Routine topical use of corticosteroids in children with eczema – even over a long period of time – has no significant negative side effects, reports Pediatric Dermatology.
More and more people learn the hard way what eczema is, also known as eczema. It is an inflammatory disease, often allergic, causing inflammation of the outer layers of the skin. It manifests as redness, blistering, erosions or swelling. For allergy sufferers, treatment is based on avoiding or reducing contact with a possible sensitizing or irritant if it can be identified. The affected areas are also smeared with ointments, incl. steroids.
If there is a need to use such ointments, especially in children, parents often object and limit treatment, fearing harmful side effects. In such cases, we often hear that the skin becomes thinner due to steroids. Sometimes these concerns are shared, among others, by pharmacists.
Gayle Fischer from the University of Sydney decided to test it by examining 92 children, 70 of whom were treated for dermatitis, and the rest belonged to the control group. The researchers convinced the parents of seventy to consistently use the amount of corticosteroids needed to treat the lesions effectively (so that no symptoms were visible during the study). The control group did not apply any measures.
After some time, scientists assessed the condition of the children’s skin, examining it for signs of the so-called thinning. The skin of all children was also dermatoscopically examined – this technique, using a microscope, allows to find even the smallest signs of side effects of steroids.
The thickness of the treated skin in children treated with ointments did not change even when the agents were used in an amount sufficient to control the lesions. The skin of these children did not differ from the skin of their peers who did not use the drug at all.
The usual routine use of steroid ointments does not make the skin thinner, which should comfort parents. We hope that our work will inspire their confidence in the safe and effective use of steroid ointments – writes Fischer. (PAP)