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Prednisone side effects

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Posted 4/29/2008 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Bratcat is on prednisone again.  She is down to 40mg (from 60mg).  This is her 3rd time on it.  Each time it has taken longer to kick in and her side effects are stronger. 

Any suggestions to lessen prednisone acne?  Over the counter or natural remedy (instead of having to go to the dermatologist again). She uses a Brevoxyl (benzoyl peroxide) which the dermatologist prescribed for her after her last prednisone acne didn't completely go away. Now, while on the prednisone, it doesn't seem to be working much. You can tell the difference between the two types of acne.  She also has some on her shoulders, back, upper arms, etc. Her face is both oily and dry at the same time (make sense?).

Also, other than tylenol, is there anything she can take for prednisone aches? 

She just had her 2nd Remicade treatment last week. It didn't seem to help much (but it also didn't seem to make anything worse). It's hard to tell since she is lowering her prednisone at the same time.

Hope someone has some suggestions. The flare is sort of getting better but the side effects from the prednisone are making UC stink all over again.

Posted 4/29/2008 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
my little brother took antibiotics for acne for a while. They worked really well. I had a friend who did the proactive with good results but I think it might be spendy.
Posted 4/29/2008 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
She's afraid of antibiotics. She got her current flare after she was on antibiotics for her acne for 3 days.  We have talked about proactiv.

Posted 4/29/2008 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, the typical antibiotic for acne is tetracycline or another cycline, which can foster C. diff in the colon. Sorry, Bennie, I don't know of anything that will help her. Prednisone is such an enticing devil drug. It makes you feel better, then turns around and kicks you in the head.
Posted 4/29/2008 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
My son just tapered off his Prednisone.  He ate lots of bananas while he was on it to reduce the loss of potassium that causes the muscle cramps.  He too had lots of breakouts that seem to be getting a little better, now that he is off of it. Good luck to your daughter. 
Posted 4/29/2008 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on pred for 8 months, started at 60mg then was at 40 until two months ago, when I began to taper by 5mg a week, I am now at 5mg and will be for the next year.

I started getting pimples 5 months ago and up until a month ago had it pretty well under control. I used Cetaphil face wash, Vishy Toner & zit creme 2x day (got at CVS).

In the last month, I have gotten small zits in clusters on my cheeks, they look really red and I can't get them to go away, the past two weeks have gotten worse and has spread to underneath my chin. I don't want to take any more meds, I really don't. I am going to try Pro-Active to see how it goes.

I'd say try the Vishy first, they are approx $15 ea. but last 2.5 mos.

HTH! If you find something besides meds that work, please let me know!
Posted 4/29/2008 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Pred is famous for doing what you describe, taking longer to kick in with each use, ect....

as far as the pred acne goes, as I suggested before, I would try proactiv skin care treatment before trying oral meds to treat pred acne, afterall, once the pred is out of her system the acne will more than likely subside.

:)
Posted 4/29/2008 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
I like salicylic acid rather than benzoyl peroxide - much less drying and irritating! I think the stuff I have is Clean and Clear that I got at Wal-mart. Clinique also has a good acne line with salicylic acid, which doesn't bleach things like the peroxide does.

I'm getting the pred acne all over my chin and nose area! Oh so annoying :( Add that to moon face and -UGH!- mirrors are evil...

Neutrogena also has a powder out that has the salicylic acid in it - I apply that mid day for my touch ups.

Definitely no antibiotics!!!
Posted 4/29/2008 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Honsetly there isnt much to be done about pred side effects.

For Acne, the best thing I've found are Aveda cleansers. Much better than anything I've every been perscribed. I use the Purifying Gel Cleanser and the Exfoiliant that goes with it.
Posted 4/29/2008 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
I use Proactiv and really like it. It may be worth looking into.

How's she doing today?
Posted 4/29/2008 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bennie,

I'm not familiar with distinguishing between acne from Prednisone and the "other" type of acne.

Depending on what the difference is, steaming might be an option. It doesn't involve any meds and certainly no trips to the dermy. Facial steamers are fairly affordable and available at most local drug stores.
Posted 4/30/2008 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Sorry I don't have any answers to help, but I just wanted to check in and wish your daughter good luck!! I hope she feel better soon!

Laura

Posted 4/30/2008 4:31 AM (GMT 0)

Roopkirani said...
Hi Bennie,

I'm not familiar with distinguishing between acne from Prednisone and the "other" type of acne.

