Are Topical Corticoids Efficacious in Acute Irritant Dermatitis: The Evidence

Topical corticosteroid therapies are widely utilized, despite the controversial results of corticoid therapy in irritant contact dermatitis as a local inflammatory reaction after repeated or single skin exposure to a chemical substance. Although corticoids may reduce the inflammatory response to the irritant, their antiproliferative effects may reduce skin barrier recovery while allowing further penetration of irritants if exposure continues. This overview reexamines the efficacy of corticosteroids in irritant contact dermatitis therapy, and with the minimal controlled experimental data currently available, notes the need for same-in this common clinical entity.