Steroid creams and ointments, which are used for application on the skin
Nasal sprays are used for conditions such as allergic rhinitis also called Hay fever
Eye drops are used to treat inflammatory eye and ear conditions.
They come with various names and potency. They can be mildly potent for use on sensitive areas of the body like the face or moderately potent or strong and ultra-potent for use in skin conditions like psoriasis.
Some are safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, while some are not. Some are available over the counter (OTC) while some are available under prescription only.
What are topical steroids?
Topical steroids are also called topical corticosteroids. In order to understand them, first, let us understand what steroids are.
Steroids are hormones naturally manufactured in the body. They can be grouped into two types:
Corticosteroids are manufactured in the adrenal cortex of the adrenal or the suprarenal glands, hence the name “cortico”. These are the steroids that are present in steroid medications.
Sex steroids are made in the testes in males (testosterone) and the ovaries in females (estrogen and progesterone). They are also made by the adrenal glands (also called the suprarenal glands), which sit atop the kidneys.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic and similar in structure to the male sex hormone, testosterone. They work differently and are used by athletes and bodybuilders to build muscle.
Corticosteroids are manufactured by man and used in making steroid medicines. They are similar in structure to the steroids manufactured by the cortex of the adrenal gland. One of such medicines is a topical steroid.
Topical medications are those, which are not used systemically — that is, they are not taken orally or by injections. They are used for external application on the skin or sprayed into the nose or drops for use in the eyes.
Steroids have a potent anti-inflammatory property because of their action of narrowing the blood vessels. It is this property of theirs that makes them useful to treat inflammatory conditions.
They are notorious among the population for their side effects, which is true, but they have their life-saving uses. Topical steroids, however, are quite safe if used correctly.
Uses of topical steroids
Topical steroids are used to treat inflammatory conditions of the skin, the eyes, and the nose. These include
Skin rash
Contact dermatitis due to skin contact with allergens such as poison ivy
If you consider nasal sprays as a topical application, then steroid nasal sprays help to reduce the inflammation in the nasal passages
Types of topical steroids, their uses, and examples
Topical steroids are used locally and are available as ointments, creams, gels, lotions, solutions, nasal sprays, eye drops, and suppositories. Each of these is again available in varying potencies, from mildly potent to highly potent.
Creams are the most popular, though of a weaker potency because they are water-soluble and easy to wash off.
Mild corticosteroids, such as clobetasone, hydrocortisone skin cream, and hydrocortisone are used for piles and itching and can be purchased over the counter.
Stronger topical steroid types, such as beclometasone, betamethasone, clobetasol, fluticasone, and mometasone, are only available on prescription.
The various forms of topical steroids are used in the following ways:
Creams are usually best to treat moist areas of skin.
Ointments are advised to treat areas of skin that are dry or thickened.
Lotions are used to treat hairy areas such as the scalp.
Nasal sprays are used to treat allergic rhinitis (Hay fever). Examples include beclometasone nasal spray and fluticasone nasal spray.
Topical steroids are also available in combination with topical antibiotics. An example includes Pimafucort Cream (Hydrocortisone/Neomycin Sulfate). Such combinations are used when the inflammation is superadded with a bacterial infection.
They are also combined with antifungal agents to treat a fungal infection that may be present. An example includes clotrimazole/betamethasone.
What do topical steroids do and how?
Since topical steroids are typically used to treat allergic reactions, listed above, it is necessary that they suppress the immune system at the local level. This is because allergy is an abnormal reaction of the body’s immune system to a substance (allergen).
Secondly, because of their anti-inflammatory properties, they clear up the redness and swelling associated with these allergic reactions.
Their application also helps to reduce collagen in the skin.
Thirdly, they narrow down the blood vessels and the capillaries, which are enlarged due to the inflammation. This happens because of their vasoconstrictor properties.
Initially, while starting treatment with these topicals, you may experience a burning sensation, but this mostly clears up over time.
Potency
Topical steroids can be classified as:
Weakly potent
Moderately potent
Highly potent
Weak topical steroids for face
Weak topical steroids are used for dermatitis in the areas of the body where the skin is thin and sensitive. Such areas include the face and the eyelids, the armpits, the crease between the buttocks, the groin, the perianal area, the diaper area, and the folds of the breasts. They are also used for pain and swelling due to sunburn and heat rash
Example includes 0.5% to 1% hydrocortisone.