Depending on what the difference is, steaming might be an option. It doesn't involve any meds and certainly no trips to the dermy. Facial steamers are fairly affordable and available at most local drug stores.

Prednisone acne is still acne but induced by being on pred is all.

Proactiv is a great 3 step cleansing method that works great for acne, even induced by prednisone acne.

And for those who get acne other areas besides their faces, like your back and such, proactiv has body pads for that.

:)

Posted 5/4/2008 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
I am on pred now and i have the acne on my chest, and face. A huge moon face. I also have days where i cry and i dont know why & other days i am really happy. I STILL call pred the DEVIL!!! I wish the side effects wouldnt be so harsh or something to help them. I would def take something to get rid of the side effects of prednisone!!!.. Good luck to your daughter but tell her SHE ISNT THE ONLY ONE!!!.. I find it easier to make jokes about it. esp my face!!!
Posted 5/4/2008 10:46 PM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
Prednisone acne is still acne but induced by being on pred is all.

Ah, that is what I thought. I was getting the impression that it actually looked and felt different or something.

Bennie, how is Bratcat doing? Have you found something that is helping with the acne?
Posted 5/5/2008 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, can't really give you any answers as I was incredibly lucky where acne was concerned.

I have however found a good chunk of information regarding acne that clears up quite a few myths and also includes the common, and less common ways of trying to deal with acne.

Hope this helps some.
Posted 5/5/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Roopkirani - I understand where you are coming from. The pred acne is different than the acne I have had. It is mostly small clusters of zits and before I would have 6 to 10 large pimples at a time (pre accutane).

I hope the acne goes away and I do not have to end up on another course of accutane to get rid of it.
Posted 5/5/2008 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
Isn't accutane a really no no for UC sufferers. Didn't a member here claim he/she got UC from this drug when he/she was a teenager but couldn't prove it.

http://www.skincareblog.net/2007/10/13/7-million-awarded-in-accutane-lawsuit/
Posted 5/5/2008 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter used salfacet-r when she was a teenager with acne. It worked well for her.

http://www.healthyontario.com/DrugDetails.aspx?brand_id=1273&brand_name=Sulfacet-R
Posted 5/5/2008 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
I would avoid taking accutane even if I wasn't an IBDer, that drug has some nasty side-effects...not to mention the contraversy surrounding it with possibly causing UC-like symptoms listed as one of the side-effects.

:)
Posted 5/5/2008 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
I have rash like stuff on my face. It is not to noticiable with makeup on but without it looks like I have a slight sunburn on my cheeks. and the rash. I have never had this before, I am assuming this is from pred. I am off pred now and have been for a week now and no change. Anyone have this.?
Posted 8/7/2010 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
I had been administered large doses of prednisone over an eight month period by my doctor.  While on this regimen I began breaking out in horid prednisone acne.  When I questioned my doctor he replied that he didn't know what it was...what a loser he was.  this acne was so bad it was all over my face, scalp and back.  I finally sought treatment from a drmatologist that gave me a sulphur wash (Perrigo - Sodium Sulfacetamide 10% and sulphur 5%)  This seemed to help a bit. He also gave me a topical called Protopic which also helped.  The problem with the topical was it made you skin extremely sensitive so after awhile I wasn't sure whether it was still the acne I had a problem with or was my face now so sensitive that it was just breaking out from the Protopic.  it was the later.  When I would work out and sweat the breakouts were extremely bad and lasted forever. After much research and trying everything over the shelf that didn't work and sometimes made it worse. I finally came to the conclusion on my own that SULPHUR WAS THE ANSWER.  Why didn't my dermatologist give me a sulphur topical.  I don't know.  But that would have killed this what I call the MONSTER WITHIN much quicker.  I found my relief in the sulphur wash previously mentioned and a $4.99  tube of adult tinted Clearasil (Stayclear) that contains sulphur.  I started putting this on my face every night like a mask and the fight against this horrid acne had began.  A fight that I had won after dealing with this for almost a year. I know how you feel.  I felt like I had lost a year of my life due to negligence and misinformation from doctors.  I also took MSM. This is a natural anti-inflamatory with an organic sulphur base.  Remember sulphur is the answer.  Good lock to you all and don't give up.  You can do it also.   Thank you for reading this.   Ron
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