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Hormonal ointments: pros and cons. Video
Topical corticosteroid-based hormonal ointments are used to treat allergic and some other skin conditions. They have a targeted effect and eliminate the cause of rashes and irritations – inflammation, while you can do without the use of systemic drugs. It is a powerful weapon against inflammatory reactions, therefore, it requires caution and strict adherence to the doctor’s recommendations when applying.
When corticosteroid hormones are prescribed
The human body produces corticosteroid hormones naturally, mainly in the form of cortisone, they are involved in normal metabolism and, among other things, have a pronounced ability to suppress the development of inflammatory reactions. These hormones were synthesized artificially and today are used for the preparation of external preparations – ointments and creams.
Indications for the appointment of hormonal ointments, including for children, include:
- atopic, contact and seborrheic dermatitis
- vitiligo
- psoriasis
- lichen planus
- patchy baldness (alopecia)
- lichen planus
- dermatomyositis
- atrophic lichen
- localized scleroderma
These serious skin conditions are successfully treated with hormonal ointments, which in many cases are the only way to deal with such skin problems.
Different action corticosteroid hormones
The artificial hormones in these drugs can be controlled, weakened or enhanced by the addition of additional chemicals such as fluoride. Depending on this, hormonal ointments are strong or weak.
The stronger it is, the more effectively it affects the inflammatory response, the faster it can improve the condition of the skin. Strengthens the effect of the ointment and a high concentration of the active substance. According to the strength of the effect, hormonal ointments are divided into four classes, the first include the weakest, and the fourth – the strongest.
The strength of hormonal drugs depends on the form of release: the strongest are ointments, followed in descending order by creams, lotions, gels and sprays
Naturally, the strength of the drug depends not only on how effectively it works, but also on the number of side effects. Drugs of the fourth class are able to cure even severe forms of diseases, but at the same time they can more often cause an unwanted side reaction of the body, weak drugs rarely have side effects. That is why many people are afraid to use hormonal ointments, considering their use dangerous to their health. Even those patients for whom ointments are prescribed by a doctor refuse to use them or arbitrarily reduce the amount of the applied drug, which reduces or even completely eliminates the entire effect of the treatment.
Side effects from the use of hormonal ointments
As a result of clinical trials and patient reviews, the following side effects from the use of corticosteroid hormonal ointments were identified:
- atrophy of the skin at the site of constant application of hormonal ointment
- the appearance of stretch marks – purple-red stripes resembling stretch marks
- if applied inaccurately, when the medicine gets on the face, pimples may appear around the mouth and on the chin
- the appearance of spider veins and dilated blood vessels
- temporary skin discoloration
It should be noted that the listed phenomena are very rare, if we talk about cases recorded during long-term multi-month clinical trials; for example, striae appeared in only 1% of the subjects
These stretch marks and skin atrophy were observed only when the hormonal ointment was applied to the skin of the face, neck, genitals and in the natural folds of the body. Experts recommend treating these local areas with strong ointments only for short periods of time, and then replacing them with weaker ones that do not have a similar effect. On the stomach, chest, back, legs and arms, as well as on the palms, feet and scalp, treatment with even strong hormonal drugs has no side effects.
In the event that wounds, pimples, pustules or redness appear on those areas of the skin on which you apply hormonal ointment, be sure to see a doctor
Since the corticosteroid substance in ointments, although synthetic, is hormonal, many patients are worried about whether it will affect the metabolism, which is regulated by the endocrine system. When these hormones enter the bloodstream, they really slow down the work of the adrenal glands, but after the end of the use of drugs, their normal functioning is fully restored.
How to minimize the possibility of side effects
So that the use of these indispensable drugs in some cases does not cause harm, they should be applied strictly according to the rules and in the dosage prescribed by the attending physician.
Unlike injections and pills, the hormones contained in ointments do not enter the bloodstream in large quantities, so they do not have any noticeable effect on the work of internal organs.
Eliminate too long or too frequent use of hormonal agents, control the amount of ointment applied to the skin, and limit it to the local area of inflammation. This is especially true for the drugs of the strongest group.
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