Effects of glucocorticoids on the skin

Abstract

Glucocorticoids are widely used in the treatment of many diseases. They have multiple therapeutic applications mainly because of their anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and antiproliferative activity. Glucocorticoids are broadly used in the therapy of dermatological diseases. Various routes of glucocorticoids administration are known. In the treatment of skin disorders, glucocorticoids are often administered topically. It must be noted that glucocorticoid-induced complications may occur not only as a result of systemic treatment, but also topical application of glucocorticoids to the skin. Commonly reported cutaneous adverse effects resulting from glucocorticoid therapy include changes in facial appearance – rounded appearance of the face, redness, development of stretch marks, difficulty in wound healing, and easy bruising. It needs to be highlighted that glucocorticoids also affect metabolism, water and electrolyte balance, and bones. Therefore, in addition to dermatological disorders, they may also cause many other types of complications. As a result, a degree of caution is advised in the use of drugs of this class. In order to reduce the risk of adverse effects, glucocorticoids should be used at the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time.