Derm symptoms and conditions

I am so happy I stumbled apon this website. I thought I was losing my mind. I was on Yasmin for 3 long years and have been off for a month now. I am 37 and was on Triphasil 28 for 17 years (with no issues), my derm told me to switch my birth control to help my acne, worst decision of my life. I have lost all of my friends, my moods and me being paranoid all the time drove my friends away. I am so dry that I itch all the time. I have loss half of my hair, my scalp is sore and itches non stop. I have gained weight and my blood pressure is high. How do you go from a 34 year old normal woman to a 37 year old medical mess? YASMIN. every time I asked my doctors if it could be the pill I heard the same answer over and over NO! I was told that it was age and stress. Hello I am 37 not 97. Stress wouldn't you be stressed if all of a sudden you weren't the same person and no one had reasons why.Well I am no doctor but we cant all be making this up. I am hoping and praying that all of this isn't permanent and that I soon will grow my hair back and that my happy old self will come back. I wish doctors would stop prescribing this horrific drug!

37 - Dx'd w/ Hyperthyroidism at 20 and have been on levoxyl since then. I started at .075 and was increased to .1 when I got pregnant w/ my 1st child at 29. I always thought I had anxiety so until I started reading the posts I didn't put it together. I was always shaky and nervous and super skinny before I was dx'd with hyper and after the treatment I was still anxious so I thought it was a different problem.

The anxiety has gotten much worse in the last few years w/ pressure, family, and career so I went to a psych last week and he gave me lexapro and klonopin. The klonopin had done nothing and I was treated 10 years ago with Zoloft which made things MUCH worse so I won't take the lexapro.

I recently switched to Synthroid .1 because I thought maybe the generic meds didn't work as well. I developed a small rash on my elbow a week or 2 later, then a week after that I got 2 big patches on my back over my kidneys. A bout 2 weeks later I developed a HORRIBLE itchy rash over my whole body. I thought the itching would drive me insane. I saw a dr who gave me prednisone (made me feel awful), after I took the dose pack it came back like crazy. I went to the ED and the dr gave me scabies medication (I was mortified) but nobody else in the house had anything. I went to the derm and they biopsied two areas and a week later have not given me the result. Meanwhile, I'm back on levoxyl and the rash is slowly getting better. It must have been the cause. Anybody else get that??

Been taking this for the past ten years and it is the only thing that allows my skin to quickly recover from eczema. Eczema started at age 22. After my first injection I felt more powerful than Darth Vader and noticed an increase in energy and stamina. A few weeks later, a crash begins and I feel the side effect of lethargy. Consistently, after each Kenalog shot, my skin will develop several pimples around my buttocks area and sometimes on my back after a month or two. I would prefer never to use Kenalog, but it has been the only thing that relieves the patches of skin that become red and flaky due to stress, lack of sleep, and a poor diet. Ultimately, I did develop 'hypercutia' which is a skin condition which allows my dermis to bleed more easily. After stopping the Kenalog injections for a few years, my entire dermis still remains thin and more vulnerable to bleeding. I make my living as an actor and it is part of the reason i still rely on Kenalog whenever an audition comes up and I need to show my body. The pimples eventually become little scars, which eventually become little darker spots on my body. I still believe that in spite of all the side effects, it is worth it if you make your living as an actor or model.

It freaks me out to read all of your stories. I'm sorry for each one of you and are going through it as well with my angel. I can't find one that fits my little one. Believe it or not they gave my daughter a Kenalog injection when she had an allergic reaction, SHE WAS 8 MONTHS AT THE TIME. 3 months later an atrophy occurred. We have begun the lawsuit. PLEASE anybody give me info that could help us to make these doctors recognize their mistakes!!!

