Can NeuEve Salve (Balm Cream) Serve As a Safer Alternative to Steroid Creams?

Steroid creams like Clobetasol are used for skin diseases, including:

• Eczema/dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Lichen sclerosus
• Lichen planus
• Severe allergic rashes

Clobetasol and other strong steroid creams can be effective in reducing itching, redness, and thickening, but they also carry risks — especially if used too long, too often, or on sensitive areas.

Common Side Effects of Steroid Creams:

Local (on the skin)

• Thinning of the skin (atrophy)
• Stretch marks (striae)
• Easy bruising
• Visible blood vessels (spider veins/telangiectasia)
• Burning, stinging, or irritation
• Acne-like eruptions or rosacea flare
• Delayed wound healing
• Increased risk of skin infections (fungal, bacterial, viral)

Eyes

• Raised eye pressure (glaucoma)
• Cataracts

Systemic (if absorbed into the bloodstream — more likely with long-term or large-area use)

• Weight gain or fluid retention
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar (can worsen diabetes)
• Hormone suppression (adrenal suppression, Cushing-like effects)
• Fatty liver changes

Because Clobetasol is a very strong steroid, doctors should prescribe it for short-term use and in small amounts to avoid side effects like skin thinning. Unfortunately, some skin issues like psoriasis, lichen sclerosus, and lichen planus do not have a cure. Long-term use of the product is needed. Many doctors often forget about its potential to cause severe side effects and prescribe it for long-term use and in high doses. To manage severe symptoms, the patients often apply an increased amount and repeat it multiple times daily. As a result, severe side effects often occur.

Even though it is used on the skin, some of it can enter the bloodstream to cause illness in distant places. Two severe side effects reported by our customers are dangerously increased eye pressure and fatty liver. Why do steroid creams like Clobetasol to treat lichen sclerosus cause glaucoma and fatty liver?

Safer and more effective alternative solutions

NeuEve products are safer and more effective than steroids for managing lichen sclerosus and other similar skin conditions like psoriasis. To date, thousands of women have used NeuEve to manage lichen sclerosus and psoriasis without using steroid creams. For more details, please read this article: I have lichen sclerosus. Can NeuEve help me?

How does NeuEve Salve Work (vs. Steroids)?

Unlike steroid creams (like clobetasol), which work by suppressing the immune system to reduce inflammation and have a potential for severe side effects, NeuEve salve works by delivering nutrients and antioxidants directly to the skin. These nutrients feed and strengthen the skin, supporting repair instead of just suppressing symptoms.

For Lichen Sclerosus

• Provides deep moisture that helps thin, fragile skin stay flexible.
• Nutrients like vitamin E and omega fatty acids support skin barrier repair and reduce micro-tears.
• Antioxidants help calm inflammation gently, without shutting down the immune system like steroids do.

For Psoriasis

• Soothes dryness, flaking, and itching by restoring natural oils.
• Nutrients and antioxidants reduce oxidative stress, which is a trigger for flare-ups.
• Gentle, non-steroidal relief allows long-term use without rebound flares when you stop (unlike steroids).

Why It Matters

NeuEve salve doesn’t “fight the body” — it supports the body’s healing. Instead of masking symptoms with steroids, it:

• Nourishes the skin,
• Rebuilds strength and elasticity,
• Provides safe, ongoing relief without the risks of steroid creams.

How do NeuEve Salve, Sea Buckthorn Oil, & EPO compare with steroids?

Scientific Studies of Sea Buckthorn on Psoriasis Relief

Two major ingredients of the NeuEve Salve are sea buckthorn oil and evening primrose oil. They are delivered topically to the affected skin site to ease discomfort symptoms of certain skin diseases like lichen sclerosus and psoriasis. We offer another product called Feminine Moisture Support, which contains 100% sea buckthorn oil (a blend of both fruit and seed oils). This product can be used as an adjunct to help treat lichen sclerosus and psoriasis.

