Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsErythemaComedonesContact DermatitisTachyphylaxisRosaceaSkin AtrophyStretch MarksSkin InfectionsGlaucoma

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Erythema

Comedones

Contact Dermatitis

Tachyphylaxis

Rosacea

Skin Atrophy

Stretch Marks

Skin Infections

Glaucoma

Topical steroidsare extremely effective at treating a wide range of inflammatory diseases, but these medications are not without risks.

Some potential topical steroid side effects include burning, stinging, stretch marks, skin thinning, and infections. Long-term use can lead to skin and eye damage.

This article explores these and other side effects of topical steroids, some of which are mild and transient and others of which are severe and irreversible.

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Woman hand hydrating skin applying cream in winter

Erythemadescribes skin redness on light or medium skin tones or violaceous, purple, or brown discoloration on darker skin tones that commonly accompanies a rash or an inflammatory skin condition. With topical steroids, erythema is common on the face but can also affect the genitals and other delicate areas of skin. Burning or stinging sensations may also occur.

Erythema may occur when first starting treatment and gradually resolve as your skin adapts to the treatment. But, it can also develop if with high-potency steroids or when the drug is overused. This may require a dose adjustment or the discontinuation of treatment.

Blackheads and Whiteheads

Oral steroids are known to cause acne-like breakouts calledacneiform eruptionson the trunk and limbs of some people. While this is uncommon with topical steroids, the drugs can sometimes causecomedones—better known as blackheads or whiteheads—on the face with prolonged use.

The risk is greatest in people with existing comedones or acne. This can lead to an outbreak of acne in some people, including a more severe form of acne known asnodular acne.

People who use multiple drugs to treat a chronic skin condition are at a higher risk of allergic contact dermatitis.

Tachyphylaxisis a rapid decrease in the response to a topical steroid due to repeated use. Overuse of steroids can cause the skin to develop a tolerance to the drug, rendering them useless.

When this happens, people will often increase the dosage or apply the steroid more frequently. This not only increases a person’s tolerance to the drug but the risk of more serious side effects as well.

Prolonged use of a topical steroid on the face can causerosacea.This is an inflammatory condition that causes reddened skin and a rash, usually on the nose and cheeks.

Not only can topical steroids cause rosacea, but the abrupt discontinuation of the drug after prolonged use can lead to rosacea symptoms, including intense facial redness or discoloration and fluid-filled bumps.

Rebound Syndrome WarningIn people witheczemaorpsoriasis, the sudden discontinuation of a high-potency topical steroid can cause rebound syndrome, in which the condition you were treating spontaneously—and sometimes severely—returns.

Rebound Syndrome Warning

In people witheczemaorpsoriasis, the sudden discontinuation of a high-potency topical steroid can cause rebound syndrome, in which the condition you were treating spontaneously—and sometimes severely—returns.

Skin atrophyis one of the most common side effects of topical steroid overuse. It describes the thinning of the upper layer of skin (called theepidermis) and structural changes in the middle layer of skin (called thedermis). When this happens, the skin can become lax, wrinkled, and shiny.

Skin atrophy is usually reversible once the topical steroid is stopped, but it may take months for the skin to thicken to normal.

Repeated use of topical steroids in areas where skin touches skin, such as the groin and armpits, can result in stretch marks (striae).

Stretch marks from topical steroid use are permanent and irreversible. They can be very itchy and may require a lower-strength steroid to treat the underlying itch.

Because topical steroids alter the way the immune system works, they can lower the skin’s ability to fight off bacterial and fungal infections.

A typical example of this is when someone applies a topical steroid to an itchy groin rash. This can cause the overgrowth of fungus naturally residing on the skin, leading to afungal skin infectionlike jock itch (tinea cruris).

Topical steroids can also cause the worsening of existing skin conditions, which is why you should never apply the drug to infected skin.

Glaucomais a rare side effect of topical steroids during which the pressure inside the eye can build, causing progressive damage to theoptic nerve. Glaucoma generally occurs with the long-term overuse of oral steroids, but it can also occur when high-potency topical steroid eyedrops are overused.

Despite the fact that glaucoma is uncommon in topical steroid users, it has been known to cause permanent loss of vision and blindness in isolated cases.

