Side effects of corticosteroids include thin skin, changes in skin color, acne, stretch marks, redness, more visible blood vessels, or increased risk for infection. It's rare, but topical steroids can be absorbed into your bloodstream and cause side effects like cataracts, glaucoma, and Cushing’s syndrome. These uncommon side effects are more likely if you use very high strength topical steroids over a large part of your body for a long time.