ADVERSE-EFFECTS OF TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROID USE

Topical corticosteroid use, a common and often efficacious therapy for a wide variety of cutaneous conditions, may have substantial adverse effects. These range from the notable nondermatologic side effects of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression, Cushing's disease, fe moral head osteonecrosis, and cataracts to a variety of less serious s kin effects such as cutaneous tinea and contact dermatitis. The broad availability, efficacy, relative low cost, and ease of applying topica l corticosteroids should not induce complacency or a cavalier attitude in prescribers. Physicians should have the same awareness of the poss ible side effects of topical steroid use as when prescribing parentera l medication.