Host of Back2Besa Besa Gordon Gets Personal About Living With Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW)
Written by Besa Gordon: So, about my skin these days, part two. When I recorded this episode earlier in the week, I would be lying if I said I was not ready to throw in the towel because I felt awful that day. My skin was dry, cracking, burning, and flaking really bad. But, the show must go on, as some would say. I thought it was important to just really put it out there and show you guys, in real-time, what's truly going on with me and why I've been wearing sleeves even when it's warm outside. Because honestly, I've been embarrassed about my skin. I've been embarrassed about the scars that I have on my face. I've been embarrassed about the scars that I have on my arms and my legs. I've even been embarrassed to go to the nail salon because I've scars on my feet.
But on this day, it was important to push through it and let others know that you can push through whatever you're going through if that goal is important to you. Now, of course, there are some circumstances where pushing through is not a possibility. In my case, I just had to block out how my skin felt that day, put on a smile, and do what I love. And that's uplifting the stories from all across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Topical steroid withdrawal deets below:
Topical steroid withdrawal occurs when an individual who has been using topical corticosteroids for an extended period stops or reduces their usage. The skin, having become dependent on the steroids, reacts with a range of distressing symptoms. TSW can be particularly challenging as the symptoms may be more severe than the original skin condition being treated.
Individuals experiencing TSW may exhibit a variety of symptoms, including:
Redness and Burning: The skin often becomes intensely red and feels like it's burning.
Itching: Severe itching can occur, sometimes more intense than the initial condition.
Skin Thinning: Prolonged steroid use can thin the skin, making it fragile and prone to damage.
Swelling: Affected areas can become swollen and puffy.
Oozing and Crusting: The skin may ooze a clear or yellowish fluid, which can crust over.
Dry, Flaky Skin: The skin may become extremely dry and flaky.
Pain: The affected areas can be painful to touch.
I've been going through eczema flareups since I was in elementary, where I just thought I was the only one that was dealing with it. I want others to know that you're not alone; others live with eczema and have success keeping their skin clear. But it's different for everyone. And you have to figure out what is making your skin flare up. Along with not stopping the use of your steroid creams all willy-nilly.
The reason I stopped using them was because they simply weren't working for me anymore, which allowed me to know that my skin was addicted to them. So, if you take anything from this post, I want you to take these two things. If you have eczema and you want to stop using your steroid cream, don't just stop using it. Talk to your doctor first, and have them put you on a regimen that will slowly wean you off of the steroids. And, really think about your goals, and think about why those goals were made. And make sure that you don't let anything stop you from achieving those goals. Whether it's acne, a relationship break up, self-doubt, friends that aren't supporting you, or maybe just not knowing where to start. Whatever your dream is, friend, you were given that dream for a reason. And it's up to you to do what you need to do and live that dream out.
Share this with any young kids who might be going through eczema, flareups, or any issue and don't know how to keep their heads up and keep pushing.
Also, if you have eczema and have different remedies that work for you, drop them below. There are a lot of us out here who are going through this, but it's such an uncomfortable thing that we don't talk about it. I want us all to feel comfortable enough to talk about these things to prevent the next person from going through what I am because you don't have to go through it alone.
Happy Sunday, Besa 🤎
