How to restore damaged facial skin due to prolonged tenovate usage?
Patient: Hello I am a 17 year old African American girl with dry, sensitive skin. I have been using African black soap for my face and it works wonders to help keep my skin nice. I was also using the cream tenovate plus to treat occurrences of acne on my face. I thought the cream worked so well that I began to mix it with my daily moisturizer and apply it to my face every morning. I have been doing this for at least 1-2 years now. Well, the store that I bought tenovate from stopped selling it so I no longer use tenovate. Not too long after I stopped using the cream my face broke out severely and my skin darkened and it is really itchy. It has been 2 weeks and my skin has not improved. I just recently read online that tenovate is bad for your skin and now I am scared I have damaged my face. What should I use to help restore my beautiful face? Doctor: Hello and welcome to healthcaremagicYes, indeed tenovate should not be used on face, infact using it on face and that too for acne is an absolute NO for me! It contains a potent steroid, clobetasol propionate which can cause steroid related side effects like Acne, photosensitivity, hirsutism, skin thinning, telangiectasis etc.I would suggest that you use a topical broad spectrum sunscreen throughout the day, that which offers both UV B as well as UV A protection, till your skin returns back to normal, which might take a few days.An OTC antihistamine e.g cetrizine 10mg once daily would help you symptomatically with the itch.If I was the treating doctor I would have started you on oral antibiotics for acne e.g either doxycycline or azithromycin, would be good for acne flare.Topically you could use clindamycin phosphate 1% gel twice daily over active acne.Use a gentle cleanser for  face wash e.g cetaphil cleansing lotion, twice daily.regards