Experience with red face syndrome: A descriptive case-series study of 102 Iraqi patients | ||
| Kerbala Journal of Medicine | ||
| Article 1, Volume 7, Issue 2, December 2014, Pages 1919-1922 PDF (0 K) | ||
| Author | ||
| Usama Abdul-Jaleel Althuwayni | ||
| Abstract | ||
| background: Red face syndrome (RFS) is a chronic burning erythema of the face that occurs after prolonged application of topical corticosteroid (CS) and characterized by flare-ups after trial of corticosteroid withdrawal. Objective: This study was aimed at providing information on a series of 102 cases of RFS in Al-Diwaniya city, Iraq Methods : In this descriptive case series study, 102 patients were identified as having red face syndrome by a dermatologist in Al-Diwanyia Teaching Hospital, Al-Diwaniya , Iraq , from September 2013 to March 2014 Results : 102 patients were studied ,their ages ranged from (18-45) . There were 97 females and 5 males .Melasma , skin whitening were the main reasons for topical CS use. The presenting complaints were erythema (96.07% ),dryness(69.6 % ), itching (60.7 % ), burning sensation (61.7% ). Discussion :Red face syndrome is a form of "corticosteroid addiction" mediated by nitric oxide overproduction in response to long term topical corticosteroid use.The mean age of the patients rangeing 18-45 years old. This was probably because people, at this age, start to take care of their appearance. The main reason of using topical corticosteroids was melasma as the topical corticosteroids act as skin lightener owing to their potent bleaching effect. Also this explains the predominance of females in this study which may satisfy their desire. In fact, its recovery usually takes a much longer period of time reaching up to 18 months after stoppage of steroids Conclusion : RFS is a disease of steroid misuse by patients especially for melasma and skin whitening and it is seen increasingly. Public health information is important about this disease and other side effects of topical CS | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Iraq; red face syndrome | ||
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