A question about "triamcinolone acetonide ointment."

[M1234567]

Hello.

For two days, I've applied triamcinolone acetonide ointment to my calf's small rash. I've noticed the skin around my rash become whiter than my normal peachy skin tone. Is this serious, should I stop using it, or is this normal & no cause for concern?

Thank you.

[AnnieBrooke]

Here's a link:
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601124.html

Along with a lot of other helpful information, it says changes in skin color are one of the known side effects.

Why are you using a steroid ointment for a rash, do you think it's psoriasis? If you think the rash has a bacterial cause, you might want to use Neosporin or Polysporin or some other over-the-counter antibacterial ointment, not a steroid. Steroids in ointment form can do things to the skin that aren't what you would like to have happen.

[M1234567]

Thanks for your reply.

Yeah, I've also read that one of its side effects is skin discoloration/whitening. I just don't if it's a somewhat common side effect that can be expected or a dangerous one which is relatively uncommon & requires attention from a dermatologist. On the website that you've linked, it states that I should see a doctor if it's "severe." Yet what's considered "severe" in this case?

I should say that my rash has gotten a bit better, as it's reduced a little in both size & redness.

The reason that I'm using this ointment is because I was prescribed it about a year ago for a staph infection & it cleared it right up. So I figured that if it can quickly clear up a staph infection, it can clear up my current rash just as well (which might not be a great rationale). Also, I honestly don't know if my current rash has a bacterial cause (it doesn't have small boils, like my past staph infection).

Sorry for my long reply.

[AnnieBrooke]

It is hard to second-guess why a year ago the doctor gave you a steroid for a staph infection. Maybe it was to treat an underlying issue that steroids are prescribed for, and your staph infection was secondary to that? Anyway, it usually isn't a great idea to use a medication to treat something it wasn't prescribed to treat. You might try an antibacterial ointment from the drugstore.