Things you need to know about corticosteroids for psoriasis treatment

For decades, doctors have prescribed corticosteroids, which are synthetic versions of hormones produced by the adrenal glands in the body to inhibit inflammation, often used to treat psoriasis. and psoriatic arthritis.

Corticosteroids that can be used as a topical, oral, or injectable form are prescribed to alleviate outbreaks, but when they are discontinued they can cause a strong outbreak of the disease. Here's what you need to know about safe use of corticosteroids.

Oral corticosteroids

Dr. Mark Lebwohl, professor and head of dermatology at Icahn Medical University in Mt. Sinai, New York and the honorary chairman of the NPF medical committee recommended: "If psoriasis patients are prescribed oral corticosteroids , that is a mistake. Stopping the use of systemic corticosteroids is the driving factor. The most common push in the development of pus psoriasis or red body psoriasis, rare forms can threaten the life of psoriasis. "

Dr. Ben Enst, co-director of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treatment center at Oregon's College of Science and Health, agrees with the statement and notes: "Oral corticosteroids play a small role." In the treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis, they are sometimes used to temporarily relieve pain and reduce inflammation while switching to DMARD (low-dose supportive medicine) oral or biological form. "

Dr. Michael Tirant, professor and doctor, provides free advice to psoriasis patients.

According to Dr. Enst: " Long-term use of corticosteroids can cause osteoporosis, fractures, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, increased risk of infection, cataracts, slow wound healing. , acne and other unwanted side effects ".

Dr. Lebwohl notes: Psoriasis patients who are taking oral steroids should talk to their doctor about a safe way to switch to other medicines.

If you are taking an oral corticoid:

• Never stop taking drugs abruptly, because doing so can cause a serious outbreak, fatigue and joint pain.
• Taking the right medicine as prescribed, your doctor will usually advise you to take the medicine at the same time every day.
• Never double the dose of medicine you take or take it for longer than the time your doctor prescribed it.
• Remember that rapid cessation of a corticoid can make your body unable to produce enough corticosteroids to support blood pressure and other necessary functions, in rare cases that can lead to death.

Topical corticosteroids

Topical corticosteroids have long been used in the treatment of psoriasis.

According to Dr. Enst: " Topical corticosteroids are mainly used for psoriasis treatment, or for patients with limited skin lesions or for patients with more widespread skin lesions, used in combination with the method. Other topical treatments, radiotherapy or systemic treatment ".

Although topical corticosteroids rarely cause serious side effects that oral corticosteroids cause, they must be used with caution.

Use topical corticosteroids only on skin areas designated by your doctor. Percutaneous topical corticosteroids vary greatly in strength from the strong group of drugs used on the elbows, to the much weaker group used for thin skin areas such as the face, armpits, genitals, and folds. Except for weakening medicines, using these topical medications in sensitive skin areas can cause skin thinning or permanent skin atrophy.

Dr. Enst recommends avoiding use in the eye area, as long-term use around the eyes can lead to increased glaucoma and cataract.

According to Dr. Enst: "It should be understood that, when topical corticosteroids are used for a long time on a large area of ​​skin or particularly strong drugs, they can enter the circulating blood and are likely to cause Side effects like oral corticosteroids, especially seriously affect children ".

Treatment of psoriasis with Dr Michaels herbal method for 8 weeks.

Parenteral corticosteroids

According to Dr. Enst: "As well as oral corticosteroids , parenteral corticosteroids for psoriasis patients should be used very limited ".

"Injecting drugs may be helpful in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis that occurs in one or two joints. This may bring about rapid relief of symptoms but use for a long time and repeat injections repeatedly. can actually damage the joint more severely and lead to complications like oral corticoid ".