Summary
A woman named Jia Patrick, who used steroid creams from a young age to manage eczema, experienced severe symptoms after stopping the medication, a situation known as topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). She describes her challenges with the condition, which included intense physical and mental distress, highlighting that her symptoms worsened after discontinuing the creams.
Key Facts
- Jia Patrick began using steroid creams for eczema at age 2.
- Steroid creams sometimes reduced her eczema symptoms, but they always returned intensely after she stopped using them.
- By her teens, she realized the creams might be harmful and decided to stop using them in 2019.
- A week after quitting the creams, she began showing signs of topical steroid withdrawal (TSW).
- Symptoms of TSW include red, itchy, peeling skin, and it can spread to areas not initially affected by eczema.
- TSW is linked with prolonged steroid use, often affecting adults, especially women.
- Jia faced difficulty getting TSW recognized by doctors, who often attributed her symptoms to severe eczema.
- The condition severely impacted her daily activities and mental health.
