Support Sophia’s recovery from Topical Steroid Withdrawal

Overview:

My name is Sophia, i’m 24 years old and from Sydney, Australia.

I am currently going through Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), a debilitating condition that happens after stopping steroid creams used to treat skin issues like eczema. Over time, these creams can damage the skin and immune system, causing intense burning, flaking, redness, swelling, oozing and itching pain over your ENTIRE body when stopped. It’s a long and painful process, and recovery can take up to 15 years for me without treatment. Not only are the symptoms skin related but they’re also systemic; affecting the immune system, nervous system, sleep, mental health, and overall quality of life.

I am currently on my #6th treatment of Cold Atmosphere Plasma treatment here in Thailand and the results are proving to be amazing!

Although, what I thought and had planned to be a 6months-1 year treatment is going to take ~3 years to live a normal pain free life so your support means everything to me.

As TSW is not yet medically recognised and the pharmaceutical industry makes billions from steroids this treatment is not yet available worldwide. Thailand, Singapore and the UK is currently the only location I can get this treatment.

The treatment:

CAP (Cold Atmospheric Plasma) therapy works by stimulating cell regeneration and increasing the skin’s natural healing rate. It promotes cell proliferation and helps restore skin thickness and barrier function that have been damaged by steroid use. CAP treatment has been studied for over 20 years and used for a number of conditions.

In the first few months, it can bring the skin back to ‘normal’ appearance, but ongoing treatment is essential; if stopped too early, the healing slows and symptoms can return. The ~3 years of treatment will allow my skin thickness to return from the damage and avoid me ever having to go through this again.

My story:

I was never one to have eczema as a baby or even as a child. At 16 years old I noticed a bit of a rash under my eyes and on my face, I went to the doctor and dermatologist to see if they could help. I left the dermatologist with a prescription for a cortisone steroid cream which I was told to use on my face to clear my ‘rash’; and like all other people prescribed topical steroids no side effects or any kind of addiction or possible withdrawal was ever explained to me. I applied it sparingly for about 2 months. Shortly after my skin began to get worse. I then found out about Topical Steroid Addiction and Topical Steroid Withdrawal. I immediately stopped the cream and began to see the consequences. I was 17 at the time, my attendance at school dropped completely and I had to teach myself the curriculum at home whilst in severe pain. Not only that but I also developed a cataract in my eye caused from the steroids which I had to have surgery for.

From 2017 - 2022 my symptoms fluctuated greatly as I went through the withdrawal. But it was in 2021 & 2022 that something was flaring my symptoms so greatly that I spent many consecutive months bedridden in pain. Desperate for a normal life as a girl in her early 20s missing out on so much an in constant pain I went looking for more answers. This is when I stumbled upon Dr Andrew Le at BHC medical clinic in Sydney. I had found out his compound formulation was changing people with TSW and Eczema’s lives. He promised to be a non steroid alternative and even gave us a sob story about his son having Eczema his whole life.

I began using his cream and instantly my life changed. I thought I was healed. I used his creams for 3 years, I decided to travel and live my best life after being sick for so long. Until in 2024 I found out it was all a lie his creams not only contained steroids but also were giving people mercury poisoning.

So in January 2025 I began the Topical Steroid Withdrawal journey again. Because of Dr Le’s dishonesty he has reset the clock for me. The 4.5 years I spent going through withdrawal all for nothing; and to put it in perspective my initial usage from the dermatologist was around 60gram, and with Dr le’s creams when I was my most vulnerable I used around 600grams. As soon as I began to experience the TSW symptoms again January 2025 I could no longer work in the job I adored and was once again bedridden. I immediately contacted the clinic here in Thailand to discuss treatment options and packed my life up to relocate alone.

Use of funds:

This money will go towards paying for Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) treatment here in Thailand or go towards the potential purchase of the machine for personal use to heal myself and my mum back home in Australia. Oh yeah, did I mention my mum has the same condition too with a long journey ahead herself.

Total cost of my treatment is estimated to be around 40k AUD (not including living expenses). These costs are estimated based on the first 6-12months to be weekly treatment and very slowly tapered down till being only once a month. Cost of the treatment machine is approximately 47k AUD - purchasing the machine would change not only mine but my mums life too.

Clinic: CAP Clinic TSW Solution Thailand

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/K9iHHZXB3wnCo3Kx9

Thankyou again for your support ♥️

*Disclaimer* These images are from me through some of the worst months of my journey. Currently I am responding well to treatment but in its absence, it is likely for my skin to return to this state.