Prednisone is a medication used to treat eczema by quickly reducing inflammation all over your body. While it can provide fast relief during an eczema flare-up, prednisone also comes with the risk of side effects.

As one MyEczemaTeam member shared, “Prednisone helps with the itching, but it’s a double-edged sword.”

Keep reading to learn more about prednisone, how it can help your eczema symptoms, and its side effects. If you have questions about prednisone for eczema and other skin conditions, seek medical advice from a healthcare professional.

What Is Prednisone?

Prednisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation. Medications in this class are also known as glucocorticoids or simply steroids. Prednisone is a synthetic (lab-made) version of cortisol, an anti-inflammatory hormone naturally made by your adrenal glands.

Prednisone is an immunosuppressant. It works by reducing the activity of your immune system and decreasing the production of inflammatory chemicals in your body. This helps manage symptoms of medical conditions caused by inflammation. It’s commonly used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.

Prednisone is a commonly prescribed oral steroid (taken by mouth). Other oral steroids for eczema include:

• Prednisolone (Orapred)
• Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
• Dexamethasone (Decadron)

You may have used topical steroids (applied directly to the skin) to treat eczema or atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema). Topical steroids work similarly to prednisone, but they only work on the areas of skin where they’re applied. In contrast, oral prednisone is absorbed into your bloodstream. Because of this, it works all over your body, not just on areas affected by eczema.

Can Prednisone Be Used To Treat Eczema?

Prednisone can help improve eczema symptoms quickly. However, as with any medical treatment, its benefits should outweigh the risk of adverse effects or side effects.

In 2018, the International Eczema Council released guidelines recommending that the use of oral corticosteroids like prednisone to treat eczema should be limited. The council recommended only using prednisone for severe, short-term eczema flare-ups, and only for a short time. Prednisone may be used to treat eczema in case of:

• Severe eczema symptoms
• Limited treatment options
• A waiting period while other treatments start working
• An upcoming major life event, such as a wedding

The American Academy of Family Physicians also released a statement in which they advised against oral and injected corticosteroids for most people with atopic dermatitis. They recommend systemic steroids only for people with severe eczema flares when other treatment options haven’t worked — and only for a short time.

In 2024, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) updated its guidelines for managing atopic dermatitis with phototherapy and systemic therapies. The organization recommended against using systemic corticosteroids like prednisone for atopic dermatitis unless there is an acute, short-term need.

The decision to use prednisone should always be made with the help of a healthcare professional, ideally one specializing in dermatology.

How Do You Take Prednisone for Eczema?

You should take prednisone exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Prednisone is usually taken by swallowing a tablet, but it may also come in liquid form. It’s usually taken with food to decrease stomach upset.

The goal is to use the lowest possible dose to improve your eczema symptoms. For eczema, a typical dose might be 20 to 30 milligrams per day. A high dose is 40 milligrams or more per day. Your health care provider will determine the right dose of prednisone based on the severity of your eczema symptoms and your body weight.

How Long Can You Take Prednisone for Eczema?

Usually, you will only take a short course of prednisone (lasting around one to four weeks) because of the risk of long-term side effects. If you take prednisone for an extended period, you may need to decrease the dose slowly over time. Talk to your doctor about the best way to take prednisone safely to avoid problems.

What Are the Risks of Prednisone?

Since prednisone affects the entire body, there are many possible side effects. One MyEczemaTeam member said, “Prednisone helps with one thing but wrecks another.”

In general, you’re less likely to have side effects if you take prednisone for a short while instead of a longer period. More than 90 percent of people will experience some side effects if they take a steroid such as prednisone for longer than two months.

Common Side Effects

When taken by mouth, prednisone affects your entire body, not just the areas of skin affected by eczema. Prednisone can affect your digestive system in several ways, such as causing:

• Stomach upset
• Nausea and vomiting
• Increased appetite
• Heartburn

You may also experience changes to your appearance when you take prednisone. It can cause the following physical changes:

• Weight gain
• Acne
• Changes in fat distribution, leading to a rounder “moon face” appearance
• Stretch marks

Other common side effects of prednisone include:

• Skin thinning
• High blood pressure
• Increased blood sugar levels
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Mood changes, like irritability, depression, and hyperactivity
• Slow wound healing
• Muscle weakness
• Increased sweating
• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

Serious Side Effects

Long-term use or high dose of prednisone can increase your risk of serious side effects, including:

• Severe infections — Prednisone weakens your immune system, making you more likely to get infections.
• Heart problems — Prednisone can raise your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, which can increase your risk of heart disease.
• Diabetes — Prednisone can increase your blood sugar, causing symptoms similar to diabetes.
• Bone problems — Prednisone can weaken your bones, increasing your risk of osteoporosis (a condition that reduces bone density and raises the chance of fractures) and bone death due to poor blood supply.
• Hormone problems — Prednisone can affect how your body responds to your hormones, such as cortisol.
• Growth suppression — In children, prednisone may slow growth.
• Eye problems — Prednisone may cause eye issues, such as cataracts (cloudy areas in the lens of your eye) or glaucoma (fluid buildup in your eye).

Managing Prednisone Side Effects

If you experience severe or persistent side effects, talk to your dermatologist. While taking prednisone, you can take some steps to stay healthy.

Eat a Healthy Diet

What you eat while taking prednisone can affect how you experience side effects. Take prednisone with meals to reduce stomach problems. Ask your dermatologist or a dietitian to see if you need to adjust your eczema-friendly diet while taking prednisone.

To help avoid weight gain from prednisone, make sure to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. A healthy diet can also help prevent complications like increased blood sugar. Creating a meal plan while taking prednisone can help you avoid overeating if you experience an increased appetite as a side effect.

Talk to your doctor about how much calcium and vitamin D you should eat every day. You can help prevent complications from weak bones by eating calcium-rich foods, like dairy products and green leafy vegetables.

Stay Active

Regular physical activity while taking prednisone can help prevent weight gain and keep your bones and muscles strong.

Avoid Infections

Prednisone can make you more likely to get infections while you are taking it. It’s important to take steps to avoid this, such as:

• Washing your hands often
• Avoiding people who are sick
• Staying up to date on vaccines
• Keeping cuts and scrapes clean
• Wearing a face mask in crowded places

Be sure to tell all your healthcare providers — including doctors, nurses, dentists, or physical therapists — that you’re taking prednisone.

Risks of Stopping Prednisone Suddenly

If you’ve been taking prednisone for a while or at a high dose, you may need to decrease your dose slowly over a few days or weeks. When you take prednisone, your body adjusts to it and stops making as much natural cortisone. Stopping prednisone slowly will help your body adjust to these changes safely.

Can prednisone make eczema worse? Yes and no. Some people experience a rebound eczema flare when they stop taking prednisone, which can temporarily worsen symptoms after making them better. Check with your doctor about how best to manage this and other risks.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyEczemaTeam is the social network for people with eczema and their loved ones. On MyEczemaTeam, more than 54,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with eczema.

Have you taken prednisone or other oral steroids for eczema? Did you experience side effects? How did you manage them? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.