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

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Prolonged and uninterrupted use of topical corticosteroids on face is globally prevalant and this misuse has reached monstrous proportion in India. The topical corticosteroid abuse leads to various local adverse effects on face which are difficult to treat. The aim of this study was to ascertain the magnitude, demographics, cause and adverse effects of TC abuse on the face in the dermatology out-patient department.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A total of 100 patients with history of topical corticosteroid abuse on face for a minimum period of one month were enrolled in this study.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> In our study, majority of the patients were females (76%) and the most common age group was 21-30 years with 49% patients. The duration of application was <6 months (45%) in majority of patients. Most common topical corticosteroids abused were betamethasone valerate in 49% and clobetasol propionate in 40% cases.</p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Topical corticosteroid abuse on face is quite common with varied presentation. There is need to take urgent remedial steps and increase awareness about this problem in general population.

The global prevalence and correlates of skin bleaching: a meta‐analysis and meta‐regression analysis

“…Of the 68 included studies, the indicated data collection period ranged from 1974–1980 to 2015–2016 whereas publication years ranged from 1972 to 2017 . There was a nonwestern preponderance of included studies: Africa ( n = 40), Asia ( n = 18), Middle East ( n = 5), North America ( n = 3), and Europe ( n = 2).…”

“…Table presents further characteristics of included studies. A total of 23 (33.8%) studies (lifetime prevalences ≈100%) were not included in estimating the population prevalences (overall, sex‐specific, world region, sample type, data/study period, assessment method, sampling method, and study quality/risk of bias) and the meta‐regression analysis …”

“…Many substances were used for skin bleaching, of which topical corticosteroids were the most popular. Besides other previously delineated harms, this should be of concern with the accumulating evidence of topical corticosteroid dependence . Mercury‐containing skin bleaching agents were the second most popular agent despite the fact that such cosmetics are illegal or regulated in many parts of the world .…”

“…On the other hand, skin bleacher‐specific prevalences refer to the demographic characteristics of skin bleachers and hence apply specifically to skin bleaching practitioners (agents used, age groups, educational level, relationship/marital status, employment status, and residential area). In order to avoid potential inflation of population prevalences, studies presenting data on purposively sampled skin bleachers (lifetime prevalence ≈100%) were not included in estimating population prevalences. They were also omitted from the meta‐regression analysis.…”

The Use of Topical Clobetasol among the Women in Hail Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study on Knowledge and Practice

“…However, the incidence of adverse effects due to clobetasol cream was about 42% in this study probably due to d respondents. Study showed hypertrichosis and dermatrophy as common adverse effects due to clobetasol [18,19,20] (Fig. 3).…”