Hi everyone,

If you’re here, you probably know me from TikTok where I’ve been documenting my struggle with Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). Many of you have seen me burning up on live streams, unable to sleep, covered in raw skin, trying to push through a level of pain I honestly never knew was possible. So many of you told me to ask for help, and after trying to cope alone for so long, I finally am.

I am 21 years old and currently battling severe Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), a debilitating condition that can happen after prolonged prescribed steroid cream use. Despite how serious this condition is, so many sufferers are dismissed, gaslit or told it “isn’t real.” Meanwhile, people like me are left suffering every single day in bodies that feel like they are on fire.

My skin burns constantly. It oozes, cracks, bleeds and sheds endlessly. The nerve pain is unbearable at times, with sharp electric sensations underneath my skin that make it impossible to relax or sleep properly. I wake up throughout the night scratching in my sleep, often waking to blood on my bedsheets and skin flakes covering my bed and floor. Some mornings I wake up terrified to look in the mirror because I don’t know how badly my skin will have flared overnight.

Simple things people take for granted like showering, getting dressed, trying to work, even moving, can become agonising. I recently started a new job because I’m desperately trying to keep some normality in my life, but I’m already having to take sick days because my body physically cannot cope during severe flares. The fear of losing my income while trying to survive this illness has completely destroyed my mental health.

One of the hardest parts is how little proper support there is for TSW sufferers in the UK. I have been stuck waiting years to see an NHS dermatologist for proper investigation and patch testing while my condition continues to worsen in real time. When you are living in constant pain every single day, waiting years for help feels impossible.

I applied for PIP due to how disabling this condition is, but my claim was rejected, something many TSW sufferers experience because the condition is still so misunderstood. Right now I’m surviving on Universal Credit and whatever work I can manage physically, but after rent and bills, I’m left struggling to afford the things I genuinely need just to get through each day.

Your donations would help fund:

• Private dermatology appointments so I can access proper treatment and testing sooner instead of remaining trapped on NHS waiting lists for years

• A main goal of mine is to go to Thailand to revive CAP therapy. This is specialist healing clinic for people like myself. People aim to spend at least 4 months there receiving treatment. This is very expensive, flights, accommodation, treatment and food all adds up. Not to mention the bills I will still have to pay for my home. This treatment plan alone will cost roughly £10,000 minimum.

• Specialised clothing, bedding and products that are safe for severely damaged skin

• Anti-inflammatory foods, supplements and basic daily necessities while my ability to work is heavily affected by this illness

Most importantly, donations would give me the chance to focus on healing instead of forcing my body through stress, exhaustion and worsening flares just to survive financially.

TSW is one of the most isolating things I have ever experienced, but the support I’ve received online has genuinely kept me going during some of my darkest moments. Even if you can’t donate, sharing this page helps spread awareness of a condition that desperately needs more recognition and understanding.

Thank you so much for reading and for supporting me in any way you can. ❤️