Jersey Woman Details Topical Steroid Withdrawal Experience

An individual residing in Jersey has been recounting her personal experience with Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) to highlight the potential challenges associated with the condition. Elsie-May Baker, who had used topical steroids since childhood to manage her eczema, recently discontinued the creams after finding them ineffective. She reports experiencing a severe reaction since ceasing their use. Ms Baker described the experience as “pretty horrific and very brutal,” noting she endures constant nerve pain. To illustrate the severity of the issue and advocate for increased support for individuals in similar situations, Ms Baker has been posting videos on social media platforms. She stated, “If I’d have known this information a couple of years ago I might not be in this mess. I just don’t want other people to have to go through it.” Ms Baker further added, “The first video I shared, I think 150 people messaged me and it’s been hard to keep up with helping everybody.” Several professional organizations, including the National Eczema Society, the British Dermatological Nursing Group, and the British Association of Dermatologists, recognize TSW and emphasize the critical requirement for thorough research into the condition. Professor Celia Moss, a retired Consultant Dermatologist and the chair of the Medical Advisory Board at the National Eczema Society, indicated that reactions can be severe. She explained that eczema “comes back very badly” when individuals cease using topical steroids after an extended duration. “If it’s a true TSW reaction, it’s worse than it was before,” she stated. Ms Moss further commented, “We’re working towards defining the condition more clearly; producing guidelines for doctors and for patients, but at the moment I entirely understand the difficulty that patients have.” The BBC sought a response from Health and Community Services regarding requests for enhanced support for TSW patients in Jersey. A spokesperson advised, “We would strongly urge anyone who wants to make a change to their medication to consult with their clinician first.” The spokesperson also stated, “When prescribing topical corticosteroids, clinicians should outline potential side effects and warn of the risks of stopping the medication abruptly.” For updates, follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Story ideas can be submitted to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.