Investigating Subclinical Elastosis in Long-Term Steroid Use and Its Contribution to Skin Thinning

INTRODUCTION Long-term use of corticosteroids remains the cornerstone of management in numerous inflammatory conditions. Despite their undeniable efficacy, the long-term administration of steroid medications is fraught with a host of side effects, among which cutaneous complications remain the most prevalent. Thinning of the skin has been mentioned as a sequela; despite this, the exact mechanisms elude clinicians and researchers even years since the recognition of the same [1,2]. Inflammatory diseases are usually chronic; however, skin atrophy may develop after only six weeks of therapy and result in up to 59% reduction in epidermis thickness. This seriously compromises skin integrity and its structure. While the prevalence of inflammatory diseases continues to increase, there is an emerging need for effective and safe long-term therapy.