How Effective Are Corticosteroids for Psoriasis?

Corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis, referred to as hormone-dependent dermatitis, is a dermatitis caused by long-term repeated improper use of external hormones. In recent years, the incidence has been increasing year by year, and it is stubborn and difficult to cure.

Causes of corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis

1. Incorrect choice of indication

Corticosteroids have an anti-allergic effect that suppresses the immune response. It can reduce congestion and edema after external use, temporarily alleviate and resolve the degree of itching and the inflammatory response to certain skin damage. Many people lack understanding of the scope of hormone application and adverse reactions And long-term abuse leads to adverse consequences. A few people also use this kind of medicine instead of skin cream to wipe the face. It has been used on normal face for a long time. It feels good when first used, and it will produce dependent dermatitis over time.

2. Improper selection of drugs

Strong corticosteroid preparations are most likely to cause side effects such as skin atrophy.

3. Taking medicine for too long

Short-term topical application of corticosteroids can cause epidermal atrophy and inhibit dermal collagen synthesis. Long-term topical application can cause systemic side effects. Even a small area of external corticosteroids can cause systemic side effects if taken too long.

4. Confusion in the beauty market and abuse of beauty cosmetics

In order to attract consumers, some beauty salons have incorporated hormones into skin rejuvenation and whitening cosmetics, causing many consumers to become dependent after long-term application of their so-called "special effect skin rejuvenation and whitening cosmetics", leading to corticosteroids. Hormone-dependent dermatitis.

Clinical manifestations of corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis

1. Thinning of epidermis and dermis

Local long-term topical hormones, which interfere with epidermal differentiation, induce changes in skin structure and function, and inhibit keratinocyte proliferation. This results in a reduction in the formation of transparent stratum corneum particles, which eventually thins the stratum corneum. The thinning of the dermis is due to the change in the viscoelasticity of glycoproteins and proteoglycans, which weakens the adhesion between collagen fibrils and reduces collagen synthesis.

2. Hypopigmentation / Depression

As the number of layers of the stratum corneum decreases, melanin migrates to the keratinocytes, causing hypopigmentation. Pigmentation may be related to glucocorticoids activating melanocytes to regenerate pigments.

3. Vessel exposure

The weakened adhesion between collagen fibers of the blood vessel wall can cause blood vessels to widen, and the disappearance of dermal collagen causes the blood vessels on the surface to appear.

4. Rosacea / acne-like dermatitis

In hormone-induced rosacea-like skin lesions, the density of Demodex folliculi is significantly increased. Demodex mites close the outlet of the sebaceous glands of the hair follicles, acting as carriers, causing inflammatory or allergic reactions. Strong hormones can also cause sebaceous glands to proliferate, causing Specific rosacea-like rash. Hormones can degenerate and degenerate the hair follicle epithelium, cause the outlet to be blocked, and cause acne-like rashes or aggravate the original acne.

5. Folliculitis infection

Due to the immunosuppressive effects of hormones, local infection of hair follicles can occur and primary folliculitis worsens.

6. Hormone dependence

Hormones have powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can inhibit many skin disease symptoms, such as inhibiting the development of pimples and reducing itching, vasoconstriction, and erythema disappearing. However, hormones can not eliminate the cause of the disease, and often cause exacerbations of the original disease after being stopped. Bounce back to inflammatory edema, redness, burning, discomfort and acute impetigo. This phenomenon often occurs 2 to 10 days after the hormone is stopped, and lasts for a few days or about 3 weeks. Due to the rebound phenomenon, patients continue to use hormones, resulting in hormone dependence.

Diagnosis of corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis

Diagnosis can be based on a long history of topical hormones or hormone-containing cosmetics and unique skin lesions. No need to check too much.

Differential diagnosis of corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis

It should be distinguished from ringworm, acne, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, frostbite lupus, and facial disseminated miliary lupus.

Corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis treatment

Once the human body becomes dependent on hormones, the primary disease rebounds and the secondary redness, tenderness, itching, peeling, dryness, cracks, desquamation and other side effects can cause greater pain for patients. At present, western medicine generally thinks that the treatment of hormone-dependent dermatitis is more difficult. The treatment plan is to treat with antibiotics, vitamins and desensitizing drugs, and continue to use hormone drugs, gradually reduce to withdrawal and withdrawal. It will take more than a year for the skin lesions to return to normal, and most patients have great mental stress. In this regard, doctors and patients' families should do their ideological work, have a full understanding of the role of hormones and side effects, and strengthen their confidence in defeating the disease. And in the case of correct choice of treatment drugs and gradually reducing until the withdrawal of corticosteroids, Chinese medicine treatment to combat the above side effects and adverse reactions is selected.

The treatment of corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis also varies from person to person, depending on the degree and time of the patient's hormone damage. Therefore, care must be taken in medication, and it is best to use medication under the guidance of a doctor. Do not heal yourself. At present, the drugs that have better effects in treating hormone-dependent dermatitis are:

Oral

Fun, Thunder Gong.

2. External use

Medoc, Hitoto, Lanke Fu Ning, Jin Yin Peptide.

When the skin is dry and astringent in the later stage of rehabilitation, non-irritating moisturizing skin care products can be added appropriately, such as Johnson's baby cream or Avene skin care products.

Corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis prevention

Patients with corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis should also follow medical attention and pay attention to some contraindications in the treatment. The cooperation between doctors and patients can lead to faster and better recovery and recovery.

1. Do not apply cold to the face.

2. Patients must pay attention to taboos during treatment. Many hormone-dependent dermatitis are mostly caused by skin allergies or skin inflammation caused by disordered use of hormones. Allergic constitution, skin inflammation will often be aggravated by certain foods, and hormone-dependent dermatitis will also be the same, which will make the condition worse and prolong the treatment time. For example, eating lamb, drinking, and spicy foods can make facial rashes worse. Therefore, such patients are warned that spicy food, seafood, fish, shrimp, crab, beef and mutton, and even leek and fennel are all taboo.

3. Maintain a good attitude, don't be angry and anxious, you must keep a peaceful attitude, otherwise the illness will be delayed.

4. The disease is worsened by wind, cold, and heat, and corresponding prevention measures need to be taken, such as wearing a mask in winter and sun protection in summer.