Abstract

Background: Topical corticosteroids are commonly used to treat various dermatological conditions. However, their misuse and abuse are very common in Nigeria. This is mainly due to the fact that they can be easily obtained from any pharmacy outlet or chemist shop without a doctor’s prescription and it gives immediate relief in many dermatological diseases. This misuse can lead to adverse effects, including skin thinning, telangiectasia, and steroid dependence. Objective: To assess the prevalence of topical steroid misuse among patients attending a skin clinic in Portharcourt, Nigeria. Methods: This is a consecutive sampling study conducted among 290 outpatients attending a skin clinic. Data was retrieved from their medical records on demographic characteristics, prior usage of topical medications before dermatological consultation, types of steroids used and diagnosis. Results: The study revealed that (87) 30% of patients had used topical steroids prior to seeking consultation for their skin disease, without medical supervision. Out of this number, majority (61) 70.1% made use of triple action combination creams (containing steroid, antibacterial and antifungal drugs). The rest made use of plain topical steroids. Most of the patients obtained topical steroids from pharmacies or over-the-counter without prescriptions.