Steroids causing thin skin

Hello Tonykins 

I have noticed no one has replied to your message. I am not on steroids myself so can't give you a specific answer.

However during Hormone Therapy I was having trouble with itchy skin I tried every moisturiser going and although "Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser" was great my GP prescribed "Aproderm" this stopped the itching and kept my skin soft even on the bottom half of my legs where the skin is thin. (You can get it without prescription from Amazon).

I do hope you sort the problem out and my message helps.

Best wishes - Brian.

Like Millibob I’m not suffering with fragile skin yet but expect to eventually as a natural part of aging and being on chemo, pills - for pain relief and my heart.

I’m only 61 and my legs are more susceptible to damage but I’m only on steroids for 3 days in 21 so maybe they are a cause. But depending on your age I’d expect you to suffer with paper-skin at some stage.

What else are you on? Whats your age? Do you moisturise? Do you cover your arms at all times to protect them?

I hope someone else can assist better than my guesses. Take care.

Hi Tonykins 

my OH is on steroids along with Abiraterone. He has had no issues with skin . When he started  his rafiotherapy I changed his shower products to Sanex zero and this has been great.  This was recommended by staff at the unit .He eats an apple , orange, banana and grapes every day . At times he has fresh pineapple if he feels bunged up . So maybe this also helps . 

best wishes 

Liz & OH XX

Hi Tonykins  My husbands feet were really soft and sensitive when he was taking prednisolone, enough to make him uncomfortable sometimes, no issues with overall skin though. 

L

Hi Tonykins, have only just seen your post.  Yes, my hubby has been on steroids for about 18mths, firstly with Abiraterone then chemo. His skin is paper thin and his arms are a mass of bruises, cuts and plasters. It looks like he's been in a fight!  Has had to have antibiotics twice for them. The drs just shrug when he mentions it. We understand Prednisolone is particularly bad for it although he's now on a low dose of Dexamethasone and it's almost as bad.  He uses an emollient cream such as E45 as his skin is also very dry.  We googled arm protectors and you can get them for thin skin.  Haven't tried them though so don't know if they're any good.   

Thanks. Just my arms at the moment. Have scabs from cuts all over them.

Thanks for the response.

Your husbands arms sound just like mine. Even a plaster pulls the skin off so I avoid platers now.

The doctor stated there was nothing available to help except regular creaming with E45 or similar.

These things are sent to try us.

Best wishes.

It’s arms that are mostly affected in hubby’s case too.  You’re actually the only other person I’ve come across on the forums so far to mention thin skin as a side effect of steroids.  Yes, plasters don’t help the problem, especially when having numerous blood tests! 

Maybe now that the weather is cooling down, wearing long sleeves again will provide some protection. 

All the best.