Corticosteroids are often prescribed for topical treatment of skin inflammation. They are also sometimes called steroids, but they are very different from the anabolic steroids used by some bodybuilders and athletes. Topical steroid treatments can provide relief to people with skin disorders, such as psoriasis, but they should be used cautiously and with the supervision of a physician to monitor effects.
Skin Damage
Topical corticosteroids, also known as steroids, are the most-prescribed treatment for psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. These steroids have anti-inflammatory properties, and they reduce swelling and redness of skin lesions in symptomatic individuals. High-strength steroids can change the pigmentation, or color, of skin or cause the skin to become thin and prone to stretch marks. They may also cause redness, dilate surface blood vessels and cause skin to bruise easily. Topical steroids applied to the face may cause acne. Some of these effects are permanent, but others may resolve with discontinued steroid use. Two or three times a year, a physician should monitor a patient on topical steroid therapy for skin damage.
Eye Damage
Topical steroids should never be used on or around the eyes. Stronger steroids may cause glaucoma or cataracts when they come into contact with the skin around the eyes. A study published in "The Japanese Journal of Opthalomology," conducted by Nariko Miyara, et al., investigated the effects of a topical steroid on intraocular eye pressure and found that treatment of the eye with topical steroids significantly increased pressure. This increase was associated with changes in certain proteins that may be involved in the neural damage that occurs in steroid-induced glaucoma.
Adrenal Gland Suppression
The adrenal glands are responsible for producing natural corticosteroids, one of which is cortisol. If topical steroids are used over large areas of the body, they can absorb into the bloodstream through the skin and affect other organs, such as the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland produces corticosteroids in response to circulating levels and can therefore be suppressed in response to absorbed steroids. This side effect can be minimized by applying the topical treatment only to affected areas of skin, not using dressings on top of treated skin unless recommended by a physician and using the least-potent strength of steroid.
References
- National Psoriasis Foundation: Topical Treatments for Psoriasis, Including Steroids
- "The Japanese Journal of Opthalomology"; Proteomic Analysis of Rat Retina in a Steroid-Induced Ocular Hypertension Model; Nariko Miyara et al.; March-April 2008
- "The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology"; Scalp Psoriasis; L.H. Kircik and S. Kumar; August 2010
- NetDoctor: Topical Corticosteroids
