Good question and observation.
Steroids in general (which include oral prednisolone) are a bit of an interesting drug. They work by suppressing inflammation, as you’ve noticed with your acne settling down. In fact, some doctors prescribe a short course of steroids when starting patients on Isotretinoin, which is known to cause an acute acne flare.
TCM medications are well known to often contain some form of steroid, which the elderly take for ad infinitum, because they feel lousier once they stop taking it.
However, as Dr Chua pointed out, it has a whole host of UNDESIRABLE side effects, which is why your GP refused to give you another course of steroids.
Just consider the well-known side effects and appearance of someone taking long term or high doses of oral prednisolone:
I wouldn’t say that that’s a good look to rock.
Here’s what I’d do – get your rash sorted out first (I’d see a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment), and then you can go to either an aesthetic doctor/dermatologist/GP with an interest in acne to get your acne sorted.
It sounds like you’ve been doctor-hopping, which I can understand from your patient perspective that “this doctor’s treatment isn’t getting me better, I’d better see a different one”. It’s generally a BAD idea to doctor-hop as each new doctor wouldn’t be familiar with how you were/what’s been done before you came to see him. Much better to follow up with the same doctor, and have him refer you on to a specialist if things don’t seem to be getting better.
TLDR:
Should I get to a dermatologist to obtain another course of low dosage prednisolone for the rash as well as my cystic acne?
No, let the dermatologist diagnose the rash, and decide on the treatment you need.
Would there be any withdrawal symptoms should I suddenly stop taking prednisolone?
Steroid withdrawal is a thing when taken over a long time and/or high dosages, but your course was a short one at a low dose. The acne/rash flare could potentially be attributable to rebound effects, but that doesn’t mean that the correct course of action to take would be to continue with oral prednisolone. Your doctor should decide on the right treatment after examining you.
