From our Bureau
NEW DELHI: Be careful with the brightening creams and products as many contain potent harmful steroids. Dermatologists have warned at the rising number of patients with serious side effects.
Users are at the receiving end in the absence of any awareness and stringent regulation norms. Doctors have strongly favoured a ban on “over the counter” (OTC) sale of such cosmetic items to prevent their misuses.
Specialists say steroid misuse can cause acne, hair loss on the head, cysts and oily har and skin. Users who inject steroids may also develop pain and abscess formation. They also cause jaundice or yellowing of the skin or eyes as a result of damage to the liver. Other side-effects include high blood pressure, mood swings, memory, behaviour and other psychological effects, such as confusion or delirium, upset stomach, weight gain, with deposits in your abdomen, face and the back of your neck.
Dr Manish Jangra, a dermatologist at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, a central government entity, advises that everyone should not us steroid cream without consulting the doctors as steroids in the form of cream on our fce can trigger problems including redness and hair on face, thin skin on face and a burning sensation.
Most of the patients coming to the otpatient department (OPD) are those who have been continously using creams containing steroids which result in various side effects, leaving the skin damaged for years even after prolonged treatment.
The problem was discussed here on October 16 in a meeting of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists and allied sciences working on dermatophytosis. They felt India is facing a huge problem of an almost epidemic-lie spread of superficial fungus infection of the skin, also called ringwork.
They said the steroid creams are freely available without prescriptions in the country despite repeated attempts by the association to ban their over-the-counter availability
