“TSDF – Topical Steroid Damaged Face: Reliability Assessment & Validation of New Scoring Method”
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/Keywords:
Topical Steroid Damaged Face, TSDF, corticosteroids, skin atrophy, telangiectasia, acneiform eruptions, facial dermatitis, steroid misuse, dermatology scoring system, reliability validation.Abstract
Topical corticosteroids (TCS) have been a cornerstone in dermatological therapy due to their anti
inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. However, their misuse—especially the
unsupervised application of potent steroids on facial skin—has led to the emergence of a condition
termed Topical Steroid Damaged Face (TSDF). This iatrogenic dermatosis is increasingly
common, particularly among young adults seeking instant fairness or treatment for acne and
pigmentation. TSDF is characterized by a constellation of symptoms including erythema,
telangiectasia, acneiform eruptions, skin atrophy, and pigmentation disorders. Despite its growing
prevalence, there exists no standardized and validated clinical scoring system to objectively assess
its severity.
