Title: thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: Teodora on May 26, 2003, 10:17:16 AM
quote "Is there any product or something that's able to 'thicken' the thin skin caused by using topical steroid cream? "
This is a question which I am really interested in. Any ideas?
My b/f's skin is so soft on his arms that even moving his sleeves one time caused an open sore to appear(by rubbing it).(Not sure if I was able to express clearly).He says that putting any creams (which are supposesed to soften the skin so it may not crack) make it easier to get wounded.He even doesn't notice sometimes that there is an open wound caused by scratching(Ha has been treated with steroids since childhod >:().And this is absolutely terrible!I was thinking if there aren't any herbs or creams based on them that can help.
There are special substances used in production of leather that can make it thicker and harder(or softer).In the past they had been based on herbs(like summac,and oak bark).Just wondering.........
Is it really irresverseble? |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: peterb on May 26, 2003, 10:47:44 AM
| As far as I know, once the overuse of Steroid Creams has thinned the skin, there is nothing to thicken it back up. This is why nowadays GP's and Derms dont use it a lot, or for a limited time. Years ago when I was diagnosed in the early 60's with P, the standard treatment was Betnovate, which has taken its toll on certain areas of my skin. |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: Alison on May 26, 2003, 10:53:01 AM
| i was always under the impression too that there is nothing to thicken skin back up |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: fishs on May 26, 2003, 11:18:21 AM
:hi:
Hi Teo.
Not a lot you can do here teo . Once you loose the elasticity and texture in the skin It is very difficult to rejuvenate .. This is one of the major problems now showing up from the continued use of various steroid creams. As Peter says . betnovate has been the main culpret along with diprazone which were both prescribed extensively for psoriasis and Eczema for pretty much a 20 year period from the early 1970"s .. The effects are now showing up.
Only things i could suggest are . Using Evening primrose oil .. It is expensive .. and you need to get one that says at least 2000 IUD
and gently massage that into the affected areas .. The other thing you could try is to massage the area say twice a day to stimulate the skin and try and get the blood vessels a bit near the surace to try and get some elasticity back that way ..
Fish |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: Teodora on May 26, 2003, 12:52:03 PM
:(
This is a very sad news......
Fish, is there any other oil which is close to primrose and which can be used in the way u are proposing? My b/f reacts very badly to it!
Hmmmm-the massage is a good idea if only his arms weren't so badly affeced.
What about some oil-soluble vitamins- can't they help a little? |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: fishs on May 26, 2003, 01:24:36 PM
:hi:
Teo,
The next best would be Vitamin E Oil but I would make sure that it is pure Vitamin e as a lot of it is mixed with a carrier oil..
Fish |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: Teodora on May 26, 2003, 03:21:49 PM
Thanks.
That sounds reasonable because I know how well Vit.E helps heal my kin when there is any wound.
And just another silly question(I know that with the conclusions of the scientisis it is hard to argue)but especially in restoration I have seen leathers which have been so dry and damaged and irreversable.But after soaking it in PEG(polyethylene glycol) they regained their elastity.I know it is different from human skin.....(brrr hope that this doesn't bring to mind Anibal the Canibal;)) |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: Nick on May 26, 2003, 03:34:55 PM
Hi Teo,
I would agree with Fish on this.
Vit E would be a good start. I know that surgical spirit has been used to toughen up areas of the skin and is sonetimes used to even help callouses to form (as in martial artists toughening up their knuckle callouses).
In theory you mnight be able to rejuvenate areas of skin by using dermabrasive laser treatment but I have not seen that being used as a practical application yet.
I'm afraid that there is little that can really be done except to take great care and keep it moisturised. If it dries out the cracking a atrophy coul dget worse.
:bighug: |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: Teodora's boyfriend on May 27, 2003, 12:28:54 AM
15 years of Eumovate and Betnovate have taken their toll on my arms. (glad I did not use them much mo0re extensively than that). I remember having a steroid based cream a few times for use no my face as well.
As Tedi said, my skin can just tear away under rubbing,
I will admit to being scepotical about oils and the like, as i ahd a very bad reaction to Evening Primrose Oil. My mother had heard of its properties and so tried it on my back - all of my back - as a kid. After a couple of hours of sleep, I was awake with very little skin left on my back from a bit of scratching. It took several hours to clean and soothe. Since then i have been dubious of trying oils.
As for creams my GP is now prescribing aqueous cream, and recently i have been trying to get him to offer me some other things (he told me there were no available urea based creams in the uk ...) but he is reluctant.
In general i find a lot of cream do moisturise the skin, but make it softer too, which means it tears easier. It is a battle between the dryness cracking and the softness tearing.
But am worried about being preserved soon ........ |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: Val on May 27, 2003, 10:19:30 AM
Yes this is something I have as well, not only does the skin tares easily, but bruises easily too, and they can take ages to fade.
My mum also has this especially on her arms and legs, she's never had a skin condition, her's is soley caused by the asthma drugs containing steroids and steroid tablets. Both of us have asked many specialists and doctors if there is a way to reverse this, all have said no nothing that has any major effect. Just moisurise as much as possible, especially after bathing.
Massaging is good, but please remember to have some type of moisturiser or oil on the skin when doing it, otherwise you can cause extra skin tares.
Teodra's Boyfriend, if you're using an oil for the first time, try doing a very small patch of skin first, to test if you're going to get a reaction. If everything is ok after 24 hours, then you should be safe to use whatever oil you have chosen.
:hug: |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: Teodora's boyfriend on May 27, 2003, 11:37:38 AM
I agree val, it is essential to only test on a small area first. But i do understand how a concerned parent can hear how good soemthnig is on the skin from a friend, and decide to try it on thier child, not realising how bad the result could be.
And having seen the effects of steroid creams on my arms, I have a healthy scepticism of most creams now. I tend towards neutral creams rather than actve ones. |
Title: Re:thickening of steroid damaged skin
Post by: Nick on May 28, 2003, 01:13:39 PM
As for creams my GP is now prescribing aqueous cream, and recently i have been trying to get him to offer me some other things (he told me there were no available urea based creams in the uk ...) but he is reluctant.
|
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Hi there TB
Did he say why he is reluctant ? I'm a bit suprised at that. Aqueous is fine for moisturising but I cannot see how that would assist in any sort of regeneration of the skin
Urea base is available in the UK though
http://www.eucerin.co.uk/uk_range/Dry/10percent_cream.html
I suggest you have a look at the faq page. |
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