How to Safely Use Topical Steroids

6 SourcesVerywell 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.Abraham A, Roga G.Topical steroid-damaged skin.Indian J Dermatol.2014;59(5):456-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.139872Coondoo A, Phiske M, Verma S, Lahiri K.Side-effects of topical steroids: a long overdue revisit.Indian Dermatol Online J2014;5:416-25. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.142483Dey VK.Misuse of topical corticosteroids: a clinical study of adverse effects.Indian Dermatol Online J.2014;5(4):436-40. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.142486Kot M, Bogaczewicz J, Kręcisz B, Woźniacka A.Contact allergy in the population of patients with chronic inflammatory dermatoses and contact hypersensitivity to corticosteroids.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2017;34(3):253-259. doi:10.5114/ada.2017.67848Rathi SK, D’souza P.Rational and ethical use of topical corticosteroids based on safety and efficacy.Indian J Dermatol.2012;57(4):251-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.97655Manchanda K, Mohanty S, Rohatgi PC.Misuse of topical corticosteroids over face: a clinical study.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017;8(3):186-91. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_535_15

6 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.Abraham A, Roga G.Topical steroid-damaged skin.Indian J Dermatol.2014;59(5):456-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.139872Coondoo A, Phiske M, Verma S, Lahiri K.Side-effects of topical steroids: a long overdue revisit.Indian Dermatol Online J2014;5:416-25. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.142483Dey VK.Misuse of topical corticosteroids: a clinical study of adverse effects.Indian Dermatol Online J.2014;5(4):436-40. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.142486Kot M, Bogaczewicz J, Kręcisz B, Woźniacka A.Contact allergy in the population of patients with chronic inflammatory dermatoses and contact hypersensitivity to corticosteroids.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2017;34(3):253-259. doi:10.5114/ada.2017.67848Rathi SK, D’souza P.Rational and ethical use of topical corticosteroids based on safety and efficacy.Indian J Dermatol.2012;57(4):251-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.97655Manchanda K, Mohanty S, Rohatgi PC.Misuse of topical corticosteroids over face: a clinical study.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017;8(3):186-91. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_535_15

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.

Abraham A, Roga G.Topical steroid-damaged skin.Indian J Dermatol.2014;59(5):456-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.139872Coondoo A, Phiske M, Verma S, Lahiri K.Side-effects of topical steroids: a long overdue revisit.Indian Dermatol Online J2014;5:416-25. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.142483Dey VK.Misuse of topical corticosteroids: a clinical study of adverse effects.Indian Dermatol Online J.2014;5(4):436-40. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.142486Kot M, Bogaczewicz J, Kręcisz B, Woźniacka A.Contact allergy in the population of patients with chronic inflammatory dermatoses and contact hypersensitivity to corticosteroids.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2017;34(3):253-259. doi:10.5114/ada.2017.67848Rathi SK, D’souza P.Rational and ethical use of topical corticosteroids based on safety and efficacy.Indian J Dermatol.2012;57(4):251-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.97655Manchanda K, Mohanty S, Rohatgi PC.Misuse of topical corticosteroids over face: a clinical study.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017;8(3):186-91. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_535_15

Abraham A, Roga G.Topical steroid-damaged skin.Indian J Dermatol.2014;59(5):456-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.139872

Coondoo A, Phiske M, Verma S, Lahiri K.Side-effects of topical steroids: a long overdue revisit.Indian Dermatol Online J2014;5:416-25. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.142483

Dey VK.Misuse of topical corticosteroids: a clinical study of adverse effects.Indian Dermatol Online J.2014;5(4):436-40. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.142486

Kot M, Bogaczewicz J, Kręcisz B, Woźniacka A.Contact allergy in the population of patients with chronic inflammatory dermatoses and contact hypersensitivity to corticosteroids.Postepy Dermatol Alergol.2017;34(3):253-259. doi:10.5114/ada.2017.67848

Rathi SK, D’souza P.Rational and ethical use of topical corticosteroids based on safety and efficacy.Indian J Dermatol.2012;57(4):251-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.97655

Manchanda K, Mohanty S, Rohatgi PC.Misuse of topical corticosteroids over face: a clinical study.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017;8(3):186-91. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_535_15

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