Hydrocortizone 1% for Dermatitis (skin, hair, doctor, treat)

[tripod]

Been using OTC hydrocortizone 1% creme and ointment for years on my face to control dermatitis and wondering if it's bad in any way? I find that the ointment is also the most effective thing I've tried for shaving burn so between that and the dermatitis I probably use about 2 oz of this stuff every month for past 20 years. Any thoughts?

[tilli]

There are side-effects from long term use of hydrocortisone, like thinning of the skin and discoloration. If you are using it daily, you should probably talk to your doctor about that. If you use it only occasionally it's not a big deal.

[Gone-2-Beach]

I've been using it twice each day to treat the areas that were affected by radiation therapy on the advice of the radiation oncologist. After about three weeks of use, I am not feeling any negative effects, but that's me. Everyone reacts differently. As with all medications, I'm looking forward to not having to use it anymore.

[Crakaveli]

skin disorders occur from the inside out not the outside in. reduce inflammatory foods like cow's milk dairy and wheat products. take 1-2 tbsp of cod liver oil a day.

[tripod]

Originally Posted by Crakaveli

skin disorders occur from the inside out not the outside in. reduce inflammatory foods like cow's milk dairy and wheat products. take 1-2 tbsp of cod liver oil a day.

My dermatitis was brought on by emotional stress about 20 yrs ago and although the stress has been taken care of long ago I still have dermatitis showing up mainly on the face and scalp and although it hasn't gotten worse it's the same all the time. It is made worse in the winter by the dry air in the house but a humidifier helps offset that. I use hydrocortizone cream + ointment on the face and selsun blue shampoo (selenium sulfide) on the scalp. The main itching is the scalp area too. Also get it on my chest but that's only a prroblm if I'm going to the beach which is almost never and I can antcipate that and put cream on it to clear up the redness. Actually I notice it causing mild itching most places on my body where there's hair but taking a steamy shower and using selsun blue all over relieves that and the itching is never severe. The main problem is the face because of the obvious redness that shows but if I keep on top of it using the cream it's a non-issue.