Glucocorticoids are often referred to as “hormones” in verbal terms. With the popularization of medical knowledge and the impact of side effects caused by hormone abuse, people are afraid of hormones. In the process of clinical treatment, many patients refuse to use hormones, especially topical hormones, which makes the treatment of skin diseases not get the best treatment plan, and even lose the best treatment period. Therefore, it is necessary to have a correct understanding of the application of hormones. It is necessary to affirm the therapeutic effects of hormones and to avoid the side effects of hormones. The physiological effects of hormone topical application Science has discovered and gradually used to modify hormones for about 150 years. Hormones are secreted by the adrenal cortex and are called hydrocortisone, which can increase the stress of the body and help people to pass through the reaction of inflammation and trauma. It has the ability to promote gluconeogenesis, counteract the effect of insulin, and reduce the utilization of sugar by tissues; reduce protein synthesis and promote protein catabolism; inhibit fat synthesis and cause abnormal and centripetal distribution of fat; improve local microcirculation and inhibit the vitality of fibroblasts; inhibit the conduction of tissue inflammatory response, inhibit the release and proliferation of inflammatory cells, and accelerate the destruction of inflammatory cells, thus reducing inflammation response and help the body to escape from inflammation and trauma response. According to the anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of hormones, medical experts use hormones to treat skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so that symptoms such as itching, erythema, papules, desquamation, hypertrophy, blistering and hyperpigmentation are suppressed and even subside. Hormone abuse and hormone side effects Hormones have a very important or even irreplaceable role in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as the treatment of autoimmune diseases, the treatment of allergic diseases, the treatment of severe traumatic emergencies, and the treatment of severe infections and toxic shock. Topical hormones have an epoch-making and indispensable role in the treatment of inflammatory, allergic, hyperplastic and even cosmetic skin diseases, changing the traditional concept of treating skin diseases. However, if hormones are used arbitrarily for a long time, in large quantities, without choice and without control, the side effects of hormones will be produced. Such as skin flushing, capillary dilation, acne (pimples or acne), abnormal pigmentation, skin atrophy and thinning, swelling lines, skin purpura, hirsutism, rebound of skin diseases, suppression of self-hormone secretion and other side effects. It even produces skin infectious diseases such as follicular worm dermatitis, folliculitis, ringworm, etc., making the treatment of skin diseases more complicated and difficult to treat. This is produced by topical hormones inhibiting the utilization of sugar by skin tissues, inhibiting the synthesis of collagen in the skin, and causing fatigue of vasodilation. Definition and advantageous characteristics of soft hormones From the above, it is clear that hormones have both, and even irreplaceable, therapeutic effects, while at the same time producing side effects. Scientists are seeking and modifying the structure of hormones so that they increase their therapeutic effects or reduce their side effects. It is in this context that soft hormones have emerged, allowing hormones to be modified for topical application in a way that both increases their therapeutic effect and does not increase side effects. In terms of the strength of their action, hormones can be classified as weak hormones, moderately potent hormones and strong hormones. Generally speaking self-secreted hormones, cortisone has a relatively weak anti-inflammatory effect. After modification, specific groups, such as halogens, are added to the structure of the hormone so that the anti-inflammatory effect of the hormone can be increased tens of times, but there is also a significant increase in side effects of the hormone. Soft hormones have the advantage of enhanced anti-inflammatory effects with relatively unincreased side effects. Although soft hormones have many advantages, they should not be abused. In order to reduce the side effects of topical hormones, the following tips are available for topical hormone application, especially on the face Usually acute rashes do not last more than 3 days and chronic rashes do not last more than 1 week. For long-term use, a doctor needs to evaluate the benefits and harms of therapeutic effects and side effects before use. It is usually used once a day in the morning and maintained for 1 week when the lesions have reduced or subsided. Apply topically once every other day, or once every 2 days. Topical hormones should not be stopped suddenly, unless the cause of the disease has been eliminated, otherwise the disease will recur. If the effect is poor, non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs can be added. For skin diseases that require long-term topical hormone application, you can use it 3 days a week and stop 4 days. The above tips are for reference only and are subject to medical advice.