Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It Looks LikeTypesTreatmentTapering off of PrednisoneFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Looks Like
Types
Treatment
Tapering off of Prednisone
Frequently Asked Questions
Steroidacneis a skin breakout that occurs when you takeprednisoneor anothercorticosteroid. It’s most common when you’ve been taking prednisone for several weeks, especially if you’re on a high dosage. Research suggests that corticosteroids like prednisone increase the activation of immune system receptors that promote acne, known as Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2).
The blemishes sometimes go away on their own, but you usually need to stop taking prednisone for your skin to clear up. If you’re taking the drug for a chronic condition, this may be a big decision that’s best made between you and your healthcare provider.
In this article, you’ll learn what steroid acne looks like, plus the different types and treatment options.
Verywell / Laura Porter
What Is Prednisone?Prednisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication often used to treat autoimmune diseases (e.g.,rheumatoid arthritisandlupus), inflammatory conditions (asthma,allergies),bloodandbone marrowdisorders, and deficiencies of your body’s natural steroids.
What Is Prednisone?
Prednisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication often used to treat autoimmune diseases (e.g.,rheumatoid arthritisandlupus), inflammatory conditions (asthma,allergies),bloodandbone marrowdisorders, and deficiencies of your body’s natural steroids.
What Does Steroid Acne Look Like?
Steroid or prednisone acne can appear on your face, chest, and back within two weeks of taking a corticosteroid like prednisone.
It may take one of several forms:
Types of Steroid Acne
Prednisone acne isn’t just aproblem for adolescents. It can happen to anyone taking steroids, regardless of age.
Steroid acne is commonly associated with two forms:Acne vulgarisandMalassezia folliculitis.
Acne Vulgaris
Acne vulgarisis the most common type of acne overall, and the most common type of acne from high-dose prednisone therapy. It often appears as uniform lesions.
Malassezia Folliculitis
It’s natural to have some of this fungus on your skin—it’s estimated that between 75% to 98% of people do.However, steroid use has been shown to be a predisposing factor to the overgrowth of Malassezia.
Treatment for Steroid Acne
Steroid acne usually goes away once you’re off of prednisone. If you need to be on it long-term, you may want to use some acne remedies to help control outbreaks. Some at-home skin care and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies include:
For moderate to severe steroid acne vulgaris, common prescription treatments include oralantibioticssuch as:
Oral medications such asisotretinoinmay also be an option for you. However, isotretinoin may not be recommended if you haveinflammatory bowel disease (IBD)or are at high risk for the condition, as some research suggests it may trigger IBD symptoms.
Fungal acneis best treated with topical antifungals like ketoconazole and oral antifungals like itraconazole.
Your healthcare provider can help you find the right treatments for your prednisone acne. They can also help you decide whether to stay on prednisone or another corticosteroid.
Know that your prednisone acne may take some time to clear with treatment. Typically, you can expect to see some improvement in four to six weeks with consistent treatment. But it can take two or more months for blemishes to clear.
Don’t abruptly stop taking prednisone, as it can cause withdrawal symptoms. Depending on how long you’ve taken prednisone and in what dose, the tapering-off process can take weeks or even months.
If you feel that you need to stop taking prednisone to improve your skin, consult with your healthcare provider so that they can help guide you through the process.
How to Safely Taper Off of Prednisone
Summary
Prednisone and other corticosteroid medications can cause acne. It can cause many types of blemishes, including blackheads and bumps, pustules, or more severe nodules.
People prone to acne vulgaris often get this type of acne due to steroid use. Other people have an overgrowth of a fungus on their skin.
Treatment for steroid acne is similar to that for acne from other causes. However, you and your healthcare provider should take care to choose a treatment that won’t exacerbate any medical conditions you have.
A Word From Verywell
If you have steroid acne or are worried about getting it, talk to your primary healthcare provider or adermatologist.
Remember that, while acne can be difficult to live with, it should clear up when you taper off the steroids. Meanwhile, acne treatments may help clear up your skin.
Learn MoreAcne Causes and Risk Factors
Prednisone side effects include:Steroid acneVomitingLightheadednessInsomniaHeadachesBlurred vision and eye painRapid weight gainShortness of breathFatigue and muscle weaknessRapid or irregular heart rateDepression, anxiety, or changes in personality or behaviorSeizuresLearn MoreHow to Lessen Prednisone Side Effects
Prednisone side effects include:Steroid acneVomitingLightheadednessInsomniaHeadachesBlurred vision and eye painRapid weight gainShortness of breathFatigue and muscle weaknessRapid or irregular heart rateDepression, anxiety, or changes in personality or behaviorSeizures
Prednisone side effects include:
Learn MoreHow to Lessen Prednisone Side Effects
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Marks JG, Miller JJ.Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology (Sixth Edition).Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. 2019;166-83.
Rubenstein RM, Malerich SA.Malassezia (pityrosporum) folliculitis.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):37-41.
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Miqdad MA, Alatta L, Abdelsamad A, et al.Isotretinoin-Induced Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Is there a real association?.Cureus. 2022;14(10):e29825. doi:10.7759/cureus.29825
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MedlinePlus.Prednisone.
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