LOL- EVERYONE! I'M SITTING HERE SEARCHING FOR SIDE EFFECTS FOR MIRENA AFTER REMOVAL. I HAD MIRENA FOR 1 1/2 YEARS, AND I REMOVED IT ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE EXTREMELY HEAVY BLEEDING SO I FIGURED I WOULD SEARCH IF IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE REMOVAL. WHEN I HAD MIRENA INSERTED, I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS! THE ONLY SIDE EFFECT I HAD THE ENTIRE TIME WAS EXTREMELY LIGHT PERIODS FOR 2 DAYS, BUT I GOT THE PERIODS EVERY OTHER WEEK! WHEN IT WAS REMOVED, I FELT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! NO PROBLEMS! I WAS IN SHOCK BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO HURT. THE ONLY REASON I DECIDED TO HAVE THE MIRENA REMOVED IS BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I PLANNED A TROPICAL VACATION, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BE BLEEDING ALL THE TIME, SO I FIGURED-GET IT REMOVED AND GET THE DEPO ( I HAD DEPO FOR 9 YEARS AND HAD NO PROBLEMS, AND NEVER GOT MY PERIOD). WELL, HERE'S A FUNNY STORY!! THE REASON THIS VACATION IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE I AM CONSTANTLY DEPRESSED, ALWAYS CRYING, EASILY AGGRAVATED, LOST ALL MOTIVATION, LAZY-I STOPPED CLEANING/ COOKING, I DON'T GO OUTSIDE WITH MY LITTLE ONES- MY HUSBAND DOES, ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. NO SEX!! MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT , EXTREMELY BAD ACNE (RESULTING IN MANY TRIPS TO THE DERM. AND SHORT HAIR CUT), I SOMETIMES FEELS PINS AND NEEDLES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODY FOR DAYS! I WENT TO THE DR. AND SHE SAID I WAS EXTREMELY OVERWHELMED, STRESSED AND DEPRESSED! I ALSO HAD A THYROID TEST. MY THYROID IS FINE, AND AS FOR THE MEDS THAT WAS PRESCRIBED FOR DEPRESSION- I NEVER TOOK THEM ( I'M NOT A PILL TAKER-CAN'T REMEMBER!) SO AFTER ALL A TROPICAL VACATION IS JUST WHAT I PROBABLY NEED TO SNAP ME OUT OF WHATEVER MY PROBLEM IS! WELL, AFTER READING THIS , ALL I COULD DO IS LAUGH!! YOU SEE, LOOKING BACK----IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS- I HAVEN'T CRIED, I AM FILLED WITH TREMENDOUS JOY WITH LOTS OF ENERGY. I TOOK MY KIDS TO THE PARK AND FOR LONG WALKS NUMEROUS TIMES. I CLEANED THE ENTIRE HOUSE AND IT'S STILL SPOTLESS, COOKED ALMOST EVERY NIGHT, I HAVEN'T HAD A SISSY FIT, OR FELT SOME TYPE OF ANNOYANCE YET, MY FACE IS CLEARER, MY HAIR HASN'T FALLEN OUT AND GREW LONGER. AND MOST IMPORTANT I LOST 34 POUNDS! ( 174-140). RIGHT NOW AT THIS CURRENT MOMENT I FEEL BETTER THAN EVER! MIRENA BEING THE CULPRIT NEVER ONCE CROSSED MY MIND. I SUMMED UP MY PROBLEMS TO BEING STRESSED FROM MARRIAGE, 3 HIGHLY ACTIVE CHILDREN AND RUNNING A BUSINESS. SO I SIT HERE IN MY GLORY AND CHUCKLE TO MY SELF THINKING ABOUT ALL MY POINTLESS NAGGING & CRYING & BLAH BLAH BLAH. AND I THANK YOU WOMEN FOR OPENING UP AND BEING HONEST BECAUSE I NOW KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG! THANK YOU.

I am a physician. Kenalog is one of several injectable steroids that can cause subcutaneous atrophy or lipoatrophy as a side effect. For those who have this reaction, they will notice a dent or divot. This is not dangerous problem and most of the time the dent or divot will fill back in with time. How much time? The range is 3 to 24 months without treatment. However, for many patients this healing process can be speeded up with weekly saline injections that can be safely performed by almost any Doctor and need not be expensive.

The technique was well described in the Journal of Dermatological Surgery in 2006. If you do a google search for the name of the article as listed below you can find the Abstract and take a copy to your Doctor.

Best to all,

T.

Treatment of Local, Persistent Cutaneous Atrophy Following Corticosteroid Injection with Normal Saline Infiltration

Shumaker Peter R., MD*, Rao Jaggi, MD † , Goldman Mitchel P., MD †

Published in Dermatological Surgery, 21 Mar 2006

ABSTRACT
Background. Injections of corticosteroids are commonly used for a variety a dermatologic conditions but may cause local, persistent cutaneous atrophy, with few therapeutic options.

Objective. To determine the effectiveness of bacteriostatic normal saline infiltration on the improvement of corticosteroid-induced cutaneous atrophy.

Materials and Methods. Four patients with corticosteroid-induced atrophy of the skin, two caused by acneiform cysts and one from intramuscular steroid injection, were treated with weekly injections of normal saline directly into the atrophic site. The patients were seen on weekly follow-up visits, and improvement was documented.