To date, several research teams have reported studies on sea buckthorn and evening primrose as effective treatments for psoriasis and lichen sclerosus. These include the following:

Studies on Sea Buckthorn Oil and Psoriasis:

1. Wu CS, Lin CC, Chen YY, Yang DH. Mechanisms and Effects of Isorhamnetin on Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasiform Dermatitis in Mice. Life (Basel). 2022 Dec 15;12(12):2107. doi: 10.3390/life12122107. PMID: 36556472; PMCID: PMC9786590. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/12/2107

2. Nițescu DA, Mușetescu A, Nițescu M, Costescu M, Coman OA. Experimental research in topical psoriasis therapy (Review). Exp Ther Med. 2021 Sep;22(3):971. doi: 10.3892/etm.2021.10403. Epub 2021 Jul 8. PMID: 34335913; PMCID: PMC8290406. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8290406/

3. Pundir S, Garg P, Dviwedi A, Ali A, Kapoor VK, Kapoor D, Kulshrestha S, Lal UR, Negi P. Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and dermatological effects of Hippophae rhamnoides L.: A review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Feb 10;266:113434. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113434. Epub 2020 Oct 2. PMID: 33017636. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874120333195?via%3Dihub

4. Balkrishna A, Sakat SS, Joshi K, Joshi K, Sharma V, Ranjan R, Bhattacharya K, Varshney A. Cytokines Driven Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Psoriasis Like Efficacies of Nutraceutical Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) Oil. Front Pharmacol. 2019 Oct 11;10:1186. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01186. PMID: 31680964; PMCID: PMC6797847. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2019.01186/full

5. Boca AN, Ilies RF, Saccomanno J, Pop R, Vesa S, Tataru AD, Buzoianu AD. Sea buckthorn extract in the treatment of psoriasis. Exp Ther Med. 2019 Feb;17(2):1020-1023. doi: 10.3892/etm.2018.6983. Epub 2018 Nov 16. PMID: 30679968; PMCID: PMC6327666.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6327666/

6. Patel CA, Divakar K, Santani D, Solanki HK, Thakkar JH. Remedial Prospective of Hippophae rhamnoides Linn. (Sea Buckthorn). ISRN Pharmacol. 2012;2012:436857. doi: 10.5402/2012/436857. Epub 2012 Mar 11. PMID: 22530142; PMCID: PMC3317027. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3317027/

Studies on Sea Buckthorn Oil and Lichen Sclerosus:

1. ERKKOLA R., YANG, B. Sea buckthorn oils: Towards healthy mucous membranes. AGROFood industry hi-tech May/June 2003. pp 53-57.   https://www.scicompdf.se/membrasin/yang_erk_2003.pdf

2. Rodriguez, et al. Use of Sea Buckthorn Oil in the Treatment of Skin Disease: Anti-Inflammatory Benefits, Clinical Applications, and Formulary Challenges.  Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 2024, 12, 271-284.

3. Paulis G, Berardesca E. Lichen sclerosus: the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the disease and its possible transformation into carcinoma. Res Rep Urol. 2019;11:223-232. https://doi.org/10.2147/RRU.S205184

Studies on evening primrose oil and lichen sclerosus & psoriasis:

Al-sebai M. A. H. 1993. Evening primrose oil: A possible new treatment for vulval dystrophy.Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 13:193-195. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/01443619309151827

Oliwiecki S, Burton JL. Evening primrose oil and marine oil in the treatment of psoriasis. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1994 Mar;19(2):127-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1994.tb01139.x. PMID: 8050140. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8050140/

Strong AMM & Hamill E. 1993. The effect of combined fish oil and evening primrose oil (Efamol Marine) on the remission phase of psoriasis: A 7-month double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Dermatological Treatment. 4:33-36. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09546639309088234

Additional reading: Why do steroid creams like Clobetasol to treat lichen sclerosus cause glaucoma and fatty liver?

