Steroid rosacea is a skin condition that can occur in patients who use harsh topical, oral or inhaled steroids for a long time. Symptoms include red, bumpy, and irritated skin. Treatment involves withdrawal of steroids and the use of other medications such as tetracycline. Laser therapy may be recommended if the skin does not fully recover. It is important to use appropriate moisturizers and patients may wish to ask for samples before purchasing a skin care product.
Steroid rosacea is an adverse reaction to steroids that can occur in people forced to use them for long periods of time. This condition most commonly occurs in patients who use harsh topical steroids on the face, although it can also occur in patients who take oral or inhaled steroids. In steroid rosacea, the skin becomes red, bumpy, and irritated. This often happens very quickly and can get uncomfortable.
Not all patients using steroids will develop this reaction, but it can occur. A physician may have concerns about this and other side effects associated with long-term steroid use if a patient fails to successfully eliminate steroids to treat a skin condition. Patients who regularly use strong steroid medications should be alert for signs of skin itching, redness, and other signs of steroid rosacea. If they spot the condition quickly, it may be easier to treat.
Treatment requires withdrawal of steroids and the use of other medications such as tetracycline to treat rosacea. However, stopping steroid treatment abruptly can lead to a number of side effects. Patients will need to taper off the drug rather than stopping immediately, and may experience some residual skin irritation as they reduce their steroid dosage. The underlying condition that led to the need for steroids in the first place can flare up as the dosage decreases.
With treatment, the steroid rosacea should resolve. The irritated blood vessels can take weeks or months to fully recover, and the patient may notice some residual roughness and reddened skin even after most of the face returns to normal. If the patient still has noticeably rough, lumpy patches, a doctor may recommend laser therapy. The laser can smooth the skin and speed up the healing process to give the patient’s face a more even and normal appearance.
This form of dermatitis may be more common in patients with known sensitive skin problems. While being treated for steroid rosacea, it is important to use appropriate moisturizers that enrich and hydrate the skin without feeling heavy and oily. You may need to use a prescription product to keep your skin soothed and smooth. Because skin reactions to moisturizers are not uncommon, patients may wish to ask for samples before purchasing a skin care product or accepting a prescription. They may test the samples on sensitive areas of skin like the inside of the elbow before applying to the face.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
