I came across your fantastic web site whilst frantically searching to find answers to my problem.
A long story short, I suffered with mild to moderate flare up's of eczema as a child and this was treated with 25% Betnovate in White Soft Paraffin (WSP). Unaware of the dangers of this Steroid, my mother applied the ointment liberally all over my body and face, although the rash only appeared periodically in different parts of my body (but not my face).
Our family GP used to prescribed a 500mg tub which our pharmacy had to send away to be made up in their own lab. I think my mother just found it easier to 'grease' both me and my sister (who had very severe eczema) down to control outbreaks. When i left home i continued to get the tubs of ointment made up via my owm GP. As I was virtually free of my childhood eczema, but continued to use the ointment on my face only as i found my face was not able to tolerate any creams (even hyperallergenic) purchased at the beauty counter. I shared the rest of the ointment with my sister and a brother who had developed eczema in his early thirties. A few years ago, i became aware of the dangers of using steroid ointments on the face and almost two years ago i discussed with my GP ways of withdrawing. He was 'horrified' that their practise had given me repeat prescriptions over the years and this had gone unnoticed! Anyway, without hesitation, my prescriptions were reduced to 100mg of 25% Betnovate in WSP - and this is where the problems began.
As the ointment 25% Betnovate in WSP was by then readily avaiable 'pre-prepared' in 100mg tubes by GlaxoSmithKline and stocked by most pharmacie's, our pharmacy was no longer prepared to continue mixing my formula for me at their lab (cost implications etc). Unfortunately, I had a break-out of what looked like a bad heat rash/tiny red spots and my face became a bit puffy (especially around the eyes) and sore (not itchy) with the Glaxo pre-mix. After some time, i was informed that there are many different brands and grades of white soft paraffin and i might have been sensitive to the Glaxo variety or some other small ingredient or preservative in the Glaxo pre-mix. To get around this, I asked my GP to prescribe instead, 23% Betnovate in WSP (which could then be made up as this strength was not available as a pre-mix 100mg tube), and months later, 20% and i am now down to 15% Betnovate in WSP.
In the time that i have been reducing the Betnovate concentration, i have tried almost all emolients (incl Epaderm, Unguentum Merk, White Soft Paraffin on its own, 50/50 (white soft paraffin and liquid paraffin), aqueous cream, E45, Emulsifying Ointment, Keri, Cetraben and have bathed in Oilatum and many other recommended moisturising bath products) but without success/all resulting in the same flare-up. Each time, i would break out in either what looks like a heat rash and/or a mixture of this rash with some very tiny watery blisters, slight puffiness around the eyes soreness. This reaction can ocurr between a few hour or 2-3 days later. The creams more than the ointments make my skin feel tight and very uncomfortable. I went to see a private dermatologist who prescribed Oxytetracycline 250 mg tabs, to reduce any break outs whilst reducing Betnovate. He was confident that i would be Betnovate Free within six weeks. The only thing that the tablets did for me was upset my stomach and regulate my bowls, so three months (not the six weeks he assured) into treatment i stopped taking them.My prescriptions' shelf life is four weeks, however, i have noticed that coming up to the fourth week, the above symptoms begin to appear, and thought perhaps that the Betnovate might start to loose its potency around this time and therefore, leaving me with just the WSP component? either that, or the Betnovate mixture becomes contaminated after four weeks? (this was the same as when i was using 23% Betnovate in WSP, so i doubt it is anything to do with the reduced steroid strength. When i had the 500mg tubs of 25% Betnovate in WSP, this lasted for several months and beyond - until finished). My GP said that the Betnovate does not become contaminated, it simply looses it's potency. With this in mind i used one jar 3 weeks past the expiry date, believing that the mixture had by now just returned to a White Soft Paraffin status, and that the rash which appeared would subside. I took a couple of weeks off work and thought i'd just 'ride out' the discomfort and unsightly rash. Unfortunately, it only got worse, with the added symptoms; tiny water type blisters - some of which turned yellow. Unable to see my GP quickly, i borrowed some Eumovate Ointment (YES, another steroid) from my sister, and this cleared up the whole mess within 24 hours. A pharmacist said the GP's information was incorrect, and although G.P didn't advise me to continue using the mixture past the expire date (that was my experiment) according to the pharmacist, there may be 'trace' ingredients which each lab are not obliged to divulge, and this may have rendered the mixture unsafe for use after the recommended four week shelf life. So I'm back to the drawing board and am planning to ask my GP to reduce the Betnovate further to 10%, but am very worried.
