I find that dermatologists are very aware of this problem. What research evidences do we have in order to reverse the problem (i.e. thickening skin)?
Hello @Jae, I am not qualified dermatologist but as a sensible biologist, I believe that to reverse skin thinning, I should do the following....
- 'Apply a moisturizer to the thinned area frequently. Clean the area with a mild soap that has no fragrant additives. With the skin still wet, smooth on a moisturizing lotion.
- Add fish oil or flax seed supplements to your diet. According to Ray Sahelian, M.D., a study published in the September 2008 edition of the "British Journal of Nutrition" found that some conditions that lead to thin skin might improve by adding fish oil or flax seed to the diet.'
- Drink a lot of water to increase hydration
http://www.livestrong.com/article/159989-how-to-make-thin-skin-thicker/
@ Binnur
Thank you for your valuable input. The treatment you suggest is mostly for in-patients and costly due to its being blood derivatives. I remember that platelet-rich plasma was costly even for in-patients (in my experience of treating trombocitopenia in children in a Third world country).
If application of steroid occurs at home, in my view, dermatologist should have a provision to prevent its collateral effects, of course, also at home.
@ Miranada
Thank you.
I just checked the September 2008 issue of the "British Journal of Nutrition". and the entire Volume 99 and volume 100 they produced in the year 2008.
Also searched for "Ray Sahelian" in the entire journal + Google scholar.
Ray Sahelian does not exist. The website is not a serious one, I conclude.
Skin regenerates itself every 52-75 days if offending cause stopped as steroids is a known structure that have anti-proliferation effect in epidermal basal cell keratinocytes.
Dear Adil.
Suppose that a patient had a one sq. inch eczema. She applied steroid for a moderate period finally succeeding to control it. Now she has got a thin skin in the same area. If she leaves it for 75 days, do you think that she will have her skin back to its pristine state? If so, your claim is at odds with that of Ebtisam Elghblawi above. Ebtisam thinks that post-steroid thin skin is a irreversible atrophia (or, even, like an amputated arm) which will never grow back. If we think about nail (type of skin) atrophia, we might extrapolate that skin thinning can be reversed, at least partially.
Dear Jae
Eczema as example you considered and topical steroid as a drug you use to stop reaction of skin developing eczema i.e. acanthosis, spongiosis, parakeratosis and hyperkeratosis and you succeeded to control it. What will happen when you stop drug? Eczema will relapse again whatever that topical steroid (Clobetasol propionate - Group 1- ultra potent foe example) so the anti proliferation action vanish and proliferation started again, then no irreversible atrophy (degeneration of cells) happen .
tacrolimus and pimercrolimus have the ability to reverse skin atrophy. but percentage and efficacy under question
Reitamo S, et al. J Invest Dermatol 1998; 111:396–398: here we can find evidence that tacrolimus can reverse poststeriodal skin atrophy
For ladies there is a relatively simple solution – topical use of phytoestrogens (plant-derived xenoestrogens) that easily found in most aromatic oils. Aromatic oils should be diluted in non-active basic oils or added directly to any cosmic product just before application. For prolonged use, in order to prevent allergic reaction to impurities, oils should be produced by cold press process that uses no solvents or chemicals.
For men this solution is inappropriate because phytoestrogen, even at low levels, will harm production of testosterone, which is toxic at any age.
Topical application of ammonium lactate twice a day for 4-8 weeks may help to some extent.
Did you find any solution for this case? I had a thinning of the skin after just 10 days of using corticosteroid creams in the palm of my hands to stop a skin inflammation. I would like to know how long it takes to get back to normal.
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