I think I’m addicted to Protopic. There, I’ve said it. I am trying to cut back my dose but I can’t. I daren’t. Life is just so good now since I discovered that I just cannot let go. No, I can’t. Is this addiction?
I’ve been using Protopic now since July this year so not that long, and in that time I feel transformed. It really has completely changed the way I look, the way I feel, the way I live my life. It has changed my life.
Literally.
And I am not exaggerating or making this up.
Going from regular, often weekly full face flare-ups, a constant pink glow and never knowing what triggers the reactions to clear skin in weeks is pretty life changing.
Should it matter so much what I look like? Maybe not, but I just feel so amazingly different.
As a woman, having red angry skin is pretty awful. People judge you. They assume you don’t look after your skin, you should visit your doctor, you should cover up with make-up.
They look at you and wonder how you ever leave the house looking like that. The pity, the raised tweezed eyebrows.
But what other options do I have?
I have to live my life and I have to say, living it with my new clear skinned face is just a million times easier.
Can you blame me for feeling quite so under the spell of my imuno suppressant?
I feel calmer, less stressed, the pain of getting through a day with tight, sore, itchy, dry skin and endless pain does take its toll. I never realised how painful my skin was until it was better.
So now I’m attacking the knotty subject of reducing my dose. I tried before in August but it backfired so I’ve carried on using it twice a day but I know I have to start cutting back.
But what I if I cut out an application and it flares up?
If I’m doing anything in the next few days I’ll just wait till I’m not going anywhere…
What if I cut down and it flares up and never gets better?
I have been putting off the inevitable moment for weeks, yes weeks! Telling myself I would miss out an application tomorrow, then finding I had put it on as normal, knowing I shouldn’t but not able to stop.
I am addicted. I can’t stop using this stuff.
What if I can’t have Protopic any more?
The panic at the thought of that is just too much.
But for anyone thinking they need to cut back. Anyone who is using Protopic whose doctor is advising reducing the applications, it can be done and for me, it’s working.
For two weeks now I’ve been applying just in the morning, not in the evening.
My skin is still clear. I still get the usual side effects, some facial flushing sensations if I get hot, like when opening the oven for instance and my face does flush if I drink alcohol.
The next step is to apply just once every other day.
Then just a couple of times a week.
A maintenance dose at weekends is the next step and if the skin is still clear you can cut back even more.
So I’m on it.
I am not going to become a slave to Protopic. It has saved my skin but I am in control again.
I don’t like having to use any medication long term, even though I know it is not thinning my skin it still worries me a little.
Anyone else who uses it managed to cut back successfully? Did you find it easy to reduce applications?
Hi,
Having had eczema on my face and neck ( everyday except immediately post sunny holiday) for the past 32 years I now have protopic in my life… ( I actually tried its 12 yrs ago but the pain was too much)
This time around the burning was intense although decreased after 4 days and I can’t drink with out being red, however after 32 years of that being a default position I will take it for a glass of good wine.
I have my face back… Friends and workies keep asking me if I have changed my hair or something and I gleefully explain.
I am currently down to once per day and still have normal actually better than normal skin!!
I wondered do you have any experience on how to manage it in the sunshine?? I am off on holiday in 2 weeks and I know you can’t use it in the sunshine?!
Any thoughts…. I always wear factor 50 on my face!
I think if you use a high factor sun screen and wear a wide brimmed hat you should be fine. Also, if you’re using once a day now, make the once a day at nighttime before you go to bed and not in the morning. I don’t know if that will help but it’s worth a try. You could also try going a little longer without using it, you may find the sun, relaxation etc. of holiday living helps with your skin even more. I too get the red face with wine and other alcohol but it’s worth that burning sensation just to have normal skin the rest of the time, and yes I’d say my skin looks even better than it ever has and feels so soft a smooth. Amazing really whey I remember the elephant thick skin I used to have. Who’d have thought the body had such amazing powers of healing.