoo in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you for your post. I've since filled in my profile and here's some more info. Diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica in March 2023 I was given 'The Package'... prednisolone 20mg, Alendronic acid 70mg, Avacal D3 1500mg and Famotidine 20mg. I've been taking 10/11 of Pred. for most of the year but I'm coming down slowly at last and feeling Ok. I ditched the Alendronic acid in January after months of nausea and a dash to A&E to discover that my heart was in fact OK and the crushing chest pain was stomach related. Everything seems to have settled down since then except now I have a rash on my face which I recognize as a steroid rash as I had it some years ago after using hydrocortisone cream. I should go and see my GP but I wondered if there was a more natural approach to this kind of thing.

[SnazzyD in reply to BinnieBoo]

I think you need to get it checked because there are various causes of similar looking rashes which need different approaches. It may have a bacterial cause from your own fauna for example, due to being on 10mg or above for a while. There could also be an autoimmune basis too as another example. People do seem to report histamine driven issues appearing on doses under 10mg but perhaps if you don’t absorb all the Pred dose, you are starting early. If you can’t see a GP easily the pharmacist suggestion could be a way to try something and if it doesn’t work you have extra information to go to the GP with when you eventually see one.

[Koalajane]

hi, have you had your rash diagnosed as a steroid rash? If so has your doctor not recommended anything or perhaps a pharmacist

[BinnieBoo in reply to Koalajane]

Thanks for your reply. I haven't been to see the doctor as yet, but I think a trip to the pharmacist first is a good idea.

[Blearyeyed]

You definitely need to hold off on the make up until it's cleared as it will make it worse .And use a fragrance free zinc based moisturizer, or get advice about the rash from the pharmacist ( no make up when you get them to check) to see if they would suggest you trying a hydrocortisone cream for a few days to reduce the flare or a different cream if it is another type of rash.

Use cool damp compressed to reduce the inflammation and redness.

You might also need to think about your diet and whether you need supplements to help keep skin rashes under control.

Increased sugar and artificial sweeteners can trigger steroid and hormone based rashes.

Internal Dehydration also makes the erupt and get worse so increase your fluid intake.

See if you are getting enough B vitamins , Folic Acid, Vitamin D , Vitamins E,A and C in your daily diet and increase these foods they help reduce skin reactions caused by medications affecting your hormone balance.

Are you taking Vitamin D daily for your PMR self care?

You might want to consider a daily multivitamin ( without K1) and a non acid liquid , or sublingual dose, of Vitamin C for a few weeks , and possibly B12 if nutrition could help. Just double check a new multivitamin and mineral supplement to see how much Vitamin D is included in it as you will need to alter the individual Vitamin D dose to make sure you don't take more than 3000iu a day.

You may get used to being make up free but if you don't feel you can cope without it after the break up is cleared change your foundation to a more natural alternative with moisturiser and sun protection or a natural powder.

Get some help by looking up advice on charity websites for people whom cope with skin reactions and steroids rashes every day of what to try and what to avoid.

Sites about Excema , Dermatitis, Psoriasis have good suggestions.

Be prepared, it can get worse for a few days before it improves.

If it doesn't begin to improve with these tips or you have more pain and symptoms do go to the GP you may need a prescription ointment or oral medication to solve it if it is severe.

Take care , Bee

[BinnieBoo in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you for all the advice. Looking through your post I have already adopted a few of the changes you mentioned to my life style. Suppliments, drinking more water. Less sugar and salt. I follow an anti-inflamatory diet which really suits me. You have definitely given me a lot more to think about. Thank you again.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

When you say "steroid rash" - what exactly do you mean? Oral steroids don't usually have as bad an effect as topical steroids being overused. But a common side effect of both types of pred is rosacea

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

Obviously with oral steroids for PMR you can't just discontinue the pred which is always the first recommendation. However, there are other treatments for it from the doctor.

This

news-medical.net/health/Ros....

is an article about rosacea and make-up and this

rosacea.org/patients/makeup...

is another from the rosacea charity - who you'd think might know what they are on about!

Make-up doesn't cause it but it may irritate it further if it is the wrong stuff.

[BinnieBoo]

Thanks for your responses. I feel much clearer in my mind as to what I should do. GP visit first.