Steroid-Induced Rosacea
Topical steroids are very effective and generally safe treatments for inflammatory conditions like eczema, but they can also be a trigger for rosacea or a related condition known as periorificial dermatitis.
Issues arise when early rosacea is misdiagnosed as eczema or seborrhoiec dermatitis and topical steroids are prescribed. While these will cause some temporary improvement as soon as they are stopped the rosacea will flare and become more severe.
How to treat steroid induced rosacea
Treatment can be challenging as there may be co-existent eczema. I would recommend that this is managed by a dermatologist. I will usually combine an oral tetracycline antibiotic with a non-steroid topical treatment that reduces inflammation such as protopic or elidel.
How can I help
I see patients in person in central London. An in person consultation allows me to examine the skin directly including features that are difficult to capture in a photograph such as 3-dimensional changes and textural change. This is the better option where the diagnosis is uncertain, where previous treatment has not been effective, or where a procedure is being considered. For more straightforward conditions such as acne and rosacea a remote consultation with clear photographs can be a good option.
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- Perioral Dermatitis vs Rosacea
- Why Did My Rosacea Suddenly Get Worse?
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