Facial pain, redness, and extreme sensitivity after years of eczema/acne treatment
I’m a teenager and I really need some insight or advice on what might be happening with my skin.
Growing up, I had childhood eczema and always struggled with itchy skin. As I became a teenager, it seemed to turn into acne marks and dark patches. I’ve been to many of the best doctors in my city over the last 3 years. One doctor explicitly ruled out atopic dermatitis.
After 3 years of continuous treatment, the visible marks and dark patches have mostly lightened and my skin looks relatively "normal" to others. I've used products from Babe Skincare, Clinikally, Moleculaire, and others. I was also prescribed Fucibet and other topical steroids.
Even though the visual marks are mostly gone, my skin feels awful. I have severe pain, burning, and redness. My face automatically turns bright red and it is incredibly dry. The itching is intense, even though I actively avoid touching my face. My skin feels like it has zero tolerance for anything right now.
Has anyone experienced severe nerve-like pain and automatic redness after stopping or using topical steroids? Could this be a severely damaged skin barrier, topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), or something else like neurogenic rosacea?
I am fed up and exhausted. Any advice on what questions I should ask my next dermatologist, or what helped you soothe the pain, would be deeply appreciated.