Hi all,
Thanks for chiming in on my last thread. http://www.skintypesolutions.com/forum/index.php?topic=2949.0 I'm now D 12 topical steroid free and day 3 of OCM. The OCM definitely makes a difference for me in retaining topical hydration. I'm very glad I started, and plan to continue.

I really am getting to the other side, I think, from steroid atrophy. I know it'll take some time to fully heal, but I'm peeling less now, and am less red. The only other change I made was in adding hte EVOO for my OCM and though it's been great, I think stopping the steroid has really made the biggest difference. Finally! I'm recovering! I had no real idea the steroids were doing soo much to my skin. Tonight it may not even hurt when I lie down on my pillow!

My Patch testing worked out fairly well, but I'm not able to use th LRP Rosaliac, so that's going back. Talk about a big ole welt! Normally I patch test for 48hrs. With the Rosaliac, I couldn't even do it for 30! It was sooo itchy and painful. I ripped the bandaid off yesterday am, and still have the hive there a bit. Let's just say I'm glad I patch tested.

Speaking of which, in about three weeks, I go in for another round of formal patch testing with the dermo to see if I can figure out what else to avoid in the future. I've done one round already, and found nothing really useful: I'm allergic to thimerosol, but I couldn't identify it or any of its derivatives/synonyms in my products. We'll see how the next round goes.

The good news is I can use L'Occitane Immortelle Masque and Ultra Moisturizing Cream w/spf as well as the MD Formulations mask. I think I'll wait on getting any more redness products to see how much more healing I can get with the OCM and staying steroid free.

Anywho, that's the update. Hope all's well with you.

(And GucciBear, I totally agree about the energy boost on the prednisone. I was so productive when I was on it! The to-do lists just disintegrated! I'm sorry you have an AI disorder that you've had to have it!)