Effects of glucocorticosteroids on the skin and eye

The dermatologic anachronistic adage, "If wet--dry it, if dry--wet it!" has bee perhaps justifiably replaced by "Call the dermatologist to prescribe a steroid!" To say this without knowledge of the contents of this article and more importantly, to accept such cliches, is a disservice to the patient and a litigious liability to the prescriber. Recognizing the risk/benefit ratio of the most commonly used anti-inflammatory agents is essential. All therapies are most effective when used for their specific diagnosis. This article attempts to provide an update on the geometrically progressing knowledge regarding the uses and misuses of GCSs for the eye and skin.