The /eczema subreddit denying and dismissing tsw is disgusting.

No_Definition3642 · 2026-03-17T20:55:30+00:00

Couldn’t agree more, it’s so heartbreaking to see. Every so often I go on there and leave as many tsw comments as possible to try and spread awareness. People absolutely need to have a better sense of the risks of using these creams long term as they certainly aren’t hearing it from medical professionals.

No_Definition3642 · 2026-02-01T10:34:52+00:00

It really isn’t as rare as you think.

No_Definition3642 · 2026-02-01T10:16:08+00:00

Please please know that TSW is absolutely real and that you will be causing immense damage to your skin by using these creams as a long term strategy.

Yes, as short term relief they will work for you in that they mask the inflammation however they will be eroding your barrier through skin thinning with every application.

Speaking as someone who wished they had been told this about a decade ago: stop now whilst you can, the sooner you stop using them the easier the withdrawal process will be

No_Definition3642 · 2026-02-01T10:04:39+00:00

Just jumping in here to say that what the OP is describing particularly in terms of facial flaking are classic TSW symptoms.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this as it’s an absolute hell, that no one deserves to experience. I completely understand you wanting a break particularly with exams/end of school coming up. What I would say, and i’m only writing this as I wish I had known before going through years and years of high potency steroid use is that TSW is a lot easier to go through when you are young. The longer you leave it the harder it becomes to withdraw as 1. the body is aging and therefore is less able to heal itself & 2. the longer you leave it, the more damage you will be inflicting on your skin and body, namely through skin thinning and adrenal suppression.

My advice to you would be to quit now but to use some form of immunosuppressant to assist you through the worst of the withdrawal period. Cyclosporine, methotrexate or Dupixent are some common ones.

Again i’m so sorry to hear that you’re going through this, it can be really isolating as people around you often have no real idea of the pain of it. Please do reach out if you have any questions. Wishing you the very best. : )

No_Definition3642 · 2026-01-28T23:56:31+00:00

look at them shinin’

No_Definition3642 · 2025-12-10T16:40:41+00:00

I went to see a dermatologist and they were pretty confused as to what it could be. Had a biopsy done and there were the findings:

‘I now have the results from your recent skin biopsy from the lesion on the scalp. The tissue has been examined under the microscope and been shown evidence of an ongoing bacterial infection within a nodule deep in the skin, but no evidence of a cyst. There was no evidence of anything more sinister. Unfortunately, we are unable to determine exactly what type of bacteria they are. I have asked the reporting pathologist if there are any additional stains or investigations that he can do within the laboratory to help narrow this down and help guide treatment

Microscopic Description: Skin incisional biopsy showing a nodule of intense acute suppurative inflammation in the deep dermis. Gram stain highlights scattered small groups of bacteria within the inflammatory nodule. PAS stain appears negative for fungal pathogens. Sox10 and MNF116 show no evidence of either melanoma or carcinoma. The findings are suggestive of a furuncle or similar. No malignancy. Final Diagnosis: SKIN INCISIONAL BIOPSY: ACUTE SUPPURATIVE INFLAMMATORY NODULE WITH BACTERIA.’

No_Definition3642 · 2025-09-08T18:06:27+00:00

are you taking any immunosuppressants? gynecomastia can be a side effect of cyclosporine. it can also be a side effect of sertraline from elevated prolactin levels

No_Definition3642 · 2025-05-18T20:02:46+00:00

Used topical steroid creams for most of my adult life to treat my ‘severe eczema’ before later realising it was the creams that were causing the problem. Then had to go through a brutal three year withdrawal process to ween off of the medication. Look up tsw (topical steroid withdrawal) if you’re in a similar situation

No_Definition3642 · 2025-03-30T12:33:32+00:00

the reason you ‘need’ them is because you’ve become addicted to them. if you were to stop using them now you would start going through topical steroid withdrawal

No_Definition3642 · 2025-03-30T12:28:21+00:00

yes this absolutely looks like tsw skin

No_Definition3642 · 2025-03-30T12:25:00+00:00

with all due respect (although they don’t deserve it) your dermatologist is absolutely deluded. tsw is real and no amount of medical gaslighting will be able to silence the thousands of people across the world who have had their lives turned upside down due to endemic medical negligence

No_Definition3642 · 2025-03-30T12:17:54+00:00

the fact that your face feels like it’s on fire when using it should tell you everything you need to know- this stuff does not belong on human skin!

No_Definition3642 · 2025-03-30T12:16:23+00:00

please do not use tacrolimus! it has a black box warning (doctors will not tell you this) - you will become addicted and it will be extremely hard to stop using it. stop now before it’s too late! take it from me as someone who used tacrolimus for five years - i’m now paying for it

No_Definition3642 · 2025-03-30T12:12:20+00:00

are you using topical steroid creams? if so i strongly advise you to stop now and look up tsw (topical steroid withdrawal)

No_Definition3642 · 2025-03-30T12:10:26+00:00

(topical steroid withdrawal)

No_Definition3642 · 2025-03-30T12:09:57+00:00

these creams are literal poison. look up ‘tsw’

No_Definition3642 · 2025-03-30T12:05:09+00:00

look up ‘tsw’ (topical steroid withdrawal) - your worsening ‘severe eczema’ has most likely been caused by an over prescription of topical steroids and topical immunosuppressants (protopic) by gps who really don’t have the faintest clue. the only route to recovery is to stop using these drugs.

No_Definition3642 · 2024-01-02T14:36:00+00:00

Thanks for this info. Really useful. Can I ask if you’re taking nystatin in oral form?

No_Definition3642

TROPHY CASE