What is tsw?

The body's debilitating withdrawal from the use of Topical Steroid Creams.

Lady with TSW arms chest face

What is TSW?

The body’s reaction to stopping the use of Topical Steroid Creams, often, but not always, from long term use. The likelihood of developing serious and debilitating withdrawal symptoms depends on various factors, including the frequency of use and strength and potency of the cream. 

TSW is a debilitating condition that can last months or years and affects people of all ages.

SYMPTOMS
TSW often firsts manifests as what appears to be Eczema like symptoms, with a "flare" on a single or often multiple areas of the body, as opposed to typical eczema affected areas such as behind the knees, for example.

Because of this, thousands of people in the UK are currently in Topical Steroid Withdrawal in the belief they have adult eczema, and are almost always prescribed additional Topical Steroid Creams from their GP or dermatologist, further aggravating the condition, delaying and worsening the eventual withdrawal.
Mission
This is why we're campaigning for change.

Currently, people are often isolated with no direction from the health professionals who are prescribing the Topical Steroid drugs that are the cause of the condition. We're campaigning for change in the prescription, advice and awareness of Topical Steroid Withdrawal, to prevent people from enduring entirely preventable but debilitating, life limiting symptoms for months or years of their life.

What are the symptoms of TSW?

Symptoms during the use of Topical Steroid Creams

You may often first notice a recurring “flare”, of eczema like symptoms that develop quickly between the application of topical steroid creams (rebound effect). This flare will look similar, if not identical to eczema.

Despite regular use of Topical Steroid Creams, the rash returns to the same areas of the body, gradually worsening over time. Typically, health professionals are likely to prescribe higher potency steroids, which have decreasing effects as the body becomes addicted to the use of the cream.

The “flare” is likely to develop onto new areas of the skin where historically you may never have had eczema, areas like your back, shoulders, thighs etc.

You may develop increased allergic response to environmental irritants and food (hypersensitivity),

Symptoms after discontinuing the use of topical steroid creams:

If you abstain from the use of Topical Steroid Creams, this flare is likely to spread to more areas of the body, and develop into what is known as “Red Skin Syndrome”.

Your symptoms are likely to worsen for several months before the body can begin to regulate itself again, whereby further symptoms can continue for months or years, however are often less serious than the initial withdrawal phase.

Typical symptoms seen after the cessation from the use of Topical Steroid Creams include:

  • Skin cycling between oozing, swelling, burning, and flaking
  • Skin flushing bright red, resembling a sunburn
  • Flaking of the skin
  • Oozing exudate
  • Red sleeves: (often in the arms/legs area, can be all over)
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Skin atrophy (often manifesting as “elephant skin“)
  • Hair loss: (head and/or body)
  • Insomnia and altered body clock
  • Thermoregulation altered (feeling too cold or too hot)
  • Hypersensitivity of the skin to moisturiser, fabrics, temperature, water and movement.
  • Nerve pain, sometimes described as “zingers”
  • Appetite changes
  • Fatigue
  • Eye dryness and irritation
  • Emotional fluctuations, depression, anxiety

These individual symptoms are likely to develop during various stages of the withdrawal process and can remain for weeks or months, and for some symptoms in some instances can last several years.

Printable Condition Cards

Scratchthat.org.uk created these printable condition cards. You can follow the link and print these cards to help others better understand Topical Steroid Withdrawal.