Question: About 6 weeks ago I had a pimple that was not ready to pop, yet I squeezed anyway. Ultimately squeezed too much and the skin continues to stay pinkish/red. Had a steroid injection directly into blemish 3 weeks ago. Went back to doc about 10 days ago and the doc gave me Elidel to apply 2x daily. It has since been showing modest improvement. Consulted another doc about possible laser options (vbeam or IPL) and he advised against it saying my skin just needed the "tincture of time" to allow itself to heal the inflammation. He told me to continue to use Elidel for another 3-4 weeks and he felt confident that would probably largely resolve the issue. Do you agree??

Thank you Dr.... Do you agree that Elidel is the most appropriate topical to use at this juncture to continue to help decrease the inflammation and redness? Are there potential risks with using this for another few weeks? My doc had recommended I use it twice a day for 3-4 weeks, during which time he felt the redness should largely subside. Is there a risk that while using the Elidel during this time that the pinkish/ redness turns into brown post- inflammatory hyper pigmentation??

Another note is that the redness is worst/ brightest after taking a shower. However it then quickly subsides and is much less bright as the day goes on. I assume once the normal pigment returns and the redness resolves then I will no longer have this happen, correct?

Is there a point at which you would consider possible laser solution to address the redness? In other words, if after another month this has not resolved would laser be an appropriate course of action? Or do you think based on having had the steroid injection coupled with Elidel topical treatment that continued time/ natural healing is best? My doc felt given the "body has had a lot going on in terms of inflammation and then a steroid injection to address it - it now needs time to allow the skin to deal with everything and heal on its own." He felt a laser would add further extra activity/healing to the equation at a time my body is already trying to right itself from the original inflammation/ steroid injection. As such, he said to just relax, apply Elidel, and give it another 2 months or so. If by then it had not materially improved he said to come back and see him about possible laser solution. Do you agree here?

Thank you.


Also- I just attached an additional picture which shows the blemish in a slightly different light. Thanks

Hi- I am attaching another photo from this AM. My concern is that it has now been nearly 3 weeks since I had a steroid injection directly into the blemish and about 2 full weeks since I started applying Elidel twice daily....and I can't say there has been a material decrease in the size/color of the redness on my cheek. How long should it take here before I start to see some meaningful improvement (it has now been about 6 weeks since the skin was initially damaged)??

Is there another course of action you would recommend??


Is it possible the Elidel is making the situation worse? It actually seems like the redness has spread a little beyond the origin blemish area. Don't know if that is normal, or could be a side effect of the Elidel? Is this possible?

Might I be better off at this point doing absolutely nothing and putting nothing on it all other than Cerave moisturizer?

But is it possible i am having some type of adverse reaction to the elidel ? Which might explain why the blemish is slightly larger than original?

Is it safe to apply a topical steroid at this juncture after having had the direct steroid injection jnto the blemish approximately 4 weeks ago? Or is hat too much? My original doc had given my some Cordran to apply topically, which i did for about a week before i got the steroid shot. I have not used it since. Would you recommend switching back to the Cordran now?


Also- is it possible that I would develop "Elidel withdrawal" symptoms after stopping use (only used it 2x daily for 14 days)? I seem to have some little bumps in another area of my face (under my eyes- not where I actually applied the Elidel). They may have already been there and I just didn't notice, but I have read online that some people do develop rash like outbreaks after stopping Elidel. Is this possible/likely after only using it for 14 days?

Im concerned about side effects of a topical steroid at this point. Do you think some type of night time retinol product would be helpful in addressing the redness? I know from reading a common complaint of retinol products is that they sometime increase redness in people with sensitive skin. I feel like part of my blemish is now more of a brownish post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation while the other part is still a bit pink. So im trying to figure out the best product to address both. Looking at retinol products and vitamin-c serums. Not sure what would be best without further aggravating the skin.