Do you know that Delhi High court has issued a notice on the use of fairness creams and other commonly used skin creams loaded with harmful topical steroids? According to the notice, no topical medications which contain a cocktail of harmful steroids can be sold without a valid prescription of a doctor. With easy access to topical steroids, most of us prefer going to a pharmacy store and get a topical steroid rather than go to a doctor and get prescribed medications or steroids. Here is a list of everyday things that are killing your skin!
Steroids are one of the most important discoveries of 20th centuries and is a life saving medication. It's abuse and misuse, without prescription, should be avoided, says Dr Smriti Naswa Singh, Consultant Dermatologist, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai, who is also a member of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL), who filed the petition on the misuse of topical corticosteroids. We asked her about the list of ingredients you should watch out for in topical creams. Here's what she said.
Topical steroids should not be taken without out prescription of a doctor, preferably a dermatologist. Although chemists do recommend topical steroids, it is a must to ensure that it is with proper prescription and user manual. Not many people are aware that most of the OTC topical steroids or creams that are available contain stronger chemicals or steroids. And to worsen the effect on the skin, we tend to use it for days, months and years at a stretch. If you are using milder topical steroids, then it is advised to not use it for more than two to three days. And if the infections fail to subside or if the steroids do not provide any relief, do consult your doctor immediately rather than continuing the medication for a week as it can lead to severe damage to the skin. Also read about horrible side effects of topical corticosteroids or steroid creams.
If you are using OTC topical steroids, then here are few tips about topical steroids you need to know
The creams that end with -sone or -sol, are usually steroids and are available in the form of OTC.
It is wise to check with your doctors if you are buying fairness creams that either has mometasone or fluticasone as the ingredients before using it.
Beclomethasone is a milder steroid that is usually prescribed for a week. Hence if you have got a topical cream that contains this ingredient, do not use more than a week as it can lead to infections if used for long.
Another active and one of the strongest (most potent) steroid that should only be used under doctor's prescription and for the recommended time is clobetasol. This steroid is usually available in combination with four to five more ingredients .
Ingredients that end with -azole are antifungal agents like clotrimazole and miconazole. If they are used alone in fungal infections of skin, it's fine but if used in combination with steroids like beclomethasone or mometasone or clobetasol etc, it shouldn't be used without prescription.
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