WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING IS VERY COMMON AFTER LONG TERM USE OF STEROID COMBINATION CREAMS AND THIS CONDITION IS CALLED STEROID DEPENDENT SKIN OR TOPICAL STEROID WITHDRAWAL WHEN STEROID CREAMS ARE STOPPED THE SKIN BARRIER BECOMES VERY WEAK PIGMENT CELLS BECOME OVERACTIVE AND THE SKIN LOSES ITS NATURAL BALANCE THIS LEADS TO DARKENING DRYNESS SENSITIVITY AND DEPENDENCE ON PRODUCTS LIKE RET GEL THE REASON YOUR FACE BECOMES DARK EVEN IF YOU STOP RET GEL FOR ONE DAY IS BECAUSE THE SKIN HAS NOT HEALED INTERNALLY RET GEL IS ONLY CONTROLLING THE SYMPTOMS TEMPORARILY AND NOT CORRECTING THE ROOT CAUSE AT THIS STAGE THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL IS TO HEAL THE SKIN FROM WITHIN CALM PITTA STRENGTHEN RAKTA DHATU AND SLOWLY RESTORE THE SKIN BARRIER SO THAT PRODUCT DEPENDENCY REDUCES FROM AN AYURVEDIC POINT OF VIEW THIS IS DUE TO PITTA AND RAKTA DUSHTI CAUSED BY STRONG CHEMICAL APPLICATION OVER A LONG PERIOD INTERNALLY I ADVISE AMALAKI RASAYANA ONE TEASPOON DAILY IN THE MORNING WITH WARM WATER TO COOL PITTA AND SUPPORT SKIN REPAIR MANJISTHA CHURNA OR SARIVA CHURNA HALF TEASPOON TWICE DAILY AFTER FOOD WITH WARM WATER HELPS BLOOD PURIFICATION AND REDUCES PIGMENTATION TRIPHALA CHURNA HALF TEASPOON AT NIGHT WITH WARM WATER HELPS GUT CLEANSING AND IMPROVES NATURAL SKIN HEALING EXTERNALLY AVOID HARSH PRODUCTS SCRUBS AND FREQUENT CHANGING OF CREAMS USE A SIMPLE NON IRRITATING MOISTURIZER AND STRICT SUN PROTECTION THIS CONDITION NEEDS PATIENCE HEALING IS SLOW BUT POSSIBLE WITH CONSISTENT INTERNAL TREATMENT AND GENTLE SKIN CARE
Don’t use steroid cream, specially on face, as face has sensitive skin, it immediately absorbs. Start with Sarivasav 15 ml twice daily after food with water, will help lighten your skin Kumkumadi oil / Aloe vera gel on face on alternate night keep overnight, will help to lighten up the skin Use Sun screen SPF 50++ during the day, Avoid direct Sun rays exposure use hat or use umbrella when going out during the day. Mix manjista powder+ turmeric powder+ multani mitti with curds, and apply on affected area twice weekly, keep for 10 minutes and rub in circular movement and wash with clean water. Do pranayam lom -vilom bhastrika bhamri 5-10mins twice daily
Your darkening is likely post-steroid hyperpigmentation; long-term steroid cream can cause persistent dark spots. Stopping retinoid gel makes pigmentation more visible because your skin turnover slows. - In that case dermatologist check is important, to check exact skin condition. Thenafter starting some medicine will be good choice. Till then- -stay hydrated - gentle skin routine - use sunscreen outdoor
Don’t worry. Take. Mahamanjsiadhi gana vati 1tab bd AF Kukumadhitail external application evenshade ointment Externally apply Avoid oily spicy food meat alcohol smoking
1.Arogyavardhini vati 1 tab twice daily with water after meals 2.Gandhak rasayan 1 tab twice daily with water after meals 3.Manjistha churna 1/2 tsp twice daily with warm water or honey 4.Sarivadyasava 20 ml with 20 ml water twice daily after meals 5.Kumkumadi taila- massage with 2-3 drops of oil on face at bedtime and leave it overnight - Aloe vera gel + turmeric paste (morning application, wash after 20 minutes). - Avoid harsh scrubs, chemical peels, or continuous retinoid use—these worsen sensitivity. WARM REGARDS DR. ANJALI SEHRAWAT
Long-term steroid cream caused steroid-induced hyperpigmentation (ochronosis-like darkening) + skin thinning/dependency. A-Ret (Tretinoin) is helping lighten but causing dependency + dryness (retinoid rebound darkening when stopped). Do NOT stop A-Ret suddenly – rebound darkening & irritation will worsen. Taper slowly under dermatologist guidance. ✓Medicines Kumkumadi Taila – apply 2–3 drops on face night and leave 30 min then rinse Manjisthadi Kwath – 20 ml + 60 ml warm water morning empty stomach Kaishore Guggulu – 1–2 tablets twice daily after food Haridrakhand – 5 gm night with warm water ✓Skincare Routine Morning: Gentle cleanser → Minimalist 10% Niacinamide or Plum 10% Niacinamide → lightweight moisturizer → SPF 50+ mineral sunscreen (must daily) Night: Gentle cleanser → wait 20 min → A-Ret gel (continue but reduce to every alternate night after 4 weeks if improving) → Kumkumadi Taila after 30 min Moisturize heavily (ceramide-based like CeraVe/Physiogel) 2–3× daily to fight dryness ✓Diet & Lifestyle Eat daily: pomegranate, beetroot juice 100 ml, soaked almonds, cucumber Avoid: spicy/sour, dairy after noon, sun exposure Strict SPF 50+ + hat/umbrella outdoors Regards Dr Gursimran Jeet Singh MD Panchakarma
