10 replies to this topic

[GoSurfing!]

Backstory: About a year and a half ago I started to develop red, itchy, inflamed eyelids. At first I thought it was my contact lenses so I went to an optometrist and switched my contact lens prescription. This didn't work. On a followup visit the doc suggest I see a derm. The derm prescribed me a steroid (desonide) cream to use over my eyes. This worked for awhile but never totally cured the problem. After doing some internet research and reading about the negative aspects of steroid creams, especially when applied to the facial area and also noticing thinning of the skin around my eyelids, I discontinued the topical steroid use. Went to a few other doctors but nothing they've recommended has ever totally got rid of the redness/irritation. I've tried different moisturizers, special eyelid rinse/cream, warm compresses and a host of other home brew remedies. I still have not solved the problem to this day, but I can somewhat keep it under control with my current regimen.

About 6 months ago I also started having itchy, red, dry patches of skin develop on my chest, inner elbows, inner knees, neck, and face. Went back to the derm, diagnosed with eczema, got prescribed desonide cream (again). The cream worked somewhat but the eczema always came back. I moved to DC in January. After about a month in DC my AD/eczema intensified 10 fold. I started to develop bright red, intense, extremely itchy patches in the same places as before, but much more severe. Convinced it was something chemical, I discontinued the use of every scented, non-comodogenic product that I used. Switched to Dove soap, unscented moisturizers, mild/anti-dandruff shampoo, etc. I started using the steroid cream more consistently to battle the severity of the AD/eczema. One very annoying side effect of the steroid cream was a lightening of my skin. Growing concerned about this issue I went to yet another derm and asked to be prescribed Elidel or Protopic after reading about them on the internet. The doc prescribed me Protopic. The results of using protopic seem to be erratic. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but a very disconcerting side effect is that it causes pretty severe itchiness (wierd, since itchiness is one of the symptoms of AD/eczema and all). Since the severe eczema started when I moved to DC, thinking the climate played a major part, I moved back to Florida. The AD/eczema has become more mild again, but still persists. Where the patches used to form I have now noticed a loss of pigmentation in my skin. I have not used steroid creams in ~3 months (have used Protopic, sparingly) but the discolored patches still seem to remain. Sun exposure does not seem to have an effect.

I originally thought the steroid cream use was the main cause of the depigmentation but I also have noticed discoloration under my eyes as well. Thing is, I don't recall ever using steroid cream there.

Just wondering if anyone has ever encountered anything like this. Any advice? Any idea how to reverse the depigmentation? Is it permanent? Can I use some kind of tanning OTC product (like bronzer or something) to at least try to coverup the spots?

Thanks in advance...

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[hackattack]

could possibly be vitiligo, tinea versicolor, or from the use of sterois cream ( if it happened after you used it, and you did put the steroid by your eyes right?)

[MrsZ]

Do you use sunscreen? It looks like you have a been in the sun a lot and have a bit of sunburn. I think the areas of hypopigmentation are not the signs of a significant skin disorder, but the sun darkening your skin and the areas where your skin had thinned a bit from previous topicals and the eye area hidden by sunglasses - just stands out more.

Although you could apply a bronzer, it will probably not erase the outline of the hypopigmentation.

[GoSurfing!]

could possibly be vitiligo, tinea versicolor, or from the use of sterois cream ( if it happened after you used it, and you did put the steroid by your eyes right?)

I can't recall if I used it around my eyes. If I did, it has been a long time since I've last used it. ~3 months. thanks for the reply.

[GoSurfing!]

Do you use sunscreen? It looks like you have a been in the sun a lot and have a bit of sunburn. I think the areas of hypopigmentation are not the signs of a significant skin disorder, but the sun darkening your skin and the areas where your skin had thinned a bit from previous topicals and the eye area hidden by sunglasses - just stands out more.

Although you could apply a bronzer, it will probably not erase the outline of the hypopigmentation.

Yes, I definitely use sunscreen. I do get burnt once and awhile though. I live in Florida on the beach so I'm outside in the sun a lot and every now and then I do forgo sunscreen out of convenience/laziness.

So does thinning of the skin cause hypopigmentation? Is it permanent or will it eventually subside?

It actually looks a lot worse than my POS digital camera captured in the photo above. In the end it's just some unsightly white blotches on my skin, I'm not going to fret too much over it, it's just frustrating.

Thanks for the reply MsZ

[MrsZ]

I doubt that will be permanent. But it might take 6 months or more to go away. Steriod creams really screw with your skin, but the damage is reversible (unless you used them for many, many years).

I was prescribed Elidel several times and it would help - but once I stopped it - my skin would get much worse. Worse itch and redness I ever experienced. It also caused me to develop blepharitis. Where you ever diagnosed with blepharitis? It is a very common eye disorder.

I have read that eczema subsides when exposed to the sun (as opposed to rosacea which is worsen with sun exposure). Of course sun exposure is bad in the long run and will only make sensitive skin worse.

