DERMOSCOPY OF TOPICAL STEROID DAMAGED FACES

Topical corticosteroid (TCS) misuse is widespread and can lead to steroid addiction, clinically recognized as topical steroid-dependent or damaged face (TSDF). In India, the market is ooded with low-cost, over-the-counter triple combination creams containing TCS, encouraging unsupervised usage. When the resulting skin damage is identied late, it is often irreversible and challenging to manage. Dermoscopy offers valuable assistance in detecting early, preclinical signs of TSDF, which can signicantly improve treatment outcomes. It serves multiple purposes for dermatologists, including conrming the diagnosis, distinguishing TSDF from other causes of facial redness, and estimating the likely duration of TCS misuse.