Results. All four patients demonstrated complete resolution of skin atrophy and restoration of surface contour within 4 to 8 weeks of initial presentation. Injected volumes of normal saline ranged from 5 to 20 cm3 per treatment session and three to six weekly treatments. The patients were completely satisfied with these results.

Conclusion. Normal saline infiltration offers a safe, tolerable, relatively rapid, and effective treatment for local, persistent corticosteroid-induced atrophy.

Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 31 Issue 10, Pages 1340 - 1343,

How can I describe my thanks to this site and everybody telling their stories? Thank you oh soooo much!!!

My not so short story: Im on my second Mirena, in total now for just over 8 years. The first Mirena was all joy, periods stopped, no side effects whatsoever. Then I got the second Mirena after I removed the first after over 5 years (my gyn recommended keeping it in for longer but I didn't want to take the risk).

And for the past 2 years my ACNE problems started, first only one or two cystic acne once a month or a couple of small ones here and there. Nothing major. But for the past year, my skin / face makes me feel like a freak. So I went to the derm, got put on Accutane, more meds with a yard long list of side affects. Had to go of Accutane cos my right eye's sight deteriorated so bad I couldn't drive home at night. Went to my house doctor, he wanted to take me of the Mirena asap and refered me to a new gyn, cos mine moved away and I was stuck. But the new gyn did not want to take it out, but rather put me on a retinoid cream, cos it wasn't the acne that caused the acne.... yea right. So 5 months I gave this retinoid cream... I feel like a freak with my face, both cheeks inflamed red bumps under the skin, large cystic acne everywhere... sigh.

But during this 5 months I found a web site acne.org and here I made friends and read stories and hoping and praying, even believing things are getting better, but they weren't. If I look at pics I took of myself 5 months ago and now... sadly things are worse. My self confidence is gone, and I don't even want to have sex with my husband with the light on!!! And then last week somebody posted on the acne site some posts regarding zinc supplements, and I read and researched more on zinc and acne and found that your skin needs zinc to be healthy and having no zinc could be because of to much copper or copper toxicity. So then I researched copper toxicity and found some web sites with references to birth control.... and a bright light went on... and I found this site...

I am glad to say I saw my normal trusted house doc again last night, and made an appointment to have the thing, Mirena, removed first thing Monday morning. I have stopped using any meds like the retinoid cream for my face and cant wait for Monday. I just hope my face returns to normal quickly.... time lines anyone? I had no trouble with acne ever until now.... and Im 35!!! Udult acne my @#$ :)

My right eye now needs laser surgery to remove a layer or something, Im seeing an eye specialist soon, and this was caused by the accutane drying up my eyes so much! :(

I will report back to let other ladies know how it went and how I am progressing... thinking of taking a daily photo of my skin for reference purposes.

Pray for me please, I really need it....

C.

I had a kenalog injection to my right cheek to treat a cyst. It ended up dilating the blood vessels and it atrophied the fat cells under the skin's surface. Now I have a permanent indent in my cheek that looks terrible. There is no way to cover it up and people ask about it all the time. It is very upsetting and stressful. I went to a different dermatologist and was told the only thing to do is a filler injection that only lasts up to 6 months at a cost of $525

i am 16 and begged my mom to take me to a derm.i take one tablet a day and have been for the past 2 months.this barely helps me!!it kinda makes me feel bi polar at some times...

It feels so great to have seen that other people are experiencing the same unlisted side effects. I am on 100mg of doxy twice a day for 20 weeks. I've only been taking it a few days but holy crap. I have been so depressed lately. All I do is cry. And I can't explain why or what I'm thinking that triggers it. I do have things in my life going on that are upsetting me, but nothing that should get me to this point. I have random thoughts of suicide, which is getting me even more down. I have always been such a fun loving, care free person. But now everyone is always asking what's wrong me. I didn't suspect the drug, but getting off and calling my derm ASAP. Other than the depression I've spent a few days throwing up after taking the antibiotic, but I hadn't had too much to eat that day.

when I was in my early 20's i got a sever case of bad acne! I was prescribed 100mg of Doxy 2 times a day. Of course I learned very quickly to eat before having it. Other than that no side effects. I had flawless skin for about 2 years, at which point i had built up a tolerance to it. When I noticed a few pimples I went straight to my derm before it got out of hand. My derm switched me to minocycline and after about another year of perfect skin I got off of meds all together. I have great skin now, just use proactive and nothing else.

Well now my 14yr old has started breaking out..nothing topical worked, I want to protect her from all of the emotional damage that acne caused for me. Put her on doxy 100mg 2x a day. Shes been on it for about 2 weeks and it seems like the big ones went away but there is an over abundance of small ones now and they are flaring up. Is that normal..I don't remember this happening to me but it was so long ago. Does it get worse before it gets better? Anyone experience this?

