'Decade of using steroid cream left me in agony'

A WOMAN who used steroid creams for 10 years and later suffered from suspected extreme withdrawal says she was left in “unbearable, never-ending agony” but the experience has taught her self-love.

- HANNAH COTTRELL

Lily Holden, from Bristol, believes she suffered topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) after she stopped applying the creams and has now recovered

(Collect/PA Real Life)

Lily Holden, 30, based in Bristol, noticed a small rash on her neck after returning from an outdoor adventure retreat in 2014, and she was prescribed a topical steroid cream to treat it.

The senior brand marketing manager for HexClad, a cookware company, said “random rashes” then periodically appeared over her neck and she was prescribed steroid creams on and off for 10 years - but in January this year her face “erupted” in circular patches of rashes.

After coming across topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) on TikTok thought to be an extreme withdrawal response to the prolonged use of steroid cream causing inflammation, flaking, itching and weeping skin - Lily realised she needed to “ride it out”.

It’s a case of saying ‘here’s a cream, you'll be fine, but people need to be so careful

LILY HOLDEN

She stopped using any medicated creams on her face and from July to October this year, she suffered with “red hot and painful” inflammation and “open, raw wounds”, which caused repeated infections on her face.

Lily said her skin is now “completely fine” after she invested in additional therapies - and she hopes to raise awareness around TSW and urge the medical community to do more to acknowledge the condition.

According to the National Eczema Society, TSW is a severe reaction that can occur when topical steroids have been used for a prolonged period.

The skin becomes red and patients can experience swollen glands, intense itching and oozing, burning skin with excessive flaking, the charity says.

Lily said she previously never had any problems with her skin until, in 2014, she went on an outdoor adventure retreat in Cheshire, where she swam in “swampy water”.