Woman's skin 'trapped in vicious cycle' after extreme reaction to common cream
A woman's small rash snowballed into burning, flaking and weeping skin after she was repeatedly prescribed stronger doses of a commonly-used cream.
Francesca Tebbutt, 33, says her skin is ''constantly on fire'' because of Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). She first noticed itchy, red marks on her arm in 2023 - and sought medical advice when they didn't seem to go away. Her GP believed she was suffering from psoriasis or eczema and prescribed her topical steroid creams, to be applied for a couple of weeks at a time. The breakout disappeared quickly - but returned and spread, only for her to be prescribed stronger steroid creams.
Francesca decided to stop the medication and see what happened but her skin began to burn, itch, and flake even more. For 18 months, the Pilates instructor from Clunderwen in Wales desperately sought information on her condition. Her skin now suffers burning, flaking, weeping, and swelling without warning.
At her worst, even moving her arms, putting on clothes, or stepping into the shower becomes unbearable. Each time the steroids would clear the rash, but come back multiplied and more aggressive. She said: "It all began in March 2023, when I got a few little round, red dots on the inside of my left elbow," said Francesca.
"They were a little bit itchy, little bit irritated - so when they didn't go away, I went to the doctors in May 2023, and that's when the doctor said it looked like it's psoriasis or eczema. He prescribed me steroids straight away for it.
"I used the topical steroids, and it did go - but then maybe a month later, it came back and it spread. I went back and I was prescribed stronger steroids, and and this went on for the rest of 2023, on and off.
"Every time I used them, it would go but then it would come back worse, and it would keep spreading. I was trapped in this vicious cycle: steroid cream, temporary relief, then a flare worse than before.'' In January 2024, after a year of using topical steroid creams and following her prescription instructions, she decided to stop - but her skin began to itch and swell.
After a trip to A&E, Francesca was told by doctors that they