Hydrocortisone Cream Side Effects for Eczema Sufferers
Very often if you visit the dermatologist about your eczema you will get prescribed Hydrocortisone cream. It some places you can also get it over the counter without a prescription – usually in lower doses than your doctor will prescribe.
Hydrocortisone cream is an effective method at clearing up eczema – however it doesn’t work long term and worse, it can affect the skin with some bad side effects. It also takes a few days for it to work effectively so don’t expect the itch to disappear as soon as you apply it to the affected area.
Most common of these side effects is that it thins out the skin so that it becomes very sensitive to cuts and abrasions. This can lead to infections that are more susceptible to bacteria and other nasties.
There can also be a loss of skin pigmentation and since your skin is much thinner, veins and blood vessels become more prominent. In severe cases, the steroids in the cream can enter the blood stream causing illnesses such as Cushing’s syndrome.
Hydrocortisone cream is a topical Corticosteroid and you can get it under various brands in either cream or lotion. It is applied to the skin to control itchiness, redness and rash like symptoms. While it does contain steriods, they are very different to anabolic steriods that are used by atheletes. But it still is a drug and therefore needs to be treated as such.
The longer that you use a Hydrocortisone cream, the more likely that you’ll be affected by the side effects which is why most professionals only recommend short term use.
If you have been given a hydrocortisone or corticosteroid cream for your eczema then use it sparingly and only for a short period of time. If you notice any of the side effects on your or your child’s skin such as thinning or increased sensitivity then it is advised to stop using it.
It’s a good idea to try some of the safer and less aggressive eczema creams first to see if they help before using a steroid cream that can cause side effects.
