Effect of topical steroid-dependent facial dermatitis on quality of life: A hospital-based cross-sectional study using DLQI

• Main Authors: Madhur K Rastogi, Rikta Mohan, Pratik Gahalaut, Nitin Mishra, Manisha Thapa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dermatology
• Subjects: life quality index; quality of life; steroid addiction; steroid dermatitis; topical steroid-dependent face
• Online Access: http://www.e-ijd.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5154;year=2019;volume=64;issue=6;spage=465;epage=470;aulast=Rastogi

Background: The rampant, disturbing, and dismal unrestricted use of topical corticosteroids on face results in steroid-induced dermatitis termed topical steroid-dependent face (TSDF). It is an embarrassing and irritating condition for a patient. There is paucity of data from India regarding the effect of TSDF on the quality of life (QoL) of such patients. Aims: The aim of this study was to study the effect of TSDF on the QoL of patients with the help of a validated, easy-to-use, and reproducible dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among the outpatients seeking treatment for TSDF at a tertiary care hospital of a medical college. Patients were administered Hindi questionnaire version of DLQI. Controls were apparently healthy age- and sex-matched individuals. Results: DLQI scores revealed that TSDF had some effect on QoL in 98.11% of study patients. Study group had a mean DLQI score of 11.49. Statistically significant higher DLQI scores were recorded among females, patients aged <20 years and those who had no formal education/illiterate. Conclusions: TSDF affects QoL in majority of patients and it has a very large effect on the QoL in more than one-third of the patients.