Systemic Therapies: Corticosteroids 

Prednisone is largely used to control acute flares of inflammatory skin conditions until the flare subsides or a steroid-sparing immunomodulatory agent can be used. There are many side effects of long-term prednisone use and is therefore not preferred. In the short-term side effects can include weight gain, hyperglycemia, hypertension, mild GI upset and a feeling of being “wired”. Prednisone should be avoided in many chronic skin conditions because there is a risk of inducing a rebound flare with discontinuation.