Dermoscopic assessment of long-term topical therapies with potent steroids in chronic psoriasis

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 811 - 813
• Main Authors: Vázquez-López, Francisco, Marghoob, Ashfaq A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.11.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - administration & dosage; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - adverse effects; Adult; Atrophy - chemically induced; Atrophy - diagnosis; Biological and medical sciences; Calcitriol - administration & dosage; Calcitriol - adverse effects; Calcitriol - analogs & derivatives; Chronic Disease; Clobetasol - administration & dosage; Clobetasol - adverse effects; Clobetasol - analogs & derivatives; Dermatologic Agents - administration & dosage; Dermatologic Agents - adverse effects; Dermatology; Dermoscopy; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Pilot Projects; Psoriasis - drug therapy; Psoriasis - pathology; Psoriasis. Parapsoriasis. Lichen; Steroid; Local administration; Skin disease; Chemotherapy; Chronic; Treatment; Psoriasis; Dermatology; Dermatoscopy; Long term
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2004.05.020

We investigated the value of the dermoscope for monitoring the long term safety of high potency topical steroids in patients with chronic psoriasis. We observed for the first time that the overuse of topical steroids resulted in the appearance of clinically unapparent but dermoscopically apparent “red lines” (linear telangiectasias) in the treated plaques and/or skin adjacent to the treated plaques (P < .03). We concluded that dermoscopy may help reveal the early signs of impending steroid-induced atrophy (“red lines”) before they become clinically evident with the naked eye and before the atrophy becomes permanent.