What are the dangers associated with topical steroid use?
One of the most common skin related medications prescribed by doctors and dermatologists are topic steroids. Their uses are common but wide in scope, and include various skin disorders and diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, dermatitis, and rashes. What needs to first be asked is, how safe are they?
Topical steroids are often considered to be safe simply because they are prescribed by doctors, dermatologists, and medical professionals alike. The reason they are so willing to write prescriptions for these medications are because they can potentially change the state of skin conditions.
Topical steroids work as they are easily absorbed into the patient's skin cells. Once absorbed they are able to cease an array of inflammation-causing chemicals that are normally released when the skin reacts to allergens or irritation.
Left untreated, the inflammation-causing chemicals widen blood vessels causing redness and swelling. Therefore, by preventing this release within the skin, inflammation is reduced and relief is provided for any previous symptoms such as itchiness. The reason topical steroids should be avoided however, is due to the severe side effects the can produce both internally and on the skin.
WHY TOPICAL TREATMENTS ARE NOT THE BEST TREATMENT FOR ACNE
There are a long list of internal side effects some of them far worse than others. These include:
- Adrenal gland suppression - Crushing's Syndrome - Fluid retention - Raised blood pressure - Diabetes - Increased aggression - Anaphylactic shock - Birth defects - Blood clotting - Cancer - Cardiovascular disease - Depression - Gynecomastia - Hair loss - Kidney and liver problems - Prostate enlargement and testicular atrophy
In reference to the side effects to the skin, the conditions are just as dangerous. This includes but is not limited to:
- Skin thinning (atrophy) and stretch marks (striae). - Easy bruising and tearing of the skin. - Perioral dermatitis (rash around the mouth). - Enlarged blood vessels (telangiectasia). - Susceptibility to skin infections. - Disguising infection e.g. tinea incognito. - Allergy to the steroid cream.
As you can see, the list of side effects are far more damaging and life threatening than the original problems topical steroids are intended to remove. However, there are other solutions to skin problems such as natural acne treatment cream that avoid all such severe side effects, therefore rendering topical treatments impractical and illogical to recommend.
Taking into account the above information, natural skincare solutions are therefore thebest treatment for acne. Poor acne health can be easily reversed through the use of a natural acne treatment gel such as Bioskinclear, an oil free product that assists in removing acne scarring, while reducing and preventing acne and rosacea. Bioskincare is equally as effective. This biological skin cream that stops acne inflammation, keeps acne bacteria under control, prevents proliferation of cysts, unclogs pores quickly, and eliminates redness, dryness, and scarring.
Published February 23rd, 2009
Filed in Skin Care