Hi, my name is Holli. I’m 29, love fashion and all things creative, with a dream of becoming a model, interior designer and starting a family. Before everything changed, I was a fashion stylist, full of life, with big dreams and goals for the future. I loved spending time with friends and family, trying new things, going to Pilates and just living my best life in London.

But over the past 18 months, my life has been turned upside down by a condition many people have never even heard of: Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). I had used steroids to treat eczema for most of my life, under the impression they were safe and would have no adverse side effects other than potential skin thinning. However, this is most definitely not the case.

What is TSW?

Topical Steroid Withdrawal is a severe and often misunderstood condition that can occur after use of steroid creams, typically prescribed for skin conditions like eczema. When the body becomes dependent on these creams and they are reduced or stopped, the skin, nervous system, immune system and adrenal glands react in extreme ways.

TSW is not just a “rash” or irritation—it is a full body condition that affects both physical and mental health.

Physically, it is unbearable. The skin burns, weeps, oozes, and feels like it’s on fire. It cracks, breaks and sheds excessively. I experience intense, bone-deep itching that never truly stops, redness and skin flushing, open wounds, raw skin and swelling . Sleep becomes almost impossible and I have experienced hallucinations from the sheer exhaustion. Even basic movements, clothing, or changes in temperature can trigger agonising pain. Then there’s the zingers (shooting nerve pains), hair loss, skin infections and enlarged lymph nodes. There are some days I cannot open my mouth wide enough to eat and so have to resort to drinking liquidised foods through a straw. Sometimes my clothes stick to me due to the weeping skin.

Mentally, it is just as devastating. Imagine being trapped in your own body, unable to escape the discomfort even for a moment. The exhaustion, isolation, and loss of normal life take a huge toll. Anxiety, depression, and a sense of hopelessness creep in as days turn into months, and months into years. Looking in the mirror and not recognising your reflection. Cancelling plans or unable to attend important life events. There are times I’ve thought there’s no hope and wanted to end my life.

Since the start of TSW I have missed out on so much including work and consequently pay, and have had to rely mostly on family to help me survive financially.

My Journey

I have been battling TSW for almost 2 years now. It first began in March 2024, when I noticed steroid creams were no longer effective at keeping my eczema at bay. I sought advice from medical professionals, expressing my concern about TSW, to which I was told “you cannot withdraw from steroid creams” and “TSW isn’t a real thing, it’s a TikTok trend”. Throughout this whole journey I’ve been dismissed by countless GPs and dermatologists, and told steroids or immunosuppressant medications are my only option.

In this time, I’ve lost so many parts of my life. My ability to work. My independence. My confidence. Even parts of who I used to be. The outgoing, bubbly version of me feels like a distant memory. I’ve even lost friendships as a result. My life has been completely put on hold. But despite everything, I’ve tried to remain positive during this time.

After completely cutting out steroids in November 2024, things got progressively worse until I was bed bound and unable to do basic household tasks like wash my hair and do the dishes. After about a year of healing naturally, working with a medical herbalist and taking supplements, I started to see improvements and by November 2025 I was in a much better place and starting to see normality come back.

But in January of this year, things drastically got worse and I am now at the worst I’ve ever been. This time my face was affected, and my hands have flared back up, once again making small tasks nearly impossible.

The reality is, I am still not healed. Everyday is a struggle, physically and mentally.

Treatment

After months of searching for answers and trying to manage this condition, I’ve found hope in a treatment called Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) therapy, available at Skin Solace Clinic in Winchester.

This treatment has shown promising results for people suffering from chronic skin conditions like TSW. It works by promoting healing at a cellular level, reducing inflammation, and helping the skin repair itself in a way that conventional treatments aren’t able to.

For the first time in a long time, I feel like there is a real opportunity to actually heal.

Why I Need Your Help

Unfortunately, this treatment is not available under the NHS and the cost is beyond what I can manage, especially while being unable to work.

That’s why I’m reaching out.

If you’ve taken the time to read my story, thank you - it truly means more than I can express. Even just being heard is something I’m grateful for.

If you’re in a position to donate, no matter how small, it would bring me one step closer to getting my life back, to being healthy, able to look to the future and most importantly to simply living without constant pain.

And if you can’t donate, sharing this page would mean the world to me.

All I want is the chance to be healthy again.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for any support you can give.

Holli x