Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid hormone that has a variety of effects on the body. It’s both naturally produced by your adrenal glands (as cortisol) and available as a synthetic medication. Here’s what it does:
- Reduces Inflammation: Hydrocortisone works by mimicking cortisol, which suppresses the immune system’s inflammatory response. It blocks the production of substances like prostaglandins and cytokines that trigger swelling, redness, and pain. This makes it useful for conditions like arthritis, allergic reactions, or skin irritations.
- Manages Stress: As a natural hormone, cortisol (which hydrocortisone replicates) helps your body respond to stress by regulating metabolism—boosting blood sugar and energy availability when you’re under pressure.
- Treats Skin Conditions: In topical form (creams, ointments), it calms itching, redness, and irritation from things like eczema, psoriasis, or insect bites by reducing local inflammation.
- Suppresses Immune Response: In higher doses (oral or injected), it’s used for autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus) or severe allergies by dialing down an overactive immune system.
- Replaces Hormones: In cases like adrenal insufficiency (e.g., Addison’s disease), where the body doesn’t make enough cortisol, hydrocortisone is given to maintain normal bodily functions like blood pressure and metabolism.
Side effects depend on how it’s used—topical versions might thin skin over time, while systemic use (pills, shots) can lead to weight gain, mood changes, or weakened immunity with long-term use. It’s pretty versatile but needs careful handling, especially at higher doses.
Anything specific you’re curious about with it?
