Sunday, April 10, 2011

No steroid cream on face without prescription

Twenty-five-year Sucharita Sanyal had been using a common skin creamfor her pimples till they turned bigger, spread all over face and started bleeding. She stopped using the ointment but it aggravated the rashes even further. Her condition dramatically, though temporarily, improves if she applies that cream again. But again turns horrible the moment she stops using the cream. Her condition was eventually diagnosed as Topical Steroid Damaged Face (TSDF) which is triggered by continuous use of strong topical steroids on face. Indiscriminate uses of such creams have resulted in more than 30,000 people in Kolkata and surrounding areas suffering from this ailment, which is not fatal but can’t be cured easily. A study conducted by the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venerologists and Leprologists (IADVL), a 6500 member strong organization, in 12 Indian cities reveal some disturbing facts. The survey was conducted in various centers in Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Lucknow, Baroda, Pune, Udaipur, Dibrugarh, Aligarh and Coimbatore. The study has been published in Indian Journal of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists(IJDVL). It showed that most patients had used steroid-laden ointments like Betnovate C and N, Tenovate, Lobate, Melacare or Quadriderm which are available without a prescription. "In most of the cases these medicines were wrongly used to treat dark patches on face or to cure pimples. These medicines have a high steroid content that may turn the skin thinner, give rise to steroid dependence, increase the pimples or rashes for which you might have been using them, actually aggravate. Other serious complications like hirsutism(unwanted hair growth on face in females), perioral dermatitis, rosacea etc can also develop. The side-effects could even be systemic. Unfortunately, these creams and ointments are available over the counter without a prescription by any specialists in India, which is not the case anywhere else in the world," said Koushik Lahiri, consultant dermatologist and a senior member of the IADVL. Other than Dr. Koushik Lahiri, senior dermatologists from the city like Dr. Arijit Coondoo and Dr. Saumya Panda were also associated with this study. The association plans to approach the union health ministry and the department of pharmacy to try and press for restrictions on the sale of creams and ointments that contain potent steroids. Experts, however, argued that they had nothing against steroids that were essential for treating several skin ailments. A proper dose prescribed by dermatologists is beneficial. "But few choose to seek advise before applying these ointments which are meant for diseases like eczema and psoriasis and need to be used in a controlled way. These tubes are sold in millions and since they come under the umbrella of DPCO (Drug Price control order) they are available at a throwaway price. So, the misuse becomes even more rampant," explained Lahiri. Since drug rules prohibit over-the-counter sale of potent topical steroids internationally, this entity is virtually unknown in developed countries and naturally there is no prescribed treatment for this problem. "We have been groping in the dark and have been forced to devise our own treatment regime based on experience. Generally, we taper off the ointments rather than taking them off in a go for that leads to withdrawal effects on the skin. It is similar to the de-addiction or rehabilitation programme that drug addicts go through. But the treatment norms are still evolving," added Lahiri. The IADVL will launch a public awareness campaign in all the states of the country to keep people away from over-the-counter purchase of skin ointments containing potent steroid. "It could be difficult unless we have a law to fall back on but we must start the campaign for the sake of the millions who are falling prey to TSDF due to their ignorance," said Lahiri.

31 comments:

  1. if you a steroid cream with boreoline or boroplus cream no side effect is occur and your skin becomes soft............................

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  2. No. Wrong.
    Those contain boric acid and that is bad for skin.

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  3. Betnovate on face with or withour Boroline/Boroplus can be dangerous. Please beaware.

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  4. pls prescribe for pigmentation which occurs on my face due to sun rays, using malacure & skinlite, but no positive result getting

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  5. all type of treatment had been done, peel and laser, but dan also no use. pigmentation is deeply in my skin layer, and it will not clear according to there suggestion

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    Replies
    1. DO NOT USE ANTI-PIGMENTATION PRODUCTS SOLD OTC OR REFERRED BY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. CONSULT YOUR NEAREST SKIN SPECIALIST (DERMATOLOGIST) FOR ADVICE AND STRICTLY ADHERE TO HIS TREATMENT AND ADVICE. YOU WILL GET THE SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM..

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  6. Dear Sir,

    Dr. Rapaport recommends stopping steroids cold turkey as the only way to get rid of the addiction. What is your opinion on that? is it suitable on the Indian context?

