Moving Beyond Long-Term Topical Corticosteroid Use in Inflammatory Dermatoses

This episode, titled “Moving Beyond Long-Term Topical Corticosteroid Use in Inflammatory Dermatoses,” features panelists discussing the evolving role of topical corticosteroids in the management of chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Building on the consensus statement that topical corticosteroids should not be routinely prescribed for long-term use in chronic conditions, the expert faculty examine the distinction between acute flare management and long-term disease control.

The discussion highlights the importance of defining appropriate treatment duration, with topical corticosteroids serving as effective short-term therapies to control flares while minimizing the risk of adverse events associated with prolonged use. The panel reviews practical considerations such as body surface area involvement, treatment duration, and the circumstances under which corticosteroid-related adverse effects may become more likely. Faculty members also explore why chronic corticosteroid use remains common in clinical practice, citing factors such as accessibility, affordability, familiarity, and the administrative challenges often associated with obtaining newer therapies.

Throughout the conversation, the panel emphasizes that corticosteroids continue to play an important role in dermatology and should remain a valuable part of the treatment toolbox. However, they discuss the growing need to balance rapid symptom relief with sustainable long-term disease management strategies. The faculty share perspectives on how advanced nonsteroidal topical therapies are helping clinicians address this challenge by providing options for maintenance therapy and ongoing disease control. The discussion also explores the increasing influence of patient preferences, shared decision-making, and concerns surrounding long-term corticosteroid exposure as treatment paradigms continue to evolve in inflammatory dermatoses.

In the next episode, “Understanding Corticosteroid-Related Medical-Legal Risks in Inflammatory Dermatoses,” panelists will continue their discussion on inflammatory dermatoses and examine the long-term safety profile of advanced targeted topical therapies. The faculty will review emerging evidence supporting nonsteroidal topical treatments and discuss how these therapies are influencing steroid-sparing approaches to long-term disease management.