Anyway, the long and short of it, is that i am nearing my mid 40's, am DESPERATE to quit Betnovate altogether, have tried nearly everything available, am just about coping with the 15% Betnovate in WSP, my facial skin is thining and i have now read up on WOOLFAT, your products and the testamonials - but it all looks and sounds too good to be true. These days i only get small patches of eczema on the back of my little finger or one or two toes and this is always stress related (study deadlines or work etc). I am virtually free of my out of my childhood asthma (current attacks now are mostly environmental, but rarely stress related), i suffer with hayfever, and am allergic to Dairy products and pet hair. I have always been allergic to VASELINE AND PETROLIUM JELLY and can't get my head properly around the difference between vaseline, petrolium jelly, lanolin, liquid paraffin, white soft paraffin (which i use in the Betnovate but cannot use alone). My face definately needs a grease and not a cream. Can i ever really be free of Betnovate? and which of your products if any can you recommend?.I know this email is long and quite packed but that is where i am at the moment. Any advice or recommendations you can give will be greatly appreciated. I should add that i have used aqueous cream very successfully all over my body and neck (my neck being second in terms of skin sensitivity) for several years now - it just doesn't seem to work on my face!!!!! My body can even tolerate White Soft Paraffin on its own and some perfumed creams (no perfumed creams on my neck though). What's going on with my face then? Please help.
May 25, 2008You have certainly been thru the mill with cortisone and found that you can only get off it slowly but you CAN get off it.
We make an Extra Strength Psorexederm Ointment which is I PREFER to PERSONALLY RECOMMEND in more serious cases like yours. You would find helpful in moisturizing and protecting you skin. It has a good Anti-Itch property and is based on Wool fat, Vitamin A, Vitamin D , coaltar solution and a small amount of Boric acid to protect damaged skin against fungi. You can use it on your face but just at night as it is coal tar based and thus has a slight but not unbearable coal tar smell. It is in a Ointment form as creams do not leave a protective barrier on damaged skin which is why you have noticed ointments are more effective.You can apply it safely more often, it is just the aesthetics of the cream that limit your use of it - you would not apply it before going out for the evening for example.
It works wonderfully well on fingers and toes. You might like to apply it thickly to your toes at night before bed then put some old socks on so it doesn't soil the sheets, Likewise, cotton gloves can be used at bedtime with the ointment applied liberally to the affected fingers. The gloves being to protect the bed linen. The ointment can be applied sparingly during the day and gently massaged into the skin so only a slight shine remains.As you get results SLOWLY CUT DOWN the amount of cortisone over a period of some week to several months, Twice a day application of the Extra Strength Psorexederm Ointment is sufficient and it has no long term side-effects in fact the relief is often immediate but sure will take time. It is very rare to have an adverse reaction to our product which is why we guarantee it. You should expect improvement from day one. I would suggest trying a 200g jar as this will go a long way.
You would initially use the Extra Strength Psorexederm Ointment twice a day with your cortisone applied first. As time improves the affected areas reduce the cortisone but not the Extra Strength Psorexederm. Once the cortisone is eliminated adjust the amount of Psorexederm Ointment to suit and you should get good results although it may take up to 2-3 months to get to this stage,The problem is the betnovate has affected your bodies natural cortisone production and slow withdrawal of cortisone will allow your body to slowly come back up to speed regulating it's natural levels. Sudden change in cortisone strength should be avoided. It is better to taper off very slowly so your body can catch up.
To order the Extra strength Psorexederm Ointment, order the cream on the website and put in the comments box in capitals "EXTRA STRENGTH PSOREXEDERM OINTMENT RECOMMENDED BY DAVID" Let me know the results, maybe even take some before and after digital photographs? I'd be very interested in your results Kind Regards,Creams to fade skin discoloration vary in their effectiveness and at this age I would not use them as the skin has great regeneration power and this may be enough although you may have to wait 5-6 years!
If the marks are still annoyingly visible by the mid-teens then it is time to do something to assist fading them. Hydroquinone 5% cream applied twice a day for several months is very effective. It is potent however so I would suggest waiting those few years when her growth spurt is likely to clear them naturally. Once she is about 18
Copyright © - 2002-2012 - Withdrawal from long term use of Cortisone products - David Hosking's Pharmacy
23A Keilor Road, Essendon, Victoria, Australia
www.hoskingspharmacy.com
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