We recently reported 100 patients with a chronic eyelid dermatitis that did not resolve
until all topical and systemic corticosteroids had been discontinued.
1
All of these patients had been treated with long-term topical corticosteroids, usually
with escalating dosage and frequency of application. In the majority of patients,
the initial symptom of pruritus commonly evolved into a characteristic, severe burning
sensation. In many cases, systemic corticosteroids had also been administered to relieve
the severe erythema and burning, but this only exacerbated the condition. In our opinion
the continuing dermatitis resulted from “steroid addiction.” Unfortunately, the time
required for corticosteroid withdrawal mirrored the time over which they had originally
been applied, and was often protracted.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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