Moderately potent steroids for eczema
Moderately potent steroids are used for vulvovaginal irritation, eczema, atopic dermatitis, and scabies.
Strong topical steroids for psoriasis
Strong topical steroids are used in psoriasis, contact dermatitis due to poison ivy, lichen planus (an autoimmune disorder), and alopecia areata (a type of hair loss) for hair growth. Examples include Mometasone and clobetasol or halobetasol 0.05% in an ointment base.
Netdoctor.co.uk has a good chart showing the potency and examples of topical steroids.
OTC and prescription topical steroids
Mild topical steroids such as hydrocortisone acetate 0.5% and 1% are available over the counter. Similarly, you can also buy nasal sprays such as beclometasone nasal spray and fluticasone nasal spray to treat allergic rhinitis.
Moderate and strong topical steroids are available by prescription only.
How to use and withdraw their application?
Application criteria depend on what the condition is and how mild or severe it is.
Topical steroids are rubbed gently on the affected area once or twice a day. At times, for chronic cases such as eczema or psoriasis, you may need long-term application.
In such chronic cases, you should apply them for one week followed by a week of no application. This is done to prevent tachyphylaxis, which means a rapid decrease in the response to the medicine after its use.
If you have been using strong topical steroids over a prolonged period, as is required in psoriasis, you should not stop using them abruptly. This will cause the condition to recur immediately. You should taper the application down slowly. Short-term applications can be stopped immediately
How to apply topical steroids?
In topical medicine, there is a term called Finger Tip Unit (FTU). It defines the amount of cream or ointment to be used for one-time application in adults.
You squeeze the cream from its tube usually through a 5 mm nozzle onto your index finger, from the end of the fingertip to the distal crease nearest to the same fingertip.
This much of the cream or ointment is enough for application on the skin surface twice the area of the flat of your hand with fingers held together
Side effects of long-term use
When used correctly, topical steroids rarely cause any side effects. Their use over prolonged periods can give rise to certain adverse side effects. They include:
Secondary bacterial infection
Secondary fungal infection
Atrophy of the affected skin
The fragility of the affected skin part
Folliculitis and pimples
Loss of skin pigment
Loss of hair growth at the site of application
Dilation of the blood capillaries present near the skin surface or the mucosa of the affected part
Long-term use of nasal sprays can cause dryness and irritation of the nose, as well as bleeding through the nose. Your sense of taste and smell may be affected
Long-term use of steroid eye drops can cause an increase in ocular pressure, cataracts, and blurred vision.
Topical steroids with low to moderate potency should be applied intermittently, as explained above, and not for more than three months to avoid side effects.
High-potency topical steroids should not be used for more than three weeks.
These restrictions are being advised because long-term application or application over a wide area can absorb the steroids into the blood and can cause Cushing’s syndrome or suppression of the adrenal glands.
Choosing the right topical steroid
Conditions, where mild topical steroids (such as 1% hydrocortisone cream eg. Cortaid) can be used, include:
sunburn pain and swelling
heat rash
for application on the face and eyelids
in areas of the body where the skin is sensitive and thin
Moderate or high-potency topical steroids, such as triamcinolone 0.1% or clobetasol 0.05% can be used to treat
Contact dermatitis due to poison ivy
Lichen planus
Eczema
Psoriasis
Vaginal irritation
Are topical steroids safe to use during pregnancy?
“The current best evidence suggests that mild/moderate topical corticosteroids are preferred to potent/very potent ones in pregnancy, because of the associated risk of fetal growth restriction with the latter”.
Are topical steroids safe during breastfeeding?
Only mild topical steroids used over the short term are considered safe during lactation. If you have applied the cream to your breast, you should thoroughly wash the affected part before breastfeeding your baby. Do not use moderate or strong topical steroids when you are lactating.
Use of topical steroids in children
The use of strong topical steroids in children long-term can affect the growth of the child. Therefore, only mild local steroids should be used. However, if the condition warrants long-term and frequent use of strong topical steroids, then the child’s growth should be monitored periodically. It is best to consult your health provider in such circumstances.
