Clinical dose of topical steroids in daily management of atopic dermatitis

Topical steroid and emollients with oral antihistamines are the first-line therapy for atopic dermatitis. In order to examine clinical doses, effectiveness and adverse effects of topical steroids for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in daily clinics, we performed a retrospective analysis of a case series involving 1271 [210 infantile(0 or 1 year old), 546 childhood(2 to 12 years old), and 515 adolescent and adult(more than 13 years old)] patients with atopic dermatitis. In total, less than 90g, 130g and 304g of topical steroids were applied in 90% of the patients in the infantile, childhood, and adolescent and adult groups, respectively, during 6 months. The majority of patients were controlled well; however, 7% of infantile, 10% of childhood, and 19% of adolescent and adult patients stayed in a very severe or severe state or experienced exacerbation even though they applied larger amounts of topical steroids. Incidence of cutaneous side effects by topical steroids increased as the duration of disease became longer.