[GoSurfing!]

yes, i was diagnosed with blepharitis. a very, very annoying ailment it is. i'm not sure how it differs from atopic dermatitis/eczema though. i used a ton of steroid (desonide) cream above my eyes back when i didn't know what the #$@! was going on. never again. it caused an extra "fold" of skin to appear above one of my eyes that was extremely unsightly. now a days if i have a flare up i just let it play out naturally and do my best not to rub/scratch my eye. a warm compress and some sleep can go a long way. if anyone that suffers from AD/blephritis happens to stumble on this thread via search the one piece of advice i would give is never, ever, ever vigorously rub your eyelid because it only makes it worse and beware of steroid creams.

[MrsZ]

yes, i was diagnosed with blepharitis. a very, very annoying ailment it is. i'm not sure how it differs from atopic dermatitis/eczema though.

It is related to seb derm, rosacea and abnormally high populations of demodex mites. It is possible that this condition can be treated successfully with oral antibiotics or antibiotic eye drops. You should do some research. Also, check out some of the rosacea information sites and rosacea message boards - they may have better information on this.

[healthyskinpro]

All your areas of dry, itchy troubled skin are areas around joints, or above lymph nodes. This should tell you something! Dry and irritated skin is a result of lack of Essential Fatty Acids in the diet. Your body isn't lubricated, why would your skin be? To treat an internal problem externally, is a long and expensive (and frustrating!) route! Take your omega 3,6,9 in mega doses and see how far this gets you. Also for inflammation, take mega doses of Vitamin E. (1000 iu's a day). This is my best secret! For acne that won't go down, or for any inflammation, E does the trick.

[killerbyte]

I have the same issues for years now -- my AD comes and goes. Protopic has worked well for me. With regard to your pigmentation issue, I too have had that issue with my lower eyelids and it has become quite severe due to AD. People commented for many months now that I look tired all of the time. Several dermatologist recommended that I will need to deal with it and let it clear on its own (6 month wait!). Finally, I went and saw a specialist last week and I just started using Hydroquinone (4%) prescription and within 3 days I've noticed a significant improvement. Why no one has recommended it I'm assuming that it is due to insurance companies not covering creams that are considered cosmetic (and also a little risky). However, under supervision I thoght it would be worth a shot.

Contact me if you are interested in hear results over the long term. If anyone has experience with this I would be interested in hearing from you all too.

Thanks.

[jasota]

Backstory: About a year and a half ago I started to develop red, itchy, inflamed eyelids. At first I thought it was my contact lenses so I went to an optometrist and switched my contact lens prescription. This didn't work. On a followup visit the doc suggest I see a derm. The derm prescribed me a steroid (desonide) cream to use over my eyes. This worked for awhile but never totally cured the problem. After doing some internet research and reading about the negative aspects of steroid creams, especially when applied to the facial area and also noticing thinning of the skin around my eyelids, I discontinued the topical steroid use. Went to a few other doctors but nothing they've recommended has ever totally got rid of the redness/irritation. I've tried different moisturizers, special eyelid rinse/cream, warm compresses and a host of other home brew remedies. I still have not solved the problem to this day, but I can somewhat keep it under control with my current regimen.

About 6 months ago I also started having itchy, red, dry patches of skin develop on my chest, inner elbows, inner knees, neck, and face. Went back to the derm, diagnosed with eczema, got prescribed desonide cream (again). The cream worked somewhat but the eczema always came back. I moved to DC in January. After about a month in DC my AD/eczema intensified 10 fold. I started to develop bright red, intense, extremely itchy patches in the same places as before, but much more severe. Convinced it was something chemical, I discontinued the use of every scented, non-comodogenic product that I used. Switched to Dove soap, unscented moisturizers, mild/anti-dandruff shampoo, etc. I started using the steroid cream more consistently to battle the severity of the AD/eczema. One very annoying side effect of the steroid cream was a lightening of my skin. Growing concerned about this issue I went to yet another derm and asked to be prescribed Elidel or Protopic after reading about them on the internet. The doc prescribed me Protopic. The results of using protopic seem to be erratic. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but a very disconcerting side effect is that it causes pretty severe itchiness (wierd, since itchiness is one of the symptoms of AD/eczema and all). Since the severe eczema started when I moved to DC, thinking the climate played a major part, I moved back to Florida. The AD/eczema has become more mild again, but still persists. Where the patches used to form I have now noticed a loss of pigmentation in my skin. I have not used steroid creams in ~3 months (have used Protopic, sparingly) but the discolored patches still seem to remain. Sun exposure does not seem to have an effect.

I originally thought the steroid cream use was the main cause of the depigmentation but I also have noticed discoloration under my eyes as well. Thing is, I don't recall ever using steroid cream there.

Just wondering if anyone has ever encountered anything like this. Any advice? Any idea how to reverse the depigmentation? Is it permanent? Can I use some kind of tanning OTC product (like bronzer or something) to at least try to coverup the spots?

Thanks in advance...

my guess is tinea versicolor...maybe you could try some selsun blue..