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is about natural products, nutrients, and/or methods for managing discomforts (not diseases). It is not medical advice for the treatment of any disease.
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Customer Reviews on NeuEve Salve as an alternative to Steroid creams

Total Relief
Deborah H

Age: 61-70
Menopausal Status: Postmenopause
Symptoms Before NeuEve: Lichen sclerosus
BEFORE using NeuEve, how severe were your symptoms?: 5
AFTER using NeuEve, how severe were your symptoms?: 1

Salve-Gentle for LS
Age: 51-60

Menopausal Status: Postmenopause
Symptoms Before NeuEve: Painful fissures, relentless itching, severe burning, mental anguish, inflamed skin, welts and blisters, atrophy, thin skin easily torn visibility_off
BEFORE using NeuEve, how severe were your symptoms?: 5
AFTER using NeuEve, how severe were your symptoms?: 2

NeuEve Salve Gentle is absolutely amazing for healing Lichen Sclerosus! I’ve had this debilitating disease for over 15 years, and this is the first time I’ve had any relief from the constant itching, burning, and pain. It’s an absolute game-changer for me! My mental anguish, so many more ailments have gone away since starting NeuEve Salve Gentle.

I’ve been using Clobetisol steroid ointment, and just recently, my optometrist expressed concern that my eye pressure had been increasing over the past year to a very dangerous number. I was also diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. I started doing some research and discovered Clobetisol was causing these, and many metabolic issues as well. All of the health problems reversed within two months of discontinuing Clobetisol. Clobetisol was making things way worse! I’m actually healing now and have no itching, burning, or anything since using NeuEve Gentle Salve, in just 10 days!

I’m post menopause at 56, just started Estradiol vaginal cream, which also helps, but the NeuEve is really the winner here. Recently, I received the best advice on how to manage LS is to use a Peri-bottle filled with cold filtered, or clean tap, or a bidet, to rinse urine off after each time utilizing the bathroom. Then use a 100% organic cotton dry baby washcloth to dab dry your vagina. Toilet paper is toxic and full of carcinogens; no wonder women with LS are getting cancer of the vulva! Between the harsh chemicals in toilet paper and the toxic laundry detergents, it’s no wonder. I’m so telling everyone I know about NeuEve! Thank you, Dr. Chang, for all you’ve done to help so many people.

It seems to be helping!!!
Age: 31-40

Menopausal Status: Premenopause
Symptoms Before NeuEve: Pain, itching, swelling, atrophy
BEFORE using NeuEve how severe were your symptoms?: 5
AFTER using NeuEve how severe were your symptoms?: 3

I have had Lichen Sclerosus; I believe since I was a teenager. I would go to the doctor with inflamed skin and be told that it is inflamed, but nothing is wrong. I went to the doctor, after the doctor, looking for relief. The pain, at times, is unbearable. I was finally diagnosed with LS within the past 6 years. The doctor wanted to put me on steroids, which did not seem to help, and stated clearly in the instructions not to put the product on my genitals.
I have found other natural products online that seemed to help, but they were messy, and after long-term use, the mess got old. I get inflamed when eating gluten. I typically stay away from gluten, but when I fall off the gluten-free wagon. Oh, do I remember why I do not eat gluten. Ouch, I was uncomfortable, desperate, and found NeuEve online. In desperation, I purchased the product, and to my delight, it seems to be helping!!! I passed the ingredients on to my naturopath, who confirmed the ingredients are safe for everyday use and could help.
My case is quite severe, and I have not gotten full relief from one full container, but I am willing to continue with optimism that I may be able to improve the quality of my life! I have not had any luck finding a doctor to help in my area. I am thankful I found this product and look forward to continued relief.

NeuEve Cream for Extreme Psoriasis
NeuEve Salve - Kelly

I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 41. Estrogen pills and patches caused issues. Estrogen cream did nothing. And my dryness was extreme enough that even toilet paper caused issues, including bleeding from micro tears.
I didn't have sex for many years, as it was far too painful, no matter what we tried. This cream works. I must use it several times a day, but it works!