Healthy Skin

Hi All

I commenced FID (for the second time - I did it last year but lost my way (but it definitely helped) at the start of the year. I never got the hang of the food testing but I am more determined now. I have made great progress in the past 6 weeks. The longstanding eczema on my hands is 60% better, I no longer have to plaster my face with moisturiser in the morning as my forehead is not as flaky (I would say also 60% better), the backs of my ears are lovely and smooth. My long standing (since my teens) very flaky scalp issue is improving. The issue I currently have is with eczema on my ankles. The left ankle (which has been far more troublesome) appeared to have become infected and got quite painful and very inflamed at the start of the year. I saw a Dr and went on antibiotics for 10 days and also a steroid for a week as well. It didnt really improve though and about a three weeks later I was put on antibiotics again. I managed to find a dermatologist in London (who appeared at least ready to consider diet as playing a role and spoke of the benefit of a low histamine diet). I saw her last Thursday and she diagnosed my ankle as having been infected which clearly made the (discoid) eczema worse although the infection had cleared. She has prescribed me an antibiotic/steroid (Fucidin) cream which I am to use 2x a day for 2 weeks and I am then to use a protopic (tacrolimus) 2x a day for 2 weeks. I have never used a protopic before. The fucidin has been very effective and has significantly improved things on my ankle. I am not planning to use it on my hands though as they are improving so much.

However, I have had an issue with steroids in the past so I am a bit nervous to use them. I have always had (until recently) mild eczema and used steroids a bit (not that regularly) until 2015. I then read about TSW and promptly came off them and went through TSW. I have to say that it wasnt as bad a process as some people have had to go through but I nonetheless had all the symptoms. I then did not use steroids again until late in 2021 when my hands became infected so I used a steroid for about 10 days. I then used a steroid again for a 2 weeks in January this year (with a week off in between) to deal with the ankle - which didnt really help (it was Eumovate not Fucidin). After coming off this steroid, I did not appear to display any of the TSW symptoms.

Having gone through TSW and being a bit nervous about using them again I have the following questions:

1. How should I minimise the risk of getting TSW symptoms when stopping using the Fucidin? Is there a way in which I can "wind down" their use in the second week of using it? I note you refer to mixing with moisturiser but note that Fucidin contains an antibiotic - would that affect it?

2. Any tips re how to manage the application of the protopic (which I have never used before)?

I only plan to use these steroids and protopic on a short term basis to help me get over the bad state of my ankle.

Thanks so much Karen and Bonnie for all the fabulous work you are doing to help us. I truly am now a convert and have signed up to full membership! THANK YOU!!!

Mark

PS I sent you a separate email re some other meds that I have to take that I would be grateful if you could take a look at. Thanks