Understanding Corticosteroid Risks in Inflammatory Dermatoses

In this episode, “Understanding Corticosteroid Risks in Inflammatory Dermatoses,” the expert faculty explore the key findings from a recent consensus paper evaluating the risks associated with topical and systemic corticosteroid therapy and the role of advanced targeted topical treatments in inflammatory skin diseases. The panel reviews the methodology behind the expert consensus process, including the comprehensive literature review and evidence-based approach used to develop recommendations for clinical practice.

Throughout the discussion, the faculty examine the broad range of cutaneous and systemic adverse events associated with corticosteroid use, emphasizing that risks extend beyond the skin. Topics include skin atrophy, striae, telangiectasias, acneiform eruptions, infection risk, adrenal suppression, Cushing syndrome, avascular necrosis, and the multi-organ consequences of systemic corticosteroid exposure. The panel highlights the importance of evaluating cumulative steroid burden, recognizing that patients may receive corticosteroids from multiple healthcare providers and across different routes of administration.

The discussion also focuses on practical considerations for corticosteroid stewardship, including patient counseling, monitoring, and understanding patterns of long-term use. Faculty members share perspectives on how growing awareness of corticosteroid-related risks, combined with advances in targeted nonsteroidal therapies, has influenced their treatment decisions. They discuss how improved efficacy, tolerability, and safety profiles have lowered the threshold for incorporating steroid-sparing therapies earlier in the treatment journey. Finally, the panel examines strategies for simplifying treatment regimens, reducing patient confusion, and utilizing corticosteroids as rescue therapies within a broader long-term management approach for inflammatory dermatoses.

The next episode in this series, “Reducing Treatment Burden in Inflammatory Dermatoses,” features the panelists discussing whether chronic topical corticosteroid therapy remains an appropriate long-term management strategy for inflammatory dermatoses. The faculty examine guideline recommendations, long-term safety considerations, and the evolving role of corticosteroids within modern treatment paradigms.