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Review
. 2014 Oct;5(4):416-25.
doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.142483.

Side-effects of topical steroids: A long overdue revisit

Arijit Coondoo  1 , Meghana Phiske  2 , Shyam Verma  3 , Koushik Lahiri  4
Affiliations
Review

Side-effects of topical steroids: A long overdue revisit

Arijit Coondoo et al. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

The introduction of topical steroids (TS) of varying potency have rendered the therapy of inflammatory cutaneous disorders more effective and less time-consuming. However the usefulness of these has become a double edged sword with constantly rising instances of abuse and misuse leading to serious local, systemic and psychological side effects. These side effects occur more with TS of higher potency and on particular areas of the body like face and genitalia. The article reviews the side effects of TS with special mention about peadiatric age group, also includes the measures for preventing the side effects.

Keywords: Local systemic; side effects; topical steroids.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Comedonal acne Courtesy Dr. Koushik Lahiri, (b) Steroid acne
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comedonal acne Courtesy
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Mild infantile acne Courtesy Dr. Shyam Verma, (b) Comedonal and papular acne
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Marked facial erythema on a background of acne (b) Nodular acne Courtesy
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Nodular ance with crusting (b) Rosacea
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) Nodular acne with hemorrhagic crusting and pustulation Courtesy Dr. Koushik Lahiri, (b) Telangiectasia overlying vitiligo patch on eyelid
Figure 7
Figure 7
(a) Nodular acne with overlying hyperpigmented keratotoc papules (b) Telangectasia with hypopigmentation over genitals
Figure 8
Figure 8
(a) Facial erythema Courtesy Dr. Kaushik Lahiri, (b) Telangiectasia with bacterial infection
Figure 9
Figure 9
(a) Thinning of skin on dorsal aspect of hands with visibility a vessels, (b) Tinea incognito
Figure 10
Figure 10
(a) Striae rubra with associated hypopigmentation (b) Perioral dermatitis with background erythema and mild acne (c) Perioral dermatitis with background erythema and mild acne
Figure 11
Figure 11
(a) Facial hypertrichosis (b) Striae alba
Figure 12
Figure 12
Striae secondary to steroid application for tinea corporis
Figure 13
Figure 13
Diffuse Hypopigmentation
Figure 14
Figure 14
(a) Bilateral hypopigmentation (b) Facial patchy hypopigmentation
Figure 15
Figure 15
Bilateral mild hypopigmentation with erythema and labial hypertrichosis
Figure 16
Figure 16
(a) Perilesional diffuse hypopigmentation Courtesy Dr. Shyam Verma, (b) Perilesional diffuse hypopigmentation Courtesy Dr. Shyam Verma
Figure 17
Figure 17
Diffuse scalp hypopigmentation
Figure 18
Figure 18
Atrophy and hypopigmentation secondary to IM steroids
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Saraswat A, Lahiri K, Chatterjee M, Barua S, Coondoo A, Mittal A, et al. Topical corticosteroid abuse on the face: A prospective, multicenter study of dermatology outpatients. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2011;77:160–6. - PubMed
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