About Me
Hi, my name is Julia — also known as lilla ella. Ever since I was little, I saved every coin I ever got: every weekly allowance, every birthday bill, every small gift. Even then, I dreamed of freedom — freedom from pressure, stress, and pain. I wanted to travel, create art, become a model, act, and build a life full of expression and joy. But today, all those childhood savings are slowly disappearing… not because of travel or dreams — but because I’m fighting just to survive a skin condition that has taken over my life.

What is TSW?
After years of using steroid creams for my eczema, I developed TSW (Topical Steroid Withdrawal) in 2022 — a severe and deeply painful condition that occurs when the skin becomes dependent on steroids and loses its natural ability to function. The skin becomes unbearably dry, cracked, burning, raw, and oozing. Sleep becomes impossible. Daily life becomes a battle. TSW takes away everything: comfort, rest, confidence, and the ability to live normally.

Alone and Without Support
Despite how serious this condition is, doctors in my country don’t recognize TSW. They refuse to give me sick leave — dermatologists say I should be on mental health leave, while psychiatrists say it’s my skin condition that’s disabling me. I’ve tried forcing myself to work between flares, but it only makes me worse. And because of this medical “limbo,” I don’t qualify for unemployment benefits either. That means I currently have zero income. It breaks my heart that the system thinks it’s “reasonable” for me to survive off the small savings that 10-year-old me once started — money I hoped would take me somewhere beautiful in life, not into survival mode.

Life Feels So Unfair
I didn’t choose this. All I want is to get better — to sleep through the night without itching, and to wake up to a day without pain or fear. TSW has taken so much from me already. I just want my life back.

Trying to Heal on My Own
My trust in doctors has been shattered. For years, I warned them that my skin reacted horribly to steroids — but they kept prescribing more. Now I’m the one paying the price. They refuse to investigate further or consider alternative treatments. So I’ve been forced to search for my own healing paths — and everything costs money.

What Your Support Will Help With
Right now, I have no income at all, but ongoing expenses to continue trying to heal: • Skin care and healing products for TSW • Supplements and food to support my gut, liver, hormones, and immune system • Travel costs for medical appointments and treatments not covered by insurance • Basic living expenses while I am unable to work Just this week alone, I spent over 15,000 SEK (~$1,300) on healing products — out of sheer desperation for relief and progress. Every time I click “buy,” it hurts — because I know my savings are disappearing, and nothing is guaranteed to work. But I have to try. Because I just want to live again.

Thank You ❤️
If you choose to support me on this long, painful healing journey, I am endlessly grateful. Every single contribution — no matter how small — gives me safety, hope, and a real chance to recover. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Thank you for seeing me. ❤️‍ — Julia