CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TOPICAL STEROID DAMAGED FACE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objectives- The aim of the study was to determine the clinical features, extent, and dermographics of topical corticosteroid usage on the face in patients who were seen in the dermatology outpatient department.

Materials and Methods: Between August 2022 and August 2023, a questionnaire-based analysis of patients attending the dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital was conducted. The study was comprised of 200 subjects who applied topical steroid on their face for more than 6 weeks and they were enquired regarding their history. Clinical assessment, and lesion photography was also done.

Results: 200 patients with topical steroid damaged face were examined in the study. The most prevalent age range for topical steroid use was between 18 and 30 years which comprised 42% of total patients in the study. Out of 200 patients 149 were women [74.5%]. The average time between commencing the topical steroid regimen and the appearance of symptoms was six months. 74 [39.5%] used topical steroids  to treat dermatophyte infections and the remaining subjects used them for miscellaneous reasons. In this study population, cream-based betamethasone valerate was the most frequently misused steroid. The most frequent adverse effect was hyperpigmentation (27%) followed by acneiform eruptions (25%) facial erythema (18%), hypertrichosis (12%), perioral dermatitis (4%) and skin atrophy (5%), hypopigmentation(9%).

Conclusion: Topical steroid damaged face is a dermatological concern. The public must be made aware of the possible danger of topical steroid abuse to stop its indiscriminate use.