Florid Cushing's Syndrome and Hirsutism Induced by Desoximetasone
January 1978
in “
JAMA
”
TLDR Topical corticosteroids can cause serious side effects like Cushing's syndrome and hirsutism.
A 45-year-old woman developed Cushing's syndrome and hirsutism after using the topical corticosteroid desoximetasone (Topicorte) for psoriasis. Symptoms included excessive hair growth on her face and back, reddish striae, easy bruising, and a 10 kg weight gain over nine months. This case highlighted that substantial absorption of topically applied corticosteroids could lead to significant systemic side effects, including adrenal suppression, even though such cases were rarely reported, especially in adults.