VIDEO: Understanding topical steroid withdrawal syndrome important for treating patients

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Topical steroid withdrawal syndrome may signal a reminder to clinicians to be good stewards of topical treatments, according to a speaker at Masters of Pediatric Dermatology.

“This is really important because it is a controversial entity,” Peter A. Lio, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told Healio in an interview about his presentation. “But I think it’s really important to our patients.”

Originating from an online patient movement, topical steroid withdrawal syndrome is the idea that too much topical steroid usage can worsen a skin condition.

As physicians work with the CDC to classify this syndrome as a formal diagnosis, Lio encourages clinicians to take this opportunity to practice good stewardship of topical and systemic steroids.

“Even if you don’t believe in it, I think it’s something [where] we can take good care of our patients and respect it,” Lio said. “Because it’s not something that really precludes great health care in general.”