Abstract

Topical fluorinated corticosteroids are extremely useful but they also have unwanted effects on the skin, mainly atrophy with formation of striae and bruising from minor trauma,¹ delayed healing of ulcers, and masking of infections, particularly fungal.² Large amounts of these drugs can depress endogenous corticosteroid secretion.³ Hydrocortisone, which is not fluorinated, produces these unwanted effects very rarely, but is less effective in the treatment of skin conditions than the fluorinated steroids.⁴