Hygetropin

The word has different meanings. Steroids are chemicals, often hormones, that your body makes naturally. They help your organs, tissues, and cells do their jobs. You need a healthy balance of them to grow and even to make babies. "Steroids" can also refer to man-made medicines. The two main types are corticosteroids and anabolic-androgenic steroids (or anabolics for short).
kidneys and adrenal glands
1 / 12
What Are Corticosteroids?
They're medicines that quickly fight inflammation in your body. These lab-made steroids work like the hormone cortisol, which your adrenal glands make. Cortisol keeps your immune system from making substances that cause inflammation. Corticosteroid drugs, like prednisone, work in a similar way. They slow or stop the immune system processes that trigger inflammation.
hands swollen from arthritis
1 / 12
What Do Corticosteroids Treat?
They help treat conditions that cause irritation and swelling. They can ease symptoms of:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
Lupus and other autoimmune disorders
Multiple sclerosis
Rashes and skin conditions like eczema
Your doctor may also suggest you take them for a short time to treat allergic reactions, like a severe poison ivy rash.
man using inhaler
1 / 12
How Do You Take Them?
There are many forms of corticosteroids. Which one your doctor recommends depends on why you need it and the part of your body that's affected. Your medicine might come in a:
Pill or liquid
Inhaler
Nasal spray
Shot
Skin cream
Tube that goes into a vein (IV)
forehead covered in acne
1 / 12
Corticosteroid Side Effects
These depend on the dose and how long you take the drug. Short-term use can cause weight gain, puffy face, nausea, mood swings, and trouble sleeping. You might also get thinner skin, acne, unusual hair growth, and spikes in blood sugar and blood pressure. Because corticosteroids turn down your immune system, taking t