Steroid withdrawal
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some reassurance and to hear about other people’s experiences with steroid-induced perioral dermatitis.
I accidentally used a topical steroid (betamethasone) on my face for just over 3 months because I thought I was treating facial psoriasis. My doctor diagnosed it as steroid-induced perioral dermatitis and told me to stop the steroid completely, warning me that it would likely get worse before it got better.
I stopped the steroid last Thursday. By Sunday and Monday my face had become much redder, bumpier, and felt like sandpaper. It also burns and stings at times. I started a facial gel on Friday and the oral antibiotics today. Zinc oxide soothed the tightness and burning. So 5 days post last steroid use, day 3 of gel, day one of antibiotics.
A few questions for those who’ve been through this:
How much worse did your skin get after stopping the steroid?
What day was your worst flare?
When did you first notice improvement?
How long did it take for the burning and rough “sandpaper” feeling to go away?
Did the antibiotics seem to stop it from continuing to spread, or did it still get worse before they kicked in?
Anyone else having trouble doing things in public while have a flare? Worth it to use makeup sometimes or does it make it way worse?
Im trying to stay patient, but it’s hard watching my face change every day. I’d really appreciate hearing your timelines and any advice that helped you get through the withdrawal period.
Thanks so much!
Ps The photos are the difference from Aunday morning to Tuesday afternoon, hence the fear of how bad it’s going to get. Again, started the antibiotics today🙃