Can you get itchy skin when trying to reduce pred?

[Pris80]

I'm down to 5 mg of oral progesterone, and I'm developing a very bad itchy rash. Anyone else experienced this and how did you cope with it? It's driving me mad!😠

[HeronNS]

I found my skin got very sensitive at very low doses (maybe around 1-1.5). That was when I was cutting the labels off my clothes! Have been zero pred for about nine months and occasionally get a red rash, slightly but not very itchy, which responds to hydrocortisone ointment. It's getting worse and more frequent the further away pred is in my past. But I'm seriously going to ask my GP if he thinks it would be okay for me to go back more or less permanently onto very low dose pred because I am suffering from this condition. I should add I used to get this sporadically over the years but never quite as bad as it is right now.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I developed a rash with PMR, an allergy to wheat starch. Once I started on pred it was a lot better but when I got to lower doses of pred it came back, Several people have experienced something similar so it isn't uncommon.

I'm assuming the progesterone bit is a predictive text blooper and you meant prednisolone?

[JoLou12]

I fully sympathise, itching and rashes have driven me mad over the past couple of years. I have been prescribed steroid ointments and emollients and use non fragranced shower products. One of the best things to calm my skin down when it has been very itchy is Dermacool 2% menthol cream, I buy it from Amazon but I think you can get it on prescription too.

[Daffodilia]

I had betnovate and antihistamine from

GP for this

[Greenlife]

I can also sympathise - my rash appeared on arms, neck, shoulders and legs out of the blue when I was on 6mg and the GP told me is was due to dry skin. I was prescribed antihistamine as well as a selection of emollients ,the most soothing of which is also Dermacool. The rash disappeared after a week on antihistamine, but the skin is still dry and my legs particularly are still itchy, so I continue with the emollients. Not sure how much I longer I will be able to get them from our surgery, but good to know I can buy Dermacool from Amazon if I need to.

[AtopicGuy]

Do you mean "progesterone", which is a female hormone, or prednisolone, the commonest treatment for PMR?

Prednisolone will suppress eczema and similar itchy rashes at higher doses. My eczema bounces back when I taper to about 5mg. Speak to your doctor, who will confirm the type of rash and prescribe a treatment.