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  7. dear Dr..
    Im little White In skin color..But there are black shades and spots..My friends Reccomended Me to use COSMOLATE and im using it Now for a Month.
    Now i got a New cream Melacare. is there any side effect of these creams?or can you suggest a better cream??

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  8. Stop, both. Both contains potent steroid. Please do not apply anything without a Dermatologists prescription. This may damage your facial skin.

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  9. Hello sir,
    My girl friend used melcare for 2 years, but i found out and bstrictly banned it. I had made her simple and healthy by Metlife laser treatment and some natural treatment. But thing is my girl is always do what i say. She very sad of no usage of cream. Please suggest me a good cream or any ways to make my girl so rosy whitish girl. I can't live if she become gloomy. Tell any me any doctors please. I had found some pills like GLUTATHIONE, Glow2Thione,Claire Blanche L-Glutathione,Perfect White AntiAging Tablet
    Gluta-C,Benoquin,"BeauOxi White" Plus USA 5in1
    "Kyusoku Bihaku" skin whitening,Thanyaporn - Skin Whitening,Placenta White Advance
    Met Tathione,Ivory Caps Skin Lightening Pills,
    Powerpack Megathione USA. L-Glutathione
    Fairtone Skin Whitening Tablet,L-Cysteine Peptidea etc.
    Please, any doctors need a most better fairness cream or pills or treatment for my girl. I want her always be happiest girl forever.
    Thank you
    by midhun (kerala)

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  10. Please consult a good dermatologist nearby.

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  11. i am a daily user of melacare. i am so afraid after seeing those pics. what are the precuations i need to do by stoping the usage?

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  12. Always consult your doctor before evaluating steroids.

    Buy Steroids Canada

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  13. Thank you for raising awareness of the dangers of topical steroid side effects! ITSAN appreciates this as we are in the same mission to help others and raise awareness in the medical community.

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  14. skinlite cream from India gave me steroid rosecea. Don't be stupid like me. Go to a skin doctor before you try something

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  15. Very Nice Blog!
    We can search for Skin Doctors in Bangalore on Dermatologist Doctors in Bangalore

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  16. Very Nice blog! Thanks for shairing this information.
    We can Find Best Skin specialist in Kolkata on Find Top Dermatologists in Kolkata

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  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  19. Hello Sir, can i use boro plus as a regular use like overnight every night.. It soften skin but im scared if it have side effects.. Is it harmful? Please suggest me.. Im using it as a facecream

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  20. Please suggest.. What is the best cream to become to fair without side effects..i have black skin

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  21. Hi dr. ,

    I had been using a cream for 2 yrs for skin whitening . But it damaged my skin to no extent .skin is now extremely thin , dull , gets red easily , uneven and atrophic almost sunken in . It has been 7 months since i am off this cream which i suspect is a steroid . Is there hope my skin will heal with time
    Mumbai

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  22. Hi dr. ,

    I had been using a cream for 2 yrs for skin whitening . But it damaged my skin to no extent .skin is now extremely thin , dull , gets red easily , uneven and atrophic almost sunken in . It has been 7 months since i am off this cream which i suspect is a steroid . Is there hope my skin will heal with time
    Mumbai

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  23. Earlier I was using betnovate n and c ..as soon as I got to know dat it is a steroid and has to be first prescribed by the doctor a month has gone and I threw all of them in the dustbin.....so my skin has not be damaged much by its side effect.....i just want ask dat dis side effect will heal with time or it would become more worsen? Also shall I go for homeopathic?

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  24. Earlier I was using betnovate n and c ..as soon as I got to know dat it is a steroid and has to be first prescribed by the doctor a month has gone and I threw all of them in the dustbin.....so my skin has not be damaged much by its side effect.....i just want ask dat dis side effect will heal with time or it would become more worsen? Also shall I go for homeopathic?

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  25. Find best dermatologist in Pune & View experience, reviews, Consulting timings & contact details of Skin Specialist in Pune.

    ReplyDelete
  26. dear dr
    im using that faiza night cream.is it good or bad.

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  27. dear dr
    im using melacare for 3yrs i am eeching on my mouth area is their is any remidi please me

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  28. hi dr.,
    I have being usig melacare for 3yrs now i am
    getting eechness on my mouth area so doctor please suggest me a remidi

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    ReplyDelete
  30. Great posting! Thanks for sharing.
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    ReplyDelete