Digestive Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Living With Can Prednisone Give You Acne? Types, Risks, and Treatment of Steroid Acne By Amber J. Tresca facebook twitter linkedin Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Amber J. Tresca Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD on January 21, 2021 Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado. His research has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Learn about our Medical Review Board Casey Gallagher, MD on January 21, 2021 Print Corticosteroids, and especially prednisone, are often prescribed to treat many inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Some people who take steroid medications can develop a type of acne commonly known as "steroid acne." Far from being a trivial adverse effect of a medication, acne breakouts can have a significant negative effect on the quality of life. People with IBD often feel that acne is a secondary condition not worth complaining about and may not bring it up with their healthcare providers. However, feeling good about yourself and your appearance can help you cope with the IBD and keep IBD flares under control. Verywell / Laura Porter Prednisone Side Effects Prednisone is an inexpensive and effective medication prescribed by many physicians to keep Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis under control. Ideally, it should only be used for a short amount of time but is sometimes used for longer periods if IBD symptoms aren't improving. Prednisone is associated with many side effects, some of which are serious or intolerable. They include: Acne Nausea and vomiting Insomnia Headaches Blurred vision and eye pain Rapid weight gain Shortness of breath Fatigue Muscle weakness Slow wound healing Rapid or irregular heart rate Chest pain Increased urination Depression Anxiety Changes in personality or behavior Seizures Bloody or tarry stools Coughing up blood The current goal of IBD treatment is to control inflammation without the use of steroids or, at very least, to use them for as short a period of time as possible. Types of Steroid Acne Acne is often thought of as a problem for adolescents, but steroid acne can happen to anyone taking steroids regardless of age. That said, it tends to be more common in teens and adults. Steroid acne can appear on the face, chest, or back and is commonly associated with two forms: Acne vulgaris and Malassezia folliculitis. Acne vulgaris is the main type of acne and the one most often occurs with high-dose prednisone therapy (usually within two weeks of starting treatment). It often appears as uniform lesions and is prevalent in people with a tendency towards acne in the first place. Malassezia folliculitis is caused by a fungus in and around hair follicles. It's estimated that anywhere from 75% to 98% of people have this type of fungus on their skin. While its presence is normal, overgrowth is not. This itchy acne is most common on the chest and trunk. Steroid acne will begin to recede once prednisone is discontinued. During prednisone treatment, acne remedies can be used to help control outbreaks. Treatment The type of treatment that is used will depend on the type of acne present as well as several other factors such as other medications that are being taken and the severity of the acne. Accutane (isotretinoin) is usually not recommended for treating acne in people with IBD as it may trigger diarrhea and rectal bleeding. Instead, topical cleansers and anti-acne agents such as benzoyl peroxide are recommended as the first step in treating acne. Acne Drugs That Can Cause IBD For moderate to severe steroid acne, common prescription treatments include oral antibiotics such as: Doxycycline Minocycline Tetracycline Fungal acne is best treated with: Topical antifungals Oral antifungals like itraconazole Shampoos containing ketoconazole Once prednisone is started, it cannot be abruptly stopped due to the risk of withdrawal symptoms. Depending on how long you've taken prednisone and in what dose, the tapering-off process can take weeks and even months. A Word From Verywell Anyone who has concerns about acne that develops during prednisone therapy should consult a gastroenterologist or a dermatologist with experience in treating people with IBD. Remember that even though acne, especially on the face, can be difficult to live with, the acne will clear up when you taper down off the steroids. In the meantime, receiving treatment for acne may help to clear up the skin until the prednisone is stopped. How to Lessen Prednisone Side Effects Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! We're providing tips on how to take better care of your gut. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Wilhelm SM, Love BL. Management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: current and future treatments. Clin Pharmacist. 2017 Mar;9(3):20202316. doi:10.1211/CP.2017.20202316 Marks JG, Miller JJ. Lookingbill and Marks' Principles of Dermatology (Sixth Edition). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier; 2019; pp 166-83. Rubenstein RM, Malerich SA. Malassezia (pityrosporum) folliculitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):37-41. Sheary B. Steroid withdrawal effects following long-term topical corticosteroid use. Dermatitis. 2018 Jul/Aug;29(4):21-8. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000387