Chest Acne caused by Steroids

Steroid acne is an acne-like skin condition that follows the use of steroid medications. It occurs on the chest most of the time but may also develop on the face, neck, back and arms. Adolescents or adults who have been taking moderate or high doses of oral steroids such as prednisone over a period of several weeks are most susceptible. Small skin bumps, which may itch, begin to appear on the chest. Sometimes they are pustular, or large firm lumps that seem buried under the skin. Unlike the acne that most of us are used to, most of the lesions are the same size and tend to be small. Pronounced nodules are rare.

It’s true that steroids may aggravate the skin of people who have had acne in the past or who have a family history of acne breakouts. However, most of the time, steroid acne is really not traditional acne at all, but a type of yeast infection. It would not be correct to call this yeast condition an infection per se. It’s the overactive growth of what is normally there. External factors may contribute to the worsening of these chest eruptions, and/or reduced resistance in the affected individual may be the culprit.

The yeast that causes these acne like chest lesions is a type that normally lives on skin, making it different from food yeast or the yeast that causes feminine infections. The condition shows up on the chests of young to middle-aged adults of either sex. We all walk around with this yeast on our skin and, in most cases, we can peacefully co-exist and it causes no problem. At times, like after a prolonged period of steroid use, the yeast gets down into the hair follicles and multiplies, setting up an itchy, acne like eruption. External causes can include hot, humid, sweaty environments where the yeast tends to overgrow; clothing that blocks air flow and encourages sweating; and the application of cream based sun products.

Within the affected individual, certain contributing conditions can lead to a tendency to develop steroid acne on the chest. A natural tendency toward oily skin, a compromised immune system, stress, fatigue, diabetes, oral steroid or contraceptives, overweight and oral antibiotics.

Most patients seek advice because of the itch, which tends to come in episodes, along with a stinging sensation. Treatment must take care of both the yeast overgrowth and any contributing factors, otherwise the condition will recur. The condition also tends to return once any anti-yeast treatment is stopped before the overgrowth is eradicated.

Articles on Chest Acne:

• Chest Acne and Clothes
• Chest Acne and Summer Fun
• Chest Acne and Winter Time
• Chest Acne and Treatment