Adverse events associated with topical corticosteroid use in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: a prospective analysis from the BIOBADATOP registry

The long-term safety of topical corticosteroids (TCS) in atopic dermatitis (AD) continues to generate uncertainty and has been identified as a research priority. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate adverse events (AEs) associated with TCS use in the BIOBADATOP registry. A total of 660 patients were included, of whom 484 (73.3%) used TCS at baseline and/or during follow-up. The median baseline EASI score was 21, and baseline disease severity was similar between TCS users and non-users. During TCS treatment, AEs were reported in 4 of 484 patients (0.8%; 95%CI, 0.2-2.1%), all of which were mild: striae, pityriasis sicca of the scalp, hypertension, and mild hypertriglyceridemia. These real-world findings support the safety profile of TCS and make it difficult to justify descriptions of large populations as being intolerant to, or at increased risk from, TCS.