Is treating your skin problems with over-the-counter creams safe?

 [rt_reading_time]minutes
how to use sunscreen

When our skin looks good, we look good. Clean and trouble-free skin is something all of us crave for. To look perfect goes a lot of time pampering our skin through day and night with moisturizing creams, oils, cleansers and what not! But not all day is Sunday. We have bad-skin days, sometimes acne pops up, sometimes infection sets in, and sometimes we just get tanned on a hot summer day, isn’t it? 

Many such skin problems just vanish with time, but some continue to bother us.

Coincidently, facing skin problems reminds us of all the skin cream advertisements with its magical effects. Many of us unknowingly buy such over-the-counter face creams, ointments to treat various skin problems like acne, pigmentation, fungal infection, rash, etc directly from the chemists who are allowed to sell the drug freely without a dermatologist’s prescription. There comes the real problem!

Most of these commercially available creams have a high amount of “steroid” due to its bleaching, depigmentation and anti-inflammatory effects.  This drug used in skin creams has the ability to cure a wide variety of disorders ONLY if used right. Unfortunately, it is causing more damage to the skin than it repairs as most of us are not using them under medical supervision. 

Find out if your skin cream, gel, face wash, soap or any skin product have steroids: CHECK MY CREAM

Before prescribing such medications to you, skin doctors/dermatologists consider:

  • Your age
  • The duration of your problem
  • The depth of your problem
  • The sensitivity of your skin affected and much more.

    Upon this, they also carefully decide the “duration of usage” and “amount of usage” to ensure safety. No wonder why they are experts.  


Not following any of these will result in adverse effects and cause skin damage that is more permanent and irreversible. 

Here’s how bad “steroid” can be in treating your skin problems if not supervised by a doctor:

  • Too much usage of Steroids causes skin thinning.  This can make you look old as your skin can collect wrinkles at a younger age.
  • Using them in wrong areas of skin brings in stretch marks that are permanent and irreversible.
  • Excessive use of steroids causes hypersensitivity in the skin which leads to greater problems.
  • It makes your unwanted hair longer and thicker. Skin looks hairy.
  • Usage of it near eyes affects your eyesight as the surrounding tissue absorbs it.
  • It even reduces the skin’s ability to fight off bacterial and fungal infections. Your skin is left with weaker immunity.
  • Finally, when you stop using such creams, it results in intense skin redness and the formation of fluid-filled bumps damaging the skin.

All in all, overusing such steroid-based over-the-counter creams without prescription damages your skin beyond your imagination. 

Better be safe, because when it comes to skin, dermatologists know the best!

Facing issues with skin? Worry NO more! 

Download the CureSkin App now by clicking here to get a skin treatment kit curated just for you by the BEST dermatologists. It’s safe and affordable!

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4831482/
http://www.e-ijd.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5154;year=2017;volume=62;issue=3;spage=237;epage=250;aulast=Das
https://www.verywellhealth.com/steroids-topical-steroid-side-effects-1068831

 

Share

Author

Picture of Dr Jisha Gomez

Dr Jisha Gomez

She is a highly skilled dermatology physician with strong expertise in improving skin & hair health through the development of corrective treatment combinations. She completed her Post-graduate Diploma in Dermatology from Cardiff, UK & Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine (FAM) from the Institute of Laser and Aesthetic Medicine, Delhi with over 5+ years experience treating skin patients. She has worked in Government hospitals in Trivandrum and Bangalore. She is actively involved in creating awareness for healthy skin, breaking the social stigma based on skin colour & stopping steroid abuse in our country.