Side Effects Of Hydrocortisone Cream For Eczema Treatment

When I was young, I used to turn to hydrocortisone cream as an eczema treatment, without a good knowledge of its use and side effects. After years of using it, I noticed that increasingly it is not as effective as before. A recent eczema outbreak led me to do more research about hydrocortisone cream.

Hydrocortisone cream (1%) is one kind of topical corticosteroids and is easily available over-the-counter without prescription. They are packaged in various forms: creams, lotions and ointments.

Corticosteroid creams for eczema are topical skin preparations that are often used to treat skin itching, redness, discomfort and other skin-related issues. They come in different degrees of strengths. For a stronger dosage, you will need to see a doctor for a prescription. Corticosteroids are sometimes simply referred to as ’steroids’. The term steroids often have a negative sound to it because of a number of health issues and side effects that this drug is known to bring. Corticosteroids for eczema are different from anabolic steroids, which are the ones that are used by some athletes to increase their endurance.

Just like any other form of drugs, hydrocortisone cream for eczema also has its own side effects if you fail to administer it properly. Firstly, it is important to check for yourself or better yet, consult your doctor if you are allergic to steroids. In addition, with prolonged use, most people also discover that their skin starts thinning out, a condition known as atrophy. Because your skin appears to be more sensitive due to thinning out, you are more prone to skin abrasion and infection. That is why if you have eczema and have used hydrocortisone cream for a long time, you are more subsceptible to a fungi and bacteria infection. This can aggravate your itching.

Prolonged use of hydrocortisone cream can also lead to the appearance of stretch marks. It may cause some blood vessels to swell and loss of skin pigment in the affected areas. Your bloodstream may also absorb the strong steroids and this can affect other body systems. In the worst case scenario, it can also suppress the production of your natural adrenaline, thus causing you to be prone to a lot of illness including Cushing’s syndrome.

Where possible, it is still best to minimize the use of hydrocortisone creams or corticosteroids. If you need to use them, use them only as directed. If you find that your OTC medication is not working as intended, stop its usage and see a skin doctor right away. It is also important to learn about other eczema treatment options which are natural and potentially less harmful.

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