Use of potent or very potent topical corticosteroids is associated with increased risk of osteoporosis and major fractures, with a dose-dependent effect, a study shows.

It’s well established that systemic corticosteroids increase the risk of osteoporosis and related fractures but whether topical use of strong steroids can cause similar problems has not been clear, write the study authors in JAMA Dermatology.

The researchers identified all Danish residents aged 18 and older who had filled prescriptions from 2003-2017 for at least 200g of mometasone furoate (1mg/g), or the equivalent amount of other potent or very potent topical steroids, including betamethasone 17 valerate and clobetasol propionate.

Among more than 723,000 individuals in the cohort the mean age was 52 and 53% were women.