Long term use of steroid combination creams commonly leads to rebound pigmentation dryness and skin dependency after stopping and what you are experiencing fits this pattern The skin becomes used to suppression and when that support is removed pigment production increases and the barrier weakens which is why the face appears darker and drier and why missing ret gel even for one day causes visible darkening Ret gel is currently increasing skin turnover and masking the problem but it is not repairing the underlying barrier damage or pigment instability Continuous daily ret gel on steroid damaged skin keeps the skin in a state of low grade irritation and dryness which itself worsens pigmentation The priority now is barrier repair and pigment stabilization rather than pushing exfoliation Ret gel should not be stopped suddenly but tapered slowly by reducing frequency while increasing moisturization A mild non foaming cleanser strict daily sun protection even indoors and a thick barrier repairing moisturizer used consistently are essential Avoid scrubs facials bleaching agents peels and frequent product changes Dryness must be completely controlled because dry skin always looks darker and dull Internal factors also matter Hydration adequate sleep stress control and correction of digestion play a major role in recovery after steroid misuse Progress is slow and takes months but with consistent barrier repair reduced dependence on ret gel and disciplined sun protection the skin tone does improve The goal is to make the skin strong enough to maintain color on its own rather than relying on continuous active products
HELLO, You have a classic case of steroid induced facial hyperpigmentation with steroid dependence, known in Ayurveda as form of Mukha vaivarnya with rakta pitta dushti and twak kshaya WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO YOU SKIN? -steroid creams suppress natural skin immunity -theey thin the skin -blood impurities increase -pigment cells become over reactive -when steroid or retinoid is stopped-> rebound darkening occurs THAT IS WHY -your face become dark after stopping steroids -ret gel controls pigment temporarily -even 1 day without ret gel-> darkening -skin feels dry and sensitive This means -skin has lost its self regulation -depenedency cycle is present Ayurveda aims to restore natural balance, not suppress symptoms TREATMENT GOALS -remove steroid toxicity from skin and blood -restore normal melanin respose -strengthen skin barrier -break retinoid dependence -prevent rebound pigmentation -improve natural glow EXPECTED TIMELINE TO REVOER= 4-8 months INTERNAL MEDICATIONS 1) AROGYAVARDHINI VATI= 1 tab twice daily after meals for 12 weeks =removes deep liver and blood toxins, corrects pigment metabolism, reduces chronic skin darkness 2) MAHAMANJISTHADI KASHAYA= 15ml with equal warm water morning empty stomach for 3 months =manjistha directly improves skin color, reduces inflammation and pigment overactivity, best medicine for steroid damaged skin 3) KHADIRARISHTA= 20 ml + equal water twice daily after meals for 3 months = repairs chronic skin damage, improves dryness, prevents relapse 4) BRAHMI VATI= 1 tab at bedtime with warm water =stress management as stress worsens pigmenation EXTERNAL TREATMENT -Do not use fairness creams -Do not suddenly stop ret gel -No bleching/peels GRADUAL RETINOID WITHDRAWAL PLAN WEEK 1-3 -ret gel alternate nights -On non ret night-> ayurvedic cream WEEK 4-6 -ret gel twice a week only WEEK 7 ONWARDS -completely stop ret gel This prevents rebound pigmentation EXTERNAL APPLICATION NIGHT APPLICATION -KUMKUMADI TAILA = 2-3 drop massage gently, leave overnight =repairs steroid induced thinning, normalize melanin, improves dryness and glow, initially tingling sensation is normal DAYTIME MOISTURIZATION SHATADHAUTA GHRITA = apply thin layer in morning =restores damaged skin barrier, reduces sensitivity, prevents darkness from dryness DIET -green vegetables -bottle gourd, ridge gourd -pomegranate -amla -coconut water -buttermilk daytime AVOID -spicy food -fried and junk food -bakery, maida -tea/coffee excess -late night eating -alcohol/smoking HOME REMEDIES WEEKLY MASK (ONCE A WEEK ONLY) -sandalwood powder = 1 tsp -rose water= as needed apply 15 min -> wash with normal water ** no lemon, no tomato, no curd YOGA AND PRANAYAM Daily 15-20 min -Anulom vilom= 10 min -Sheetali= 5 min -Bhramari= 5 rounds These cools pitta and improve blood quality WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO -do not jump products -do not expect instant fairness -do not restart steroid cream -do not stop medicines midway Your skin is not damaged permanently , but it is deeply disturbed Ayurveda works resetting the system, not masking symptoms EXPECTED IMPROVEMENT 1ST MONTH= dryness reduces, darkness stabilizes 2-3 MONTHS= pigmentation lightens slowly 4-6 MONTHS= skin becomes independent 6+ MONTHS= stable natural tone DO FOLLOW HOPE THIS MIGHT BE HELPFUL THANK YOU DR. MAITRI ACHARYA
