If you’re going through topical steroid withdrawal, you’ll be all too familiar with how dramatically it can affect the face, and how very painful that can be. Symptoms of Topical Steroid Withdrawal Symptoms of TSW on the face include: flushed skin; swollen eyes; pustules or pimples around the mouth; rashes; extreme sensitivity; ‘elephant skin’, ie saggy, wrinkled skin; severe dryness; flaking or shedding skin; oozing or weeping; cracked or bleeding around corners of the mouth. So what can you do to ease your way through the rough times of TSW? Face-friendly products for TSW If you’re using emo ..read more

Lowri Hawkins tell us her eczema story, from steroids to a natural skincare routine! I have tried every cream in the book, or every prescription cream I should say, and I haven't used many that work for me. I've always thought natural skincare is the best way forward, but I never gave it a chance and just relied on the prescription medication and creams. In my experience, the dermatologist has only treated my skin for the short term, and I am now in a position where I want long term change. I believe there is a place for dermatologists as they are skin experts, but I also think that natural r ..read more

We’re very proud to announce that Balmonds is now sponsoring ITSAN! ITSAN is the world’s foremost charity for those living with topical steroid withdrawal syndrome (aka TSW), and provides a vital lifeline for thousands who might not otherwise have anywhere to turn for information and support. Based in the US but accessible to people across the globe, ITSAN’s work consists of advocating, educating, raising awareness, and providing support for those who live with eczema and TSW. ITSAN believes that people living with eczema are entitled to make informed decisions about the way they manage their ..read more

It can get a bit confusing, distinguishing between all the different terms used for what is basically the same thing! But why do different people use different names for the condition? The reason lies in the way the effects of topical corticosteroids were looked at historically. What came to be called red skin syndrome, or RSS, is clearly visible in pale-skinned patients, and is very obviously not the eczema that the steroids were prescribed to treat. It manifests as inflamed, painful, flushed, hot skin on the face, the arms (in ‘sleeves’) and even all over the whole body; RSS shows up as cle ..read more

A guest article by writer & vlogger, Zainab Danjuma. Ever since I was little, my skin has always been a topic of discussion. I didn’t matter how much I tried to hide away, people always felt the need to offer their opinion on how best to cure me of my lifelong condition. I began to get used to the usual comments and questions of “Why’s your skin like that?” “Have you tried coconut oil?”, and the ever infuriating “Stop scratching!” I would brush it off most of the time but of course, it made me very self conscious about how I looked and how others saw me. I became quite reserved in ord ..read more

The reality of getting through topical steroid withdrawal is not always what you imagine when you set out on the path towards healed skin. Guest blogger Harriet Hammond looks at how topical steroid withdrawal puts the brakes on life and plans. --- You make your plans, and then life comes along and gets in the way... Unless you are someone who flies entirely by the seat of your pants and doesn’t mind where life takes them, most people will have some sort of plan for how they would like their life to pan out. Whether it’s a career, plans for a family or just where to go on holiday this year, it ..read more

Two different terms but do they mean the same thing? Simply speaking, there’s not really any difference between what gets called red skin syndrome (or RSS) and topical steroid withdrawal (TSW): both refer to the same phenomenon, although the terms do get used in slightly different ways. ‘Red skin syndrome’ refers specifically to the symptoms relating to the widening of the skin’s capillaries after steroid use has constricted them artificially. Without steroids, the capillaries dilate and show up on pale skin as flushed and red, often accompanied by a burning sensation. It’s long been understoo ..read more

If you’re going down the no moisture route (NMT) for healing from topical steroid withdrawal syndrome, you’ll know it’s no walk in the park. Many people swear by drastically cutting the moisture in and on your body, saying it stimulates the body to respond appropriately, regulate the production of natural oils and calm down inflammatory responses, after topical steroid use has modulated inflammatory responses and left the body out of whack. But following Dr Sato’s regime isn’t easy, especially if you’re trying to do NMT at home, on your own, or even while trying to hold down a job. Withdrawal ..read more

(photo of Scratch That founders courtesy of Holly Broome) If you’re going through topical steroid withdrawal, you’re very likely to need support and advice both from those who’ve already been through it themselves, and those who are on the same path at the same time as you. In fact, getting support from peers is widely acknowledged to be one of the most helpful things you can do for yourself while going through TSW. Here’s our list of people and organisations you can go to for all things TSW. ITSAN The International Topical Steroid Awareness Network, ITSAN, was originally formed in 2012 ..read more

Babies have very sensitive skin and are vulnerable to the powerful effects of potent steroids; when parents stop using prescribed steroid creams because they’re concerned about the consequences of long-term steroid use, they sometimes see a rebound rash that is sorer than the eczema the creams were originally prescribed for. It’s worth noting that there’s been very little research done on topical steroid withdrawal syndrome, and even less on TSW in children. It seems to be less common in babies than in the adult population, but because TSW is an under-recognised condition, and not something t ..read more