Hello. I am currently using a topical steroid product (Luxiq - bethamethasone valerate 0.12%) on my chin and around the sides of my mouth.

The skin in that area gets tiny red bumps that sometimes are filled with a clear fluid and overall the area looks almost like diaper rash or windburnt skin. The Luxiq product keeps the area pretty clear, but I know that long term use of topical steroids, especially on the face, is not good.

Are there any alternatives that you would recommend? I have tried CP Serum, Emu, and 2% BHA on the area. While they don't irritate it they also don't seem to make a visible decrease in bumps or redness. One application of the Luxiq and it's cleared up the next day. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time!

The steroids will cause damage with time. Have a dermatologist check to see if you have some type of low grade skin infection.

Also, use the 2% salicylic acid pads (maybe you already are).

You might also see if adding supplements help.

Try each day:
vitamin C - 1 gram
MSM - 1 gram
Flaxseed oil - 4 grams.

Thank you! I will have my derm check to see if there is an infection.

What form of oral Vitamin C do you recommend?

HI Stacey,

This used to happen around my mouth and chin often. The doctor diagnosed Impetigo infection everytime. Nothing like that has happened again since I've been using Exfol and CPs.

Thank you Bagheera! Did your Dr prescribe anything to clear up the infection?

Good to know that the use of Exfol and CPs has kept the infection from reoccurring.

I'm slowly weaning myself off the topical steroid (only use once a day and every other day instead of twice daily).

Just regular pure vitamin C. There are other forms but I have never seen a study proving they had any special benefits.

Stacey ~ I never answered your question! I used Bactroban, but only twice. Once about two years ago before I started the CPs, and once recently when I had run out of CPs and had been been briefly using my leftover Obagi products. It was the first time since I'd been using CPs that I'd gotten impetigo. It was not as bad as it had been in the past, and I went back to using my new order of GHK to improve my skin barrier (I have ditched the Obagi. It was expensive, but it didn't help me in the long run and makes my skin too weak and irritated to withstand the impetigo bacteria.)