TSW: Hundreds contact BBC about mystery skin condition

Several hundred people have reached out to the BBC about a puzzling and distressing skin condition described by some as “hell,” yet medical professionals remain divided on whether the ailment truly exists. This condition, often discussed on social media, is known as topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). The debate centres on whether TSW is simply an extreme form of eczema or represents a distinct medical disorder, leaving both patients and doctors uncertain about its nature.

Bethany Norman’s story illustrates the complexities surrounding TSW. While hospitalized with her arms wrapped in bandages, she refused to use steroid creams on her baby boy, despite medical advice, due to her own experience with the medications. Having struggled with lifelong eczema, Norman believes the steroid creams prescribed to manage her condition actually triggered her suffering from TSW. She recalls having open wounds, intense itching, and relentless skin shedding, describing herself as a prisoner in her own body. Determined to protect her son from the same fate, she chose to avoid steroid treatments altogether. “Look at what this medication has done to me? Why would I put it on my own son?” she said.

Topical steroid creams, available in various strengths since the 1950s, have traditionally been a cornerstone in eczema treatment, helping millions lead normal lives. However, a growing number of patients report that these treatments no longer work for them, or may even worsen their symptoms. Though the UK’s medicine regulator, the MHRA, recognized TSW in 2021 as a reaction to long-term use of steroid creams, it has not

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