My hair is falling out too!! Since January I have had 2 kenalog shots for allergies and 2 shots for poison ivy. My side effects are hair loss, depression, headaches, bruise easily, swollen joints, weight gain, and a dent on my rear. These effects did not start until I had 2 shots, now it is so severe. I was so scared when my hair started falling out but knew that I didn't have Lupus or Diabetes which could cause the same side effects...I have been tested for both and do not have either.

Please let us know if there are anymore out there who have hair loss because of the Kenalog Shot.

My derm prescribed Doxycycline to me yesterday but after reading all the comments i am afraid to take it. I'm 23 years old and my acne is looking worse and worse as i get older and need to do something about it but do i put myself through this? Can anyone help me make up my mind?

Hello. I am am going through some major hair loss. I started the pills three weeks ago and i can honestly say that I have lost more hair in the past couple of weeks than i have ever lost in my entire life. I am 22 and I have no family line of baldness. I was on YAZ and this never happened. I switched to FEMCON Fe because I had breakthrough bleeding. Now not only am I having an almost nervous break but my face is breaking out. Something that I never really experienced with YAZ. Can anyone tell me if the hair will grow back?

Thanks

I have been on Loestrin 24 for 2 years!! And I am finally getting off... and so happy to find this site! I have had to be put on Topamax because my migraines became so bad, which helped my weight gain (that I attributed to my own depression that I thought was my own fault!) I didn't even realize bc could cause depression but it all makes sense! I came on here to find out if Loestrin has been the cause of my SEVERE HAIR LOSS over the past year and a half! When I started taking it, I was also going through a stressful situation and thought that was the cause, but have now realized that my life is back to normal that something else must be causing it. I tried to get my Dr. to take me off of Loestrin about a year ago due to the EXTREME nausea, dizziness, headaches and fatigue that it was causing and he decided that I should just be put on Topamax because I was just a Migraine sufferer! What a nightmare. I can't wait to switch tomorrow!!

I have been on Lamictal for just under 1 year and only today realized that my increased acne is probably a side effect. The area around my jaw line is especially bad and it won't clear up. I've also gotten a few little pimples on my chest - I thought it was from going to the gym. My derm has tried oral meds and I'm about to try Accutane, but I really don't want to go to that extreme - Accutane scares me! I also noticed similar effects to the ones that others were talking about, too...forgetting words...forgetfulness...spelling...I want to go off the Lamictal. This just isn't worth it.

I have been using Klaron for 1 week now along with doxycycline, no results as of yet. My face is not red in the morning, however once I wash it, it does turn red. I go back to the derm on March 5, if no results she is going to have to switch me to something new.

I've gotten Kenalog injections for years (probably 100 injections over the years... all in my face) for cystic acne and never, not once, had any side effects from it. It made my worst cysts literally disappear overnight. It was a God send for me. I'm 46 and still get the damned things under my skin. I've moved, so I need to find a local dermatologist who does these injections.

I have been having Doxy since last June (about 6 mo. ago) and still taking it. Its effects on my acne problem has just gotten apparent about one month ago. (Yep. For 5 months, I kept my faith and it is beginning to pay off.) I was determined to take the stuff as long as I need to. However, I just noticed that my stomach is bloating and I got tired very easily. I could play several games of rigorous racquetball before but no longer. My breathing has gotten harder and felt like something was obstructing my breathe just below the rib cage (in the middle).

I will see my derm to see if there is any long term problem with this side effect. He once told me I have to take this drug at least 2 months after all the major "bums" have disappeared. I hope that is within the next few weeks.

I have been taking Lisinopril 40mg.for about 4 months now for high BP. It works very well for the BP issue. Since I have started taking it I have had the dry cough, but its not so bad that I would have change anything because of the fact that it IS helping my BP. I have also noticed that I have been getting the numbness in my arms mostly my left. My Nephrologist mentioned that its Steal Syndrom caused from my Fistula Creation (dialysis access). After reading these posted side affects I think its from Lisinopril. ALSO, in the past 2 months I have been getting acne. First thought it was from my diet, but I have not changed anything in my diet. Its almost like my body is trying to get rid of something in my system. This is not the ordinary acne problem, this is on my face, back of my neck(hairline), on my shoulders and back. The "acne" gets very bad and when I get something out of the sores it has a very strong metallic type smell. Also, I am experiencing the itching, which has been getting worse the past few days. As of today I will NOT be taking any more Lisinopril. I am certain Lisinopril is the cause of all of my problems. Has anyone experienced acne from this product??

