For those of us with chronic skin rashes, topical steroid creams are usually the first thing prescribed. But many of us aren't given any guidelines for the safe use of these topicals, or informed about alternative treatments we can utilize. My guest today is Dr. Peter Lio. Dr. Lio is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology & Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed his internship in Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, and his Dermatology training at Harvard where he served as Chief Resident in Dermatology. While at Harvard, he received formal training in acupuncture. Dr. Lio has written a textbook on Integrative Dermatology and has published over 100 papers. Join us as we discuss the safe use of topical steroid creams, topical steroid withdrawal, and the use of topical B12 for skin rashes. Have you tried topical B12 for skin rashes? Let me know in the comments! In this episode: How should people use topical steroid creams? What is Topical Steroid Withdrawal? Using topical steroids on sensitive spots (e.g. eyelids) How do products like Eucrisa differ from topical steroid creams? What is PEA (and could it be good for your skin)? Using Topical B12 for skin rashes Quotes “When you put topical steroids on, your blood vessels constrict. And if you keep doing that, then they kind of rebound and dilate, which is part of why we think people with TSW are bright red all the time. Their blood vessels are kind of broken from that.” [17:50] “B12 is crimson red as a powder and when put in this white base, it becomes pink. So we call it pink magic. And we've had it in our office for many years. And lots of patients like it. Again, it's got very modest effect, but it is very soothing.” [22:47] Links Find Dr. Lio online Topical Steroid Withdrawal in Atopic Dermatitis article To try Pink Magic, contact Dr. Lio's office HERE Pink Magic recipe ITSAN Find Dr. Lio on Twitter | Facebook