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. 2023 May-Jun;40(3):479-482.
doi: 10.1111/pde.15269. Epub 2023 Feb 23.

Steroid phobia on social media platforms

Melissa A Nickles  1 , Austin T Coale  2 , William Jeremiah A Henderson  2 , Kaylah E Brown  2 , Dean S Morrell  2 , Elizabeth L Nieman  2
Affiliations

Steroid phobia on social media platforms

Melissa A Nickles et al. Pediatr Dermatol. 2023 May-Jun.

Abstract

Topical corticosteroids (TCS) are the most commonly prescribed treatment for children with atopic dermatitis and are supported by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) atopic dermatitis treatment guidelines with level I strength A evidence; however, fear regarding their use, coined "steroid phobia," is widespread. In this study, we analyzed steroid phobia-related content on popular social media platforms. We found much of this content consists of patients describing negative personal experiences with TCS and subsequently discouraging viewer use. We conclude that social media may contribute to steroid phobia, and we hope that our study motivates dermatologists with social media platforms to combat common misconceptions surrounding TCS use.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; social media; steroid phobia; topical steroid addiction; topical steroid withdrawal.

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References

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