A hospital-based observational study of steroid abuse patients in a tertiary care centre in South India

Abstract

Background  Topical corticosteroid misuse has become a common problem because of the wrong prescription, dubious marketing by pharmaceutical companies and free availability of these medicines as OTC drugs. This causes various morphological changes on face.   Objective To document the cutaneous features of steroid abuse on face.   Methods This was a study of 100 steroid abuse patients who attended the dermatology OPD in a tertiary care centre from October 2018 to February 2019. A detailed history of all patients which included age, sex, socio-economic conditions, educational status and occupation were noted. The history of corticosteroid therapy, regarding the type, its potency, and duration of therapy, purpose of use, benefits and the source of its use were recorded. Morphological changes of skin of all the patients were noted by a dermatologist.   Results In this study, 60% were females, rest were male. Most of them were in the age group of 11-20 years (53%). Educational status revealed that only 5% were illiterates. Common indication of misusing TC was melasma (53%). Patients were using TC as per advice from friends (39%), registered medical practitioners (20%), self-recommendation and relatives each (16%), medical shops (7%) and beautician (2%).   Conclusion Acneiform eruption (47%) was the commonest and atrophy (2%) and telangiectasia (2%) were the least common adverse effects noted following the use of TC. Creating awareness of adverse effects of TC among patients as well as non-dermatologist doctors and stringent action against use of TC as OTC drug is necessary to restrain this steroid abuse menace.