There have been many lively debates about the prevalence of steroid addiction and chance of the skin becoming reliant on steroid creams. We know that not everyone gets addicted to the creams, and a lack of available scientific studies means that estimates can vary wildly. The general consensus in the forums at this present time is that at least 15% of steroid cream users become reliant on the creams and end up developing red skin syndrome.
HOWEVER, I just found an article that was published in the New York Times back in 1997. It quotes a Japanese dermatologist called Dr Masami Uehara. He states:
"Some side effects will occur in 60 percent to 80 percent of patients who use steroids for six months without proper care being taken."
Clearly, then, there is much to discover about the prevalence of topical steroid addiction. If, as this doctor suggests, 60-80% of long term steroid cream users have side effects, then the amount of TSA cases as a proportion of eczema sufferers may possibly be higher than first estimated.
Either way, this underscores the need to use steroid creams sensibly and only for short periods of time.
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