Steroids can be found in most over-the-counter topical products, but most people tend to use these products for all the wrong reasons. Cosmetologists and dermatologists mostly use steroids to sort out inflammations and other skin conditions.
Your dermatologist may suggest them for you as an aftercare, but they do so only when necessary. Steroids like corticosteroids, Mometasone, Hydrocortisone, fluticasone, Betamethasone, etc., should only be used as directed by your primary healthcare provider.
Unfortunately, due to the temporary effects some of these steroids tend to have on the skin, such as whitening and sometimes a glow, many people have begun to use these steroids as lightening creams, and this will only harm the skin in the long run.
One common effect of frequently used steroids is skin atrophy, which refers to the thinning and weakening of the skin.
This situation can usually be avoided if the cream prescribed to you is used according to the doctor’s directives. However, if it is used without caution, it could lead to skin thinning along with various other conditions.
Can skin thinning from steroids be reversed?
Skin thinning from steroids can be taken care of or marginally improved only when it is caught early on, but some of the time, the damage caused is permanent. There are methods your doctor might try as a treatment. Most treatments include;
- I recommend immediate discontinuation of the steroid cream. This could help reverse the thinning, but seeing the desired results takes time.
- Eliminate any harsh skin product that could worsen the condition.
- Your doctor will suggest increased use of sunscreen to prevent even further damage to the thinning skin.
- Studies have shown some improvement when retinol was introduced to patients with skin thinning caused by sun exposure or corticosteroid use. Your doctor may suggest this as a form of treatment.
- Hyaluronic acid fillers may help improve signs of skin thinning caused by short-term use of steroid creams.
- Your doctor might suggest injecting saline into the damaged or thinning area. The idea behind this is the same as that of the Hyaluronic acid: to flush out any steroid particles or crystals that may be left behind.
- Some cosmetic procedures or surgeries, such as fat grafting or laser options, may help reverse the situation.
So, to answer the question directly, the damage can be reversed; however, it may take some time. However, you must realize that not all cases of reversal are successful. However, there might be a higher success rate if the problem is caught early on.
Steroid creams are not lightening creams. They should be applied cautiously and only when prescribed by a primary health care provider.
This article was not written or published by a medical practitioner. If you are going through skin thinning as a result of steroid usage, do not self-medicate. Instead, ensure you visit a doctor for the best possible treatment.
