The last of the most common corticosteroids are those found in inhalers, called inhaled corticosteroids or ICS. That’s the best way to help limit the amount of medication your body absorbs.
This is not a complete list of risk factors, so be sure to follow all directions your provider has given to you when applying topical corticosteroids. Length of use: The longer you apply these medications, the more that will be absorbed.
Certain skin conditions like eczema also cause more absorption.Īpplication site: Corticosteroids are absorbed more by delicate areas of the skin, such as the face, armpits, and groin. Potency: The stronger a topical corticosteroid is, the easier it is absorbed.Īge: Young children and people over 65 years old absorb more topical corticosteroids than others.ĭamaged skin: If you have cuts, scrapes, or otherwise injured skin, topical corticosteroids can get into your bloodstream easier if applied to those areas. But there are certain factors that make it more likely the medication will be absorbed: Just like with oral forms, once a corticosteroid is absorbed, it can affect all areas of your body. When you apply a corticosteroid to your skin, some of that medication reaches your bloodstream. This ranking system helps healthcare providers decide which medication would be appropriate to relieve your symptoms. Corticosteroids that you apply to your skin are ranked according to how strong - or potent - they are. They are used for short periods of time to treat multiple skin problems, from itchy mosquito bites to severe psoriasis. This form of corticosteroids has the largest number of medications available, with the two most well-known being prescription-only triamcinolone and OTC hydrocortisone (Cortizone 10). Nasal corticosteroids usually only affect your nose and sinuses, but they can also help relieve itchy, watery eyes, too. When a medication only has a local effect, it typically has less side effects and risks. This means very little of the medication you use gets absorbed into your bloodstream. Nasal corticosteroids have a local effect. They are effective for treating and preventing seasonal and year-round allergies, but can also be useful for sinus infections. Starting in 2013, these medications became available over the counter (OTC), making them more accessible. NasalĬorticosteroid nasal sprays have been available for the past 30 years, with Flonase currently being the most commonly prescribed corticosteroid on the market. Because of how they affect the body, they can be used for multiple conditions and illnesses. Once absorbed, it can affect all of your organs. If you take a corticosteroid by mouth, it is absorbed into your bloodstream. For most people, they are usually used for a few days to help with things like chest infections, allergic reactions, and flare-ups of gout or inflammatory problems. There are many available, but the most well-known include prednisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone. OralĬorticosteroids that you take by mouth, such as tablets and liquids, have been around for several decades. The following are the four most common ways you’ll take them, as well as some information about how they work. What kinds of corticosteroids are there, and what parts of the body do they affect?Ĭorticosteroids come in every form you can imagine. If you take these medications long enough, they can also help calm down an overactive immune system, such as with rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune conditions. So if you have a lot of swelling or inflammation, taking a corticosteroid will help lessen it. Additionally, this hormone stops our immune system from reacting to germs as strongly, which is why too much stress for a long period of time raises your risk of getting sick.Ĭorticosteroids act like cortisol in our bodies when we use them. Cortisol can also help our body access sugar for energy when we’re under stress, lower inflammation, and balance electrolytes. What are corticosteroids, and how do they work?Ĭorticosteroids are similar to the “stress hormone” cortisol we make naturally to keep our brains and hearts working when we get sick or injured.