Thanks,
Shawn
36yo, Minnesota

I've been on Advair for years. I'm a healthy 32 y.o female, active, with severe asthma. Trying to get myself off of it and have been successful at taking the medication once every 3 days or so. I am working out more and need it less often - the more I build up lung capacity. Within the last year, I've noticed that I've been losing eyebrow hair. So much of it, in fact, that I went to the Derm. for a diagnosis. They think it's "alopecia" - and I say ... it's ADVAIR. Anyone else experiencing hair loss or eyebrow loss, who happens to be on an inhaled steroid? In my case, it's only ONE eyebrow - very annoying! Hair on head is fine. Can't help but link it to the drugs, since Alopecia seems just way too far removed.

Hi there... I have just found this site and I'm very grateful to everyone who has taken the time to sit down and tell us their story mine is very similar. BELIEAVE me I feel like I am pushing my family away and I'm losing my relationship with the one person who used to make me feel like I was the most beautiful woman in the world.
I'm a 40 yr female have or maybe had a great job that I loved... On April 12 I noticed a small red rash on my lower right leg no big deal went to the Dr. gave me some cream and sent me home well I went to work and by the afternoon things just seem to get bad my legs began to swell and little blisters started to pop up so I went to the E.R. they had no Idea what was wrong with me got me an appointment to see a skin DR. so I went home but the pain from the swelling was so bad I could not walk any longer went back to the E.R. they gave me some pain meds and called in some other DR. things had gone from bad to worse my feet had gotten to big I could not put on shoes and I had bruised completely across the bottoms of my feet they put me on 30mg of PRED. and it seem to be under control sent me home after 3 day in the hospital things were good for about a day or so I thought I would go back to work well that was not a very good idea.... My sister had to come and take me back to the ER where they did 2 biopsies and still have no idea what is wrong with me. so now they put me on 60mg of PRED the rash has gone, lots of scaring on my feet because of the blisters once they broke and dried out but I can live with that....
It's the side effects that they don’t tell you about,
MOON FACE I can't look at myself cause really that’s not me anymore,
WEIGHT GAIN I have always been thick but I can't handle the extra 30lbs I've gained,
MOOD SWINGS are unbearable,
PAINFUL JOINTS, CAMEL HUMP, BLOODY NOSE, BRUSING, SORE TEETH/GUMS, DRY EYES, FAITIGE, and worsted of all
I don’t have a support systems in my life so I'm fighting this by myself everyday, I have 3 kids that I have tried to explain all this to but they don't get it and well my boyfriend he tells me he understands that its the meds pushing him away but if I can't figure away to control this I will lose every thing including my job. I cant even get the energy together half the time to make it up and down the stairs which also comes with the pain of just trying to lift each leg up to climb the stairs, I also have the camel hump which I find very painful, The acne and the hair growth that I have to get wax off once a month cause I feel like a man I feel like a loser and as of the last couple of days I just want to give up I am now down to 20mg per day but I find that I am feeling so sick I cant think straight I hope and pray for each and every person out there that has to take this MED that you get better and I do hope that my symptoms wont come back. Thanks for being here and I’m glad I found this site. I know now that I’m not losing my mind completely. Elizabeth.

not really sure if 1 of my symptoms were from nr, i had been on it for 3 months and started breaking in hives for 3 weeks now. my husband thinks it is from nr, but the derm and pharm told me that it is not a side effect. if i am allergic to it i should have had the rash the moment i put it in. i had definitely gained 6 lbs. i thought it was from prednisone(derm put me on prednisone) thought it was allergic reaction from antibiotic. i cant stop eating, bloated and gassy all the time it is annoying and frustrating !!!!!!!

My hair was falling out excessively about 2 years ago and my derm gave me about 10 kenalog shots in my scalp every month for 6 months and it helped me alot. He explained to me that it is a very weak and diluted version of kenalog and that I shouldn't have any side effects and so far i haven't. My hair loss has started again (comes up from time to time) and I have gone back to my derm to receive the shots. I think if you receive the shots, but experience bad side effects, maybe asking for a much lighter dosage would help.

In July of '06 I received a Kenalog shot in my buttocks because of asthma problems. I never knew why my skin was sinking in, at the same place where I received the shot. Now, nine months later, I can almost sink my fist in my butt because the dent keeps getting larger. I just learned a few days ago that it was because of the Kenalog shot. Is the dent going to keep getting larger or is there some way that I can stop it. Somebody please help me.!!!!