Topical corticosteroid abuse on face: a clinical study of 100 patients

Topical corticosteroids (TCs) have been the mainstay of treatment in eczematous and inflammatory skin diseases since the introduction of hydrocortisone in 1952. 1 TCs should not be used on the face except for acute inflammatory conditions and that too with caution and for not more than one month. 2 When used appropriately and in safe hands, it is of immense benefit with insignificant side effects. Along with the advantages, TCs carry with them the burden of misuse, abuse and indiscriminate use which can result in serious local side effects, especially on face. These local side effects can manifest on face as acneiform eruption, atrophy, hypopigmentation, contact allergy, perioral dermatitis, rebound phenomenon, hypertrichosis. Another adverse effect seen with topical corticosteroids is topical steroid dependent face, also called red face syndrome, steroid addiction, dermatitis rosaceaformis steroidica, topical corticosteroid induced rosacea like dermatitis. etc. 3,4 . It is characterized by severe erythema, burning and scaling on sudden ceasation of topical corticosteroids.