Some people get breakouts from taking corticosteroids
Steroidacneis a skin breakout that takes place if you takeprednisoneor anothercorticosteroid.
Verywell / Laura Porter
What Is Prednisone?
What Does Steroid Acne Look Like?
Verywell / Laura Porter
It can happen to anyone taking steroids, regardless of age.
Steroid acne is commonly associated with two forms:Acne vulgarisandMalassezia folliculitis.
It often appears as uniform lesions.
It’s triggered by the overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia in and around hair follicles.
Treatment for Steroid Acne
Steroid acne usually goes away once you’re off of prednisone.
Fungal acneis best treated with topical antifungals like ketoconazole and oral antifungals like itraconazole.
Your healthcare provider can help you find the right treatments for your prednisone acne.
They can also help you decide whether to stay on prednisone or another corticosteroid.
Know that your prednisone acne may take some time to clear with treatment.
But it can take two or more months for blemishes to clear.
Tapering off of Prednisone
Don’t abruptly stop taking prednisone, as it can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Summary
Prednisone and other corticosteroid medications can cause acne.
It can cause many types of blemishes, including blackheads and bumps, pustules, or more severe nodules.
People prone to acne vulgaris often get this throw in of acne due to steroid use.
Other people have an overgrowth of a fungus on their skin.
Treatment for steroid acne is similar to that for acne from other causes.
Meanwhile, acne treatments may help clear up your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main cause of acne is clogged pores.
They can be clogged by excess oil, dead skin cells, bacteria, and fungus.
Prednisone side effects include:
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