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One of the most important skills in the treatment of skin disorders is the use of topical and intralesional steroids. The number of allergic, inflammatory, and immunologic skin diseases that respond to topical and intralesional steroids is vast. However, the indiscriminate use of topical steroids on unknown skin disorders can result in problems such as skin atrophy, telangiectasias, or tinea incognito (a condition caused by the incorrect application of topical steroids to a fungal infection, allowing the tinea to worsen). (See Chapter 144, Tinea Corporis.) Some of the types of skin diseases in which topical steroids are effective include:
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Allergic skin diseases including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and hand eczema.
Papulosquamous conditions including psoriasis, lichen planus, and seborrheic dermatitis.
Connective tissue diseases of skin including lupus.
Autoimmune bullous disease including pemphigus.
Infiltrative and immunologic diseases including sarcoidosis and granuloma annulare.
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Learning to use topical steroids effectively requires understanding the range of potencies, the vehicles available, and the amounts needed for acute and chronic skin conditions. It is also essential to understand the possible adverse reactions and to be able to balance those risks against the benefits of topical and intralesional steroids. The common side effects are listed in Table 112-1.
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Topical steroids have a wide range of potency (Table 112-2). Choosing the correct potency is the first step in prescribing a topical steroid. The most important factors to consider are:
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Location—area of the skin involved. Skin atrophy is more likely in areas of thin skin such as the face, the genitalia, and the intertriginous areas. Therefore, lower potency steroids are preferentially used on the face and in the intertriginous areas.
Diagnosis—some conditions such ...