The Stewardship Approach to Steroids
Recorded On: 06/11/2026
This lecture will explore the principles of steroid stewardship in dermatology, emphasizing the safe, effective, and evidence-based use of topical, intralesional, and systemic corticosteroids in clinical practice. Participants will review appropriate corticosteroid selection based on potency, formulation, duration, and anatomic location while recognizing potential adverse effects associated with overuse or misuse. The session will also address strategies to minimize steroid-related complications, optimize patient adherence, incorporate steroid-sparing therapies, and educate patients on proper corticosteroid use in the management of inflammatory skin diseases.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Review the pharmacology, potency classifications, and formulations of corticosteroids commonly used in dermatology;
- Identify appropriate corticosteroid selection and treatment strategies based on disease severity, patient age, and anatomic location;
- Recognize local and systemic adverse effects associated with corticosteroid misuse and prolonged exposure;
- Discuss evidence-based approaches to steroid stewardship, including tapering strategies, treatment duration, and the use of steroid-sparing therapies;
- Develop patient counseling strategies to improve adherence, reduce corticosteroid misuse, and address concerns surrounding corticosteroid safety.
Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, MHS, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Skin Cancer and Cosmetic Dermatology
Douglas DiRuggiero has 23 years of clinical experience in Dermatology. He is a nationally recognized medical lecturer, accomplished founder and President of several dermatology societies, and a passionate dermatology teacher. Douglas has been awarded clinical precepting awards by NP, PA and residency programs, Humanitarian PA of the Year for the state of Georgia, and named the National Dermatology PA of the Year by both the SDPA and the POCN Network. He was named the Dermatology Medical Educator of the Year in 2022 by the SDPA. He completed a Doctorate of Medical Sciences degree with an emphasis in Health Care Leadership and Evidence-Based Research in 2019.
Mercedes E. Gonzalez, MD
Pediatric Skin Research
Dr. Mercedes E Gonzalez is a board-certified pediatric dermatologist at DERM360 a private practice and Medical Director at Pediatric Skin Research in Miami, FL. She is an assistant professor in Department of Dermatology at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine and at University of Miami Miller School Medicine.
Graduate of Emory University, earned an MD at Rutgers–New Jersey Medical School in 2004, completed pediatrics residency Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York–Columbia University, dermatology residency and pediatric dermatology fellowship training at New York University (NYU) School of Medicine.
Dr. Gonzalez is a Principal Investigator on numerous clinical trials and has a special interest in severe skin disease in children. She lectures regularly at Dermatology conferences and is co-editor of 3 dermatology textbooks, including the recently published 2nd edition of Goodheart’s Same Site Differential Diagnosis, and numerous journal articles.
In addition to practicing pediatric dermatology and participating in clinical research, Dr. Gonzalez volunteers her time to serve on committees within the Society of Pediatric Dermatology (SPD), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PEDRA) . She is also a Director on the board of the American Board of Dermatology where she serves as the chair of the Representation Committee.
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