I’ve suffered with psoriasis for 3 years, with small patches on my face. During a recent flare the patches grew and became so large majority of my face was covered. I didn’t even want to leave the house because it got so bad, my skin was constantly splitting, weeping, shredding. I couldn’t go 10 minutes without applying another layer of moisturiser and feeling my skin peel off in my hands. Everyone I saw commented how terrible it looked and how sore. I was so depressed and doctors kept saying they can’t do anything for it on face. I finally saw a dermatologist and he prescribed protopic, after reading the reviews I was petrified to even apply it on my face but given how desperate I was I tried it anyway. Well, I wished someone had told me about it sooner. I luckily haven’t experienced any burning or unwanted side efffects (touch wood). I am 4 days in, having just put a thin layer on each night and washed off in the morning and applied my usual simple moisturiser & my skin is almost clear. I am genuinely gobsmacked at how fast it worked. I finally feel like me again. Today is the first time in weeks I have even been able to feel the skin on my cheeks. I just pray it keeps it clear!! If you’re considering trying this, do it!!
It worked very well for my itchy skin.
Smells horrible burns like I'm on fire
Have suffered eczema on my face for several years, with no previous treatment having an effect, within 3 days of starting treatment the itchiness was gone, no flaking of the skin. Within a week the redness and damaged skin appearance was completely gone. I now only use as and when needed. It did make my skin hot and flushed in the first hour or so after application, but tolerable and worth it for the results!
I have this condition since I was 4 years old. I have been using this for 1 week. The intense burning on my affected skin is unbearable. I walk around with ice packs on my skin. Waiting to hear from the Dr. To figure out the next step.
I have had sebhorreic dermatitis for 30 years and had been using mild steroids c. twice a week, but that didn't really seem to help any more. Protopic was recommended by a dermatologist, though I initially didn't follow up on that recommendation because of the reviews I'd read. A year later, I decided to give it a go. As another review has noted, everyone's skin is different. I didn't experience any burning or itching at all. It's quite greasy, and I've been using it once a day rather than twice for a week now. And I've been using the 0.03% rather than 0.1%, as that was what was prescribed (if it works, it's good to use the weaker version I understand). I'm a week in, and the results have been good. My skin has improved - not radically, but to an extent that gives me some optimism. And I haven't experienced any side effects. I plan to keep using this for a few more weeks once a day, and then move to twice a week. Assuming the results continue to be positive.
Had almost all the side affects, flu like symptoms and breathing problems (undiagnosed like I saw on here but I feel like I can barely breathe when walking, maybe it flared up my asthma) absolutely inflamed skin and diarrhea and nausea to the max. Sick of nothing working. I've been dealing with this for a year now and it's slowly spreading all over my body and the only think that has kind of helped me is dupixent. Though that is a shot, and probably not very affordable
I only needed to use this ointment for 1 week after a severe allergy to my face. After a few days all the skin damage and inflammation had totally left. I could definitely feel a heat way below my skin layer but nothing that was unbearable. Totally amazing ointment!
It burned my adult daughter face to the point that her condition worsened hugely.
Long story short: I experienced very mild side effects only, and this has cleared my stubborn eczema that was no longer responding to hydrocortisone. Long story: I mainly get eczema/AD around my eyes and mouth, have had this since I was 12, I’m now 27, and about 3 years ago I started to get dyshydrotic eczema on my fingers. I did an initial course of protopic 1% twice a day for 6 weeks, now using it twice a week (or less) for ‘maintenance’ around my eyes and mouth and on my fingers only, some eczema patches never returned after the initial 6 week treatment so I don’t use the protopic on those areas anymore, hopefully I can eventually stop completely. My fingers took the longest to clear and I still experience flares so I sometimes apply the protopic for a few days up to a week if it’s a bad one - I’m pretty sure it’s allergies I’m waiting for patch testing. In terms of side effects, I did experience the burning/itching sensation, but it stopped after a week or so of use. Sometimes if I go a bit longer between maintenance applications I get the burning again a little bit. I also sometimes getting flushing and burning when I drink alcohol particularly around my eyes, it usually lasts 30 mins max and only happens if I’ve applied the protopic within 48 hours before drinking. I used to use hydrocortisone to treat my eczema, but about a year and a half ago my flares started occurring more often and the hydrocortisone seemed to have become less effective. My doctor told me to stop using it completely, that what I was getting was a rebound rash not eczema. I stopped, and so began the most hellish year of my life! The worst flares I’ve ever experienced, couldn’t sleep with the itchiness, some areas were oozing, I didn’t want to leave the house because of how bad I felt I looked. I still don’t know if what I was experiencing was TSW (topical steroid withdrawal) or just my eczema worsening due to removal of treatment. I’ve since learned that stopping it suddenly instead of tapering off was an horrible idea and increased chances of negative side effects so thank you doctor. Anyway with a lot of reluctance I eventually (about 4 months ago) gave in to a dermatologist and agreed to treatment with protopic. I was reluctant because of the possibility that I was going through TSW, and through TSW Facebook groups I read that the same thing happens with protopic. I still don’t know if I made the right choice for the long term, only time will tell (I used hydrocortisone intermittently for over 12 years before it stopped working), but it has been a huge relief the last few months to not obsess over my skin everyday and to have a break.
