Hey,

I'm just wondering, how many people here actually used them and had any noticeable side effects? They work ten times better than any other treatment, but obviously I'm scarred to use them for too long. I'm seeing a dermatologist and although I only used them for short periods of time, when I asked him whether they were safe for long term use he said "yeh, sure". Specifically, the one I'm talking about is Cutivate Lotion (Fluticasone Propionate), which is supposedly medium-potency. Perhaps this one in particular has less side effects? The thing is, I'm not sure whether to trust him or not. He has been a dermatologist for over 50 years though and probably knows his stuff, so I feel like an idiot when I have to question him all the time

I know corticosteroids are awful for rosacea, but KPRF is really nothing like rosacea in a sense.

What kind of experiences have you guys had with them? I think some of the possible side effects have been exaggerate quite a bit to the extent that everyone is scarred to death of them, when in reality on a smalll minority of people have any noticeable side effects.

I'd like to know other peoples experiences here. Would be very helpful, thanks

i recently stopped using hydrocortizone after 2 weeks use, and i agree-they did help.In fact i wasnt even using it specifically for my KPRF, but for some eczema i developed around the temples. But facial use of steroids long term is not supposed to be good as it causes thinning of the skin, and broken capillaries.
The derm said a month was ok, but everything ive read, including my doctor said one week, and then u need to break for 3 weeks.
Since almost all gp's are clueless about KPRF, and very few dermatologists even seem to know it exists, its tough knowing what is right for us...

I have Fluticasone Proproinate but never used it

Would that help?

Hey,

The thing is, my dermatologist diagnosed me with KP right away after looking at me for no more than 10 seconds. He has probably seen this condition a million times given his experience. He even gave me a bunch of creams that he himself mixed up which also help a great deal. When I asked him whether moisterizers might help he said no, they're just lubricants. I have another appointment in a week, so I'll see if he tells me to continue using it

Right now I'm not going to use them for long term as I'm still still a little scared of the risks, but when I really need something they are the only thing that work so I'll only use them when really necessary.

Is it a lotion? I think Fluticasone Proproinate is also used in nasal sprays and whatnot, so I'm not sure. I wouldn't use anything that you aren't competely sure is relatively safe

A few years ago I was prescribed a low dose of Hydrocortisone by a derm who correctly diagnosed my KP and KPRF. That dosage didn't seem to help the redness although the Doc seemed to think it improved the "shattered glass" look of my facial skin.

He decided to presrcibe a stronger dose. I don't recall the dosage but I believe he had me on .5 originally before he decided to up it. He said he wanted to constrict the blood vessels in my face and felt the higher dose was the way to do it.

He was right. Within hours of applying this more potent cream to my face the redness was almost entirely gone! I woke up in the middle of the night and looked in the mirror and couldn't believe my eyes--an even skin tone! Same with when I woke up and the whole next day! I was thrilled.

And then the "bounce back" factor set in and I was miserable...and in a lot of pain. I don't remember if it was 2 or 3 days later but the redness came back worse than ever. My face was flushed terribly and i could not get it to stop.

I wish I had called the derm, but I was a little angry at him so I called my Primary doctor who explained that strong steroids should not be used on the face and how the vessels had constricted only temporarily and then opened up wider than ever. He gave me a beta blocker which did seem to help the flushing subside after a couple of days and get my face back to a "normal" level of redness.

I never went back to the dermatologist who I had been working with, which I think now was wrong. I should have given him another chance. I have seen 5 or 6 derms and he was the only one to mention KP. The others either simply wrote a script for Metro-Gel or told me the redness was no big deal and makes me look youthful.

So that was my experience with a topical steroid. Not sure if I applied too much, too often or what...but I have not used anything strong since and the redness persists...

Hey,

How long did you use the stronger corticosteroid for? It seems odd that using it for only a few days will bring about any serious side effects. I can relate to what you're talking about though, because usually after I stop it does get worse than it previously was. Feels really really dry and irritated, especially when the weather stinks. Summer helps a great deal

Damn, this condition is so freakin confusing. Not sure what to do at this point

It was only a few days and then the serious flushing started. My doctor explained that when vessels constrict they tend to open very wide after a bit of time. Especially for someone like me whose vessels are "loose" to begin with. He attributes the redness to my over-active sympathetic nerve which always caused me to blush when embarrassed or stressed and that the blood vessels in my face have lost their elasticity allowing more blood through than normal.

Interesting... that seems like rosace to me though. I've always thought that KPRF was cause by inflamation and irritation that resulted from clogged pores and the skin not being able to exfoliate itself properly, not from damaged blood vessels. That's why I think many people that have KPRF don't have much success with lasers and IPL. Also, I believe most cases of steroid rosacea can be cured, so I guess in some cases the blood vessels are able to return to their normal state. But I'm not sure about any of this...