One out of a hundred people is suffering from different sorts of skin issues for which physicians are used to prescribing topical creams or gels that are mostly consisted of one or a combination of the steroids. These steroids help reduce the redness, swelling, and itching on the skin caused by certain skin problems like rashes, eczema, etc. These steroids are capable of constricting the blood vessels and suppress certain cells to avoid excess fluid entry to the place of infection.
The efficacy of these steroids is dependent on the type of steroid used and its absorption into the skin and the power of penetration into the cells. A large amount of steroid is absorbed by the thin skin of eyes, underarms, and groin region as compared to the thicker one of undersides of hands and feet, the upper portion of legs, etc.
Kinds of topical steroids
Many kinds of steroid formulations are available in the market to be applied topically to get the required effect. The generally occurring kinds are:
- Cream
- Lotion
- Ointment
- Solution
- Gel
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Cream & Lotion
The majority of people are using creams and lotions to treat skin issues. Most of them are weakly formulated and don’t have strong ingredients. The strong formulations if required, should not be used for the long term to avoid dependence on a particular ingredient.
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Ointments
The best choice for the skin without hair is the ointments as they get dry quickly and they don’t have any preservative that may pose any harmful effect in another case.
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Gels & solutions
The areas of the skin with hair that required a large time to get dry are easy to go with the gels or solutions. They get dried easily due to their astringent effect.
Side effects of topical steroids
Following are some of the side effects associated with excessive use of topical steroids:
- Irritation
- Hypersensitivity
- Itching
- Redness
- Folliculitis
- Dermatitis
- Cushing syndrome
- Bruising
- Vasodilation
Withdrawal symptoms of topical steroids
The addiction to the topical steroids develops due to the long-term as well as improper use of the steroids topically even as a lawfully prescribed treatment of certain skin conditions. The steroid withdrawal syndrome is also known as red skin syndrome due to its appearance during the withdrawal process.
After abruptly quitting the use of topical steroids, you may experience any of the following:
- Burning sensation
- Soreness
- Profound bone unbearable itching
- Scabs
- Flushing
- Inflammation
- Rashes
- Discharge
Withdrawal timeline
The duration of the withdrawal varies from person to person depending upon the condition they are facing. The withdrawal may last from a few days to even months or years in some severe situations.
Treatment of topical steroids withdrawal syndrome
When you quit the use of topical steroids and suffering from topical withdrawal syndrome then you must seek professional help at once. The 24/7 monitoring of the symptoms and the respective treatment by the medical experts help you to comfortably complete the withdrawal duration. Get more info
The treatment is quite simple but sometimes it causes a backlash of the symptoms for which originally those steroids were prescribed. Therefore, medical experts often recommend palliative treatment to combat the chances of pain, infection, rashes, or panic attacks.
Sometimes, adrenal functions are affected if the steroids are used for the long haul. This adrenal issue can be deadly in a few serious situations, but it can be recovered if the medical help is taken within the initial phase of the withdrawal. The safe withdrawal under the supervision of health professionals ensures the safety of the adrenal system.