The Real Deal on Topical Steroid Withdrawal

Skin flares up, apply medicine. Skin calms down, repeat.  Eczema sufferers know that keeping flare-ups at bay means regular use of prescribed steroid creams on affected areas. It’s a cycle we’ve become accustomed to. But what many of us don’t know is that the treatment cycle has put us at risk for Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), a reactionary skin condition that primary care physicians and dermatologists know hardly anything about. Even worse, some don’t really believe it exists. A full stop of life Topical Steroid Withdrawal develops with prolonged use of corticosteroid creams that treat eczema. These could be anything from low-dose over-the-counter to high potency doctor prescribed creams, with the former putting eczema sufferers at higher risk for withdrawal symptoms. TSW symptoms include red or discolored skin that burns, flakes, peels, or weeps. occurring over large swaths of the body.  TSW eczema sufferers live a limited life, missing many work days or are forced to quit altogether due to debilitating symptoms. They often withdraw – no pun intended – socially, and suffer from depression and anxiety. “When I’m out in public, I have to ‘mask’ because it’s not socially acceptable to be outside and scratching,” states Aby Coulibaly,  a...