According to MSc.BS Phan Ngoc Huy - Department of Dermatology, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital - arbitrarily using topical or oral medication to treat skin diseases without being examined by a doctor can make the disease worse, causing irreversible skin damage and affecting many organs in the body.
One of the worrying risks is the abuse of corticosteroids - ingredients found in some mixtures, rapid whitening products and prescription drugs. Prolonged application or improper use can make the skin thin, bleeding, red, irritated, prone to acne and lead to drug dependence.
In addition, applying the wrong medication can make the disease worse. Symptoms such as redness and itching can appear in many different diseases such as skin fungus, atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. Each disease needs its own treatment method.
In particular, using corticosteroids on areas of skin infected with fungus or viruses such as zona can cause widespread damage, while changing the manifestation of the disease, making it difficult to diagnose and treat.
In addition, self-use of strong peeling products or high-concentration acids incorrectly can cause irritation, allergies, skin burns, prolonged skin darkening, and even leave scars.
According to Dr. Phan Ngoc Huy, many oral medications for skin diseases are prescription drugs, which need to be evaluated and prescribed by doctors and monitored during use.
For example, isotretinoin is a highly effective drug in treating moderate to severe acne but can cause dry lips, dry eyes, increased liver enzymes and dyslipidemia in some cases.
In particular, isotretinoin has the risk of causing serious birth defects if used during pregnancy. Therefore, women of reproductive age need to be consulted and implement effective contraception as recommended during treatment.
The drug may also interact with some other drugs. The simultaneous use of isotretinoin with tetracycline antibiotics may increase the risk of benign intracranial hypertension.
Not only isotretinoin, skin disease drugs such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, oral corticosteroids and biological drugs also need to be clinically monitored and tested periodically to detect early unwanted effects.
Self-medicating, increasing or decreasing doses, or stopping medication can cause the disease to recur, lose control, and affect the liver, kidneys, hematopoietic system, and many other organs.
Doctors recommend that topical or oral medications for skin diseases should be used as prescribed. Correct diagnosis and treatment right from the beginning help limit complications and avoid having to overcome irreversible lesions later.
