Topical Steroid Addiction

[Guest Posts]

I’d be interested to know if you have come across the reaction to long term use of topical steroids known as Topical Steroid Addiction and the very severe symptoms of TS Withdrawal?
If so how would they recommend avoiding it and/or dealing with it?
There are online forums and an international charity: Itsan.org but very little information on it in the medical community.
Many thanks.

Tessa

[Dr Anton Alexandroff]

Dear Tessa,

Thank you for your question. I do not know any dermatologist in the UK who believes that Topical Steroid Addition Syndrome and Steroid Withdraw exist. Dermatologists in the UK believe that the affected patients suffer from a very severe dermatitis / eczema which are not adequately controlled by topical steroids (which is about 5-10 % of dermatitis/eczema), when topical steroids are stopped eczema gets worse like for example when medication for high blood pressure is stopped blood pressure goes up. The affected patients require a second or third line of treatment to treat their eczema such as UVB, systemic oral treatments (such as ciclosporin, azathioprine, methotrexate) or biologics injections.

I hope this is helpful.
With Best Wishes,

Dr Anton Alexandroff FRCP(UK) PhD CCT(Derm) FRSM FAAD
Consultant Dermatologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer
The British Skin Foundation Spokesperson
London, Cambridge, Leicester and Bedford

http://www.alexandroff.org.uk
Instagram your_skin_dr
Twitter your_skin_dr