Corticosteroid stewardship becomes key focus in dermatology

Dermatologists are increasingly focusing on corticosteroid stewardship to balance the benefits of topical steroids with long-term risks. During the National Corticosteroid Stewardship Summit, Kristina Derrick, MD, highlighted that while corticosteroids remain essential to dermatological practice, the clinical emphasis is shifting toward using the lowest effective potency for the shortest possible duration.

Challenges to implementing steroid-sparing care include rising costs, formulary restrictions, and prior authorization requirements. Data from Medicare Part D shows a significant trend in usage and spending; between 2011 and 2015, topical corticosteroid prescriptions rose from 7.7 million to 10.6 million, while annual Medicare spending on these agents increased by 226.5%, reaching $775.9 million. As more topical nonsteroidal alternatives become available, clinicians are working to improve documentation and multispecialty awareness of cumulative exposure.