Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Author Spotlight: Ultrasound-Guided Needle Release Combined with Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Supinator Syndrome
Published on: May 26, 2023
Topical corticosteroid withdrawal ('steroid addiction'): an update of a systematic review
1College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA.
Background:
Topical corticosteroid withdrawal is an entity associated with chronic steroid use and misuse that has not been fully described.
Objective:
To further characterize this entity, elucidate relevant clinical features, and investigate possible treatments we provided an update to a systematic review done in 2015.
Methods:
We searched Ovid Medline, Pubmed, and Cochrane library for terms related to topical corticosteroid withdrawal from April 2014 to September 2020.
Results:
This entity usually occurs after prolonged use of moderate- to high-intensity topical steroid usage usually on the face. It is most common in women and many patients present due to improper use such as for cosmetic reasons. Symptoms include erythema, itchiness, and burning; secondary lesions are common scales.
Limitations:
Due to the paucity of available study, we elected to include all articles found which led to limitations being lack of heterogeneity, diversity of outcome measures reported, and a higher risk of bias in some included studies.
Conclusion:
Topical corticosteroid withdrawal should be suspected in patients presenting with prolonged usage, erythema, and burning or itch. Patient education and follow up is important to address improper usage. Future studies should focus on comparison group studies to investigate treatment and risk factors.
Related Concept Videos
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
Drug Dosage Regimen: Overview
Typically, the starting dose and dosing interval are guided by the manufacturer's recommendations based on clinical trials conducted during and after drug...
Drug Dependence
Nephrotic Syndrome II : Assessment and Medical Management
Drug Elimination: Non-Renal Routes

