I have been on Prednisone for a few months and have put on a LOT of weight very quickly. Because of that, I have developed stretchmarks on my stomach, arms, and thighs. I don’t much care about the marks but they hurt. It literally feels like I have rug burn or something all over my stomach.
I have tried using some cocoa butter lotion (specifically Palmer’s Cocoa Butter lotion) and it helps a little but I’d love it if anyone else has any tips or tricks.
Sorry to hear about the side effects. Perhaps try vitamin e oil, coconut oil, and shea butter for a few suggestions.
Gold Bond medicated powder can bring some comfort with skin ailments.
Thanks, dos. I’ll try some of those!
I would try aloe vera with lidocaine, although I’d check with your doc to see if it will cause issues with your other medications. It is my go-to when I get bug bites or scrapes.
This is going to sound strange, but for any skin ailment I get… chapped, raw, red nose from blowing it too much during a cold, etc., I use a medical grade lanolin that breastfeeding mothers use for chapped/raw nipples. I put it on my lips every night before I go to bed, as well as any ‘dry’ places I get. It’s thick, so it stays on and always provided me with pretty much instant relief. And I’ve sold my daughters on it. They always have a small tube at their homes for those irritating/painful skin issues. The product I get is made by Lansinoh. I have also used it for cracked skin on my feet if I get them during the dry winter time.
Also, if you can get a live aloe vera plant and keep it at home and use it, aloe is amazing for skin issues. But it’s messy - you have to cut off a portion of a leaf and open it up to get to the gooey stuff that is so healing. And it doesn’t really smell all that great, but aloe vera has remarkable healing properties for certain skin issues. When I was a child in Texas, we always had larger aloe vera plants around for burns, cuts, etc. I’m not convinced the stuff you buy in a bottle at the pharmacy that says aloe, is as potent as straight from the leaf, but I’m just speculating (although I have used the stuff in the bottle when I’ve been in a pinch and didn’t have anything else around).
Sorry to hear you are dealing with this, but I think you can find some products that will help you feel better.
you can buy 4% lidocane ointment, which is a topical anesthetic, at most any pharmacy, or online. it is non prescription and is the best thing for closed skin pain[ i.e. its not appropriate for open wounds] .
It totally numbs the skin for a few hrs and will help you forget the pain. And you can apply it over and over again
Drs have patients apply it before getting Botox shots.
It will numb the pain - kinda like what you experience after getting a [ more potent] lidocaine shot at the Dentists office.
Be careful with lanolin, some people are severely allergic to it.
Thank you all. I wanted to get some suggestions before going to see my doctor on Thursday so I’m making a list. I’ll run these by him and make sure none of them will interfere with my meds and I can also get a prescription for them if needed 
There is a product called Bag Balm that might help you. It is very soothing for skin ailments. I have never heard of stretch marks being painful ! I had some rather severe stretching on my lower abdomen when I was pregnant the first time , but no pain. I hope you get some relief
I have also never heard of stretch marks being painful. Sounds like your skin has become quite fragile due to the steroids. I’m sorry you are having to deal with all of these health problems-you’re too young for this!
I hope you get some relief soon. Hang in there.
You don’t have shingles do you, romani?
Yes, if you are allergic to wool, this would be a problem.
I recall my last pregnancy the marks feeling raw and stinging. Your skin is literally being damaged, so there may be nothing to be done except the lidocaine rubs:(
Definitely stretch marks. I’ve put on over 50 pounds in a few short months and it’s all gone to my belly and face.
I googled prednisone and stretch marks and this came up- my stretch marks look similar to this (though smaller and not quite in huge strips): http://forlivingstrong.com/savage-stretchmarks-prednisone-side-effect They’re a purple-red color.
No allergy to wool (as far as I know…).
Show your Dr.- see if he can reduce the medication you are on.
I will. My appointment is tomorrow morning and I’m going to ask if I can go off the Prednisone completely. He already had me taper down to a very low dose (but Prednisone is a devil drug and the side effects can get worse as the dose gets lower).
But I’ll still have to deal with the stretch marks after I go off
Actually… what happens to stretch marks when the weight goes away? Do they start to fade? (I asked my mom but she’s one of those lucky people who didn’t get any stretch marks with pregnancy.)
It depends on your skin type and elasticity-some people’s stretch marks fade to near invisibility, some people can get keloid scarring beneath them. I have friends who have had their stretchmarks treated with lasers after they’ve settled down and the skin is normal-like years after the stretchmarks occurred.
If your mom did not get any, you might have also won the genetic lottery.
To heal the marks, your body needs to rebuild collagen to strengthen the skin. There is a lot of BAD advice on the web on how to rebuild collagen; most is geared towards selling a product. Most of these remedies do not work! If they did, there would not be too many older women with wrinkles on their faces. 
I would start with reputable sites.
I didn’t get any from pregnancy, but did from my growth spurts (as did one of my kids who grew very quickly). They have faded to near invisibility over time. I hope yours will fade as well; maybe with a mom who didn’t get any they will.
I also only got stretch marks from gaining 25+ pounds the year I got 6 inches taller. They have faded to nearly invisible as well. Never had stretch marks from either pregnancy, even when I gained > 50#s with S! I will ask my dermatologist when I next talk to her.