Topical corticosteroid ‘addiction’

Preview

Patients who use topical corticosteroids for a variety of facial rashes may have dramatic flare-ups when they try to stop using the medication. As a result, they become dependent on the corticosteroid and need medical help, including psychological support, to break the habit. To raise primary care physicians' awareness of this problem, Drs Wells and Brodell report two typical cases of perioral dermatitis and acne rosacea caused by inappropriate use of topical corticosteroids.