Steroid Acne: Causes, Treatments, and What You Need to Know

When you get acne from taking steroids—whether it’s a prescription corticosteroid or an anabolic steroid—you’re dealing with steroid acne, a distinct form of acne triggered by steroid use that appears as small, uniform bumps, often on the chest, back, and face. It’s not the same as teenage acne or hormonal breakouts, even though it looks similar. This type of acne doesn’t respond to typical face washes or over-the-counter spot treatments, and ignoring it can make it worse. People often don’t connect their breakouts to the medication they’re taking, especially if the steroid was prescribed for arthritis, asthma, or an autoimmune condition. But steroid acne can show up within weeks of starting treatment, and it’s more common than most realize.

Topical acne treatment, like benzoyl peroxide or retinoids applied directly to the skin can help manage mild cases, but it won’t fix the root cause. If you’re still taking the steroid, the acne will likely keep coming back. That’s why oral acne treatment, including antibiotics like doxycycline or isotretinoin for severe cases, is often needed. And if the steroid isn’t absolutely necessary, your doctor might lower the dose or switch you to a different medication. Hormonal acne, which typically appears along the jawline and is tied to menstrual cycles, can look like steroid acne, but the triggers are totally different. One is driven by hormones, the other by drug-induced changes in oil production and skin inflammation.

Steroid acne doesn’t always mean you’re misusing drugs. Many people get it from short-term steroid shots or inhalers, and they have no idea why their skin suddenly broke out. The good news? Once the steroid is stopped or reduced, most cases clear up within a few weeks to months. But while you’re on it, you need the right plan—not just more face wash. The posts below cover real cases, what treatments actually work, how to tell steroid acne apart from other types, and what to ask your doctor if you’re stuck with breakouts you can’t explain.