Abstract
Topical steroids (TSs) have been used for decades to treat various dermatological disorders due to their various effects, which have become responsible for the various deleterious side effects. Their free availability in India has made them prone for abuse, increasing the risk of local and systemic side effects.The reasons for TSs abuse varies from wrong prescription, dubious marketing by pharmaceutical companies, free availability as OTC drugs and lack of regulations regarding the manufacturing of irrational combinations.The misuse occurs at various levels such as manufacturing, marketing, prescription, sales and end-use by patients/ laymen. TSs are misused for varied indications like acne, pigmentation, fungal infection, pruritus, and as a cosmetic cream .TSs abuse is more common in the younger generation and dark races. The Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists, and Leprologists (IADVL) has formed a task force against TSs abuse, with main aims like raise public awareness, run media campaigns, form study groups for doctors, highlight the problem in journals, and meet with central and state authorities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Saraswat A, Lahiri K, Chatterjee M, Barua S, Coondoo A, Mittal A, et al. Topical corticosteroid abuse on the face: a prospective, multicenter study of dermatology outpatients. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2011;77:160–6.
Sinha A, Kar S, Yadav N, Madke B. Prevalence of topical steroid misuse among rural masses. Indian J Dermatol. 2016;61(1):119.
Jha AK, Sinha R, Prasad S. Misuse of topical corticosteroids on the face: a cross-sectional study among dermatology outpatients. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016;7:259–63.
Hengge UR, Ruzicka T, Schwartz RA, Cork MJ. Adverse effects of topical glucocorticosteroids. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54:1–18.
Nagesh TS, Akhilesh A. Topical steroid awareness and abuse: a prospective study among dermatology outpatients. Indian J Dermatol. 2016;61(6):618–21.
Coondoo A. Topical corticosteroid misuse: the Indian scenario. Indian J Dermatol. 2014;59(5):451–5.
Rathi S. Abuse of topical steroid as cosmetic cream: a social background of steroid dermatitis. Indian J Dermatol. 2016;51:154–5.
Verma SB. Topical corticosteroid misuse in India is harmful and out of control. BMJ. 2015;351:H6079.
Mahe A, Ly F, Aymard G, Dangou JM. Skin diseases associated with the cosmetic use of bleaching products in women from Dakar, Senegal. Br J Dermatol. 2003;148:493–500.
Verma SB. Sales, status, prescriptions and regulatory problems with topical steroids in India. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2014;80(3):201.
Dey VK. Misuse of topical corticosteroids: a clinical study of adverse effects. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2014;5:436–40.
Coondoo A, Phiske M, Verma S, Lahiri K. Side-effects of topical steroids: a long overdue revisit. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2014;5:416–25.
Chohan SN, Suhail M, Salman S, Bajwa UM, Saeed M, Kausar S, Suhail T. Facial abuse of topical steroids and fairness creams: a clinical study of 200 patients. J Pak Assoc Dermatol. 2014;24(3):204–11.
Mehta AB, Nadkarni NJ, Patil SP, Godse KV, Gautam M, Agarwal S. Topical corticosteroids in dermatology. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2017;82:371–8.
Ljubojeviae S, Basta-JuzbaSiae A, Lipozeneiae J. Steroid dermatitis resembling rosacea: aetiopathogenesis and treatment. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2002;16:121–6.
Sneddon I. Adverse effect of topical fluorinated corticosteroids in rosacea. Br Med J. 1969;1:671–3.
Mandapati JS, Metta AK. Intraocular pressure variation in patients on long-term corticosteroids. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2011;2:67–9.
Rathod SS, Motghare VM, Deshmukh VS, Deshpande RP, Bhamare CG, Patil JR. Prescribing practices of topical corticosteroids in the outpatient dermatology Department of a Rural Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital. Indian J Dermatol. 2013;58(5):342–5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Phiske, M., Sharma, R. (2018). Topical Corticosteroid Abuse: Indian Perspective. In: Lahiri, K. (eds) A Treatise on Topical Corticosteroids in Dermatology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4609-4_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4609-4_17
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-4608-7
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-4609-4
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)