Q Can I take herbal medicine while also applying the steroid ointment I got from the dermatologist?
A Topical steroid ointments take a different route than oral herbal medicine, so they can be used together. If you are taking oral steroids or immunosuppressants, you must tell us at your first visit so the prescription can be adjusted.
Detailed Answer
Topical (applied) steroids have very little systemic absorption, so there is almost no interaction with oral herbal medicine. However, if you apply a high-potency steroid over a wide area for a long period, systemic absorption can occur, so please let us know. Oral steroids (such as prednisolone) and immunosuppressants (such as cyclosporine) may have overlapping immune-modulating effects with herbal medicine, so the prescription details must be checked at the first visit.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Applying steroid ointment quickly calms acute itching, but long-term use causes skin atrophy and rebound problems. At Dongjedang, we work together to improve the skin's heat-toxin environment with herbal medicine while gradually reducing the amount of steroid used.
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