Corticosteroids, used for a long time and without medical supervision, generate serious effects as soon as they are discontinued.
The betametasona it is a medicine corticosteroide potent commonly used to treat a number of skin conditions, including psoriasis and eczema; one of the side effects is skin lightening. And that is what has caused it to become a risky product in countries like India.
The creams that contain Betamethasone should only be used with a prescription. But in India, many corticosteroid creams are freely purchased, with the main purpose of ‘whitening’ the skin. Most of the users, according to a report by CNN, are women.
Soma Banik was 14 years old when someone recommended her mother to use a new cream to make the girl become ‘lighter’. Thinking that this would benefit him, in a society where less pigmented skin is considered desirable and associated with success, Banik’s mother followed the advice. The cream was not seen as a cosmetic, but as a drug, recalls Banik, but it was “the secret to a better future.”
Indeed, after two months, Banik received positive comments from her friends, at the cost of feeling burning of the skin when exposed to the sun. This worsened until the sensation became permanent, he developed acne, and a year later, facial hair multiplied.
Dermatologists in India confirm the symptoms of Banik, burning, acne, and hirsutism (exaggerated facial hair). They are the signs of the “face dependent on topical steroids”, due to the prolonged use of medications as if they were cosmetic products.
Even when they have medical surveillance, Topical corticosteroids such as betamethasone should be used for a short time. The appearance of acne, redness and rashes as soon as they are left causes people to reapply them.
Not only on the face: how it affects the child population
Indian dermatologist Abir Saraswat blames the pharmaceutical industry in India. The government, he says, does not want direct opposition to this sector, which in his opinion requires profound reform and regulation. Saraswat and his collaborators are the ones who have coined the term “Face dependent on topical steroids.”
The misuse of corticosteroids is a common problem worldwide, says dermatologist Zaira Dennis Chávez López, in an article written this year for the portal Medscape. For her it is a triple threat due to the increased risk of side effects, the potency of steroids in products combined with other drugs, and the fact that it is happening everywhere.
For example, he mentions, in a study in Mexico, where 47 general practitioners were surveyed, it was mentioned that between 20% and 50% of the weekly consultation was for some dermatological condition, and 33 of the respondents mentioned some topical corticosteroid of medium or High power. Only 78% of the prescriptions indicated the duration of treatment.
Some of those products combine corticosteroids with antibiotics and antifungals, and target skin conditions such as dermatitis (not specified), atopic dermatitis, dermatitis allergic, contact dermatitis, diaper rash, urticaria, mycosis (unspecified), psoriasis, acne, insect bites or other dermatoses. Injuries from long use, says Chávez, leave important sequelae, especially in children. (I)
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