Atypical Morphological Patterns of Topical Steroid-Modified Dermatophytosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Asia

The study conducted on 1,000 patients in South Asia highlights that the misuse of topical steroids has significantly altered the clinical presentation of dermatophytosis, leading to atypical, extensive, chronic, and recurrent infections. The most common atypical morphologies observed were ill-defined erythematous plaques, extensive concentric lesions, and pseudo eczematous plaques. The study found a significant association between prolonged steroid use and the severity of the disease. The findings underscore the need for regulatory control of steroid combinations, public education, and increased clinician awareness to address the growing issue of steroid-modified dermatophytosis.