Unbearable burning for more than a day...and counting. The claims that the burning lasts only up to 20 mins, for me, is bogus. The burning is unbearable, and gets worse in the shower when trying to wash it off. This drug turned out to be a huge rip off (costs $160 CAD) and did absolutely nothing to suppress symptoms. Huge regrets going down this road.
After I started using protopic I developed an allergy to alcohol! It took me ages to make the connection. Also it states only use for 6 weeks and I’d been on it over 6 months under doctors orders! I have read that it can cause lymphoma and skin cancer! Use with caution and read up on it
Been on this for 3 weeks now and it has been a lifesaver. Had huge blisters on hands, fingers and arms but all cleared up now. Only slight flu like symptoms but I’d rather that than sore hands and arms! Easy to apply and use.
I have had psoriasis since I was 14. Recently it appeared on my arm and wasn’t going away with my usual steroid cream. It had gotten so bad it was my entire inner upper arm. This cream I only used for four days and I broke out in red hot puffy blisters that are spreading. It’s increasingly more painful and behaves similar to a 2nd degree burn. I already expected a scar from the psoriasis but now I think my arm is going to be permanently disfigured due to this.
I had a flair up of dermatitis on my face but mainly on my eye lids and under my eyes it was very itching so I went to the doctor and he prescribed me protopic as the cortisone creams never worked for me.The minute I got home I put a very thin layer on my face as I was told and within seconds my face was on fire like someone throw acid or boiling water at my face,it was burning,hurting so bad and was bloody red with blisters forming all over my eyelids and lips, went to the ER and they were able to calm my skin a bit and I was icing it as well .For the next following days it wasn't easy as my eyes had a lot of swelling and were shut.Eventually things got better but I was left with saggy skin on my upper eyes from blistering so much,scars all over my face and racoon eyes as my skin under my eyes got damage so bad that I have scars which I have to cover with makeup everyday in order to look and feel somewhat better when I'm outside .I ask everyone to use this cream with caution or avoid it completely so you don't end up like me.
This medication has worked for me in the past for my eczema, recently I have developed a huge rash on my hand, which turned out to be psoriasis I have been putting the cream on for a few days now and it's not working, maybe it's not meant for that.
In 2013 I was going through a painful divorce and developed horrible dermatitis on my jaw line and chin. My healthcare provider did not have a dermatologist on staff at the time, so I saw a GP at my doctor's office who didn't have a clue. I don't remember she prescribed but within minutes it felt like my face was on fire and it made my condition exponentially worse as it was all over my face. I looked like a monster or a meth head and it was seriously painful too. I live in the Boston area where we have no shortage of great medical centers, so I went to the ER at Brigham and Women's Hospital. After waiting two hours to be seen I didn't even see a doctor, apparently there were no doctors working, so I saw a nurse practitioner. I could tell she didn't have clue about my condition but prescribed something anyway. I tried it on a small area first, it did nothing. Finally my PCP got me an appointment to see a dermatologist at Beth Israel Medical Center, but I had to wait over a month to see him, and I looked like a monster. I saw an amazing doctor, so it was worth the wait. He gave me Protopic and I saw an improvement immediately within a few days it was gone. I still get occasional breakouts on my chin but with Protopic it goes away within hours. When I saw Dr. Stavert the following week it was all cleared. This is my last week here you’ll need to see someone else if you come back. I asked where he was going and he replied, “The Cambridge Health Alliance” I couldn’t believe my luck, because CHA is my provider. Protopic works great and you only need a dab so it lasts a long time. Good luck!
Only med that has ever cleared up my skin issue on my eyelids.
I'm 56. Been on protopic ointment for 1year now for severe perioficial dermatitis. Apply it 2xday. It helps soothe the burning itching but cannot heal it. The only thing that works so far. Dermatologist told me continue applying it. I hope it won't cause eventual lymphoma(long term side effects possibly). I already have a history of lymphnodes cancer stage 3. We'll see.