Steroids

Authored by Dr Colin Tidy, Reviewed by Dr John Cox | Last edited | Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines

Steroid medicines are used for many different medical conditions. Steroids can be given as creams/ointments (eg, for eczema or dermatitis), as a nasal spray (eg, for hay fever or allergic rhinitis), as inhalers (eg, for asthma), as tablets (eg, for inflammatory bowel disease) or as an injection (eg, for arthritis).

Steroids are hormones that occur naturally in the body. Steroid medicines are man-made and are similar to the natural hormones made in the body. The type of steroids used to treat disease are called corticosteroids. They are different to the anabolic steroids which some athletes and bodybuilders use. Anabolic steroids have very different effects.

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Steroids are a man-made version of hormones normally produced by the adrenal glands, which are just above each kidney. When taken in doses higher than the amount your body normally produces, steroids:

  • Reduce inflammation. Inflammation occurs when the body's immune system responds to injury or infection. When this affects the skin and tissues under the skin then the area can become painful, hot, red and swollen. Inflammation usually helps to protect you but sometimes inflammation can cause harm to your body. Steroids can help to treat inflammatory conditions such as asthma and eczema.
  • Reduce the activity of the immune system, the body's natural defence against illness and infection. This can help treat autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritisautoimmune hepatitis or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which are caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the body.

Steroids come in many different forms. The main types of steroids are:

Oral steroids

Oral steroids reduce inflammation and are used for treating many different conditions, including:

See also the separate leaflet called Oral Steroids.

Topical steroids

Topical steroids include those used for the skin, nasal sprays and inhalers. See also the separate leaflet called Topical Steroids (excluding Inhaled Steroids).

Topical steroids used for the skin are available as creams, ointments or lotions. Topical steroids are used for various skin conditions. The amount of topical steroid that you should apply is commonly measured by fingertip units. For more information see the separate leaflets called Topical Steroids for Eczema and Fingertip Units for Topical Steroids.

Topical steroids can also be given as:

Steroid nasal sprays

Steroid nasal sprays are medicines that are commonly used to treat symptoms of stuffiness or congestion in the nose. They are used most often for allergies of the nose, such as hay fever. See also the separate leaflet called Steroid Nasal Sprays

Steroid inhalers

Steroid inhalers are steroids that are breathed in and down into your lungs. Steroids are mainly used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For more information see the separate leaflets called Inhalers for Asthma (including Inhaled Steroids) and Inhalers for COPD (including Inhaled Steroids).

Steroid injections

Steroid injections can be used for joint problems and rheumatoid arthritis. They can also be used for some conditions affecting soft tissues, like tendon inflammation or tennis elbow. For more information see the separate leaflet called Steroid Injections.

Steroids don't tend to cause significant side-effects if they're taken for a short time or at a low dose. Side-effects are much more common with oral steroids and can include:

Steroid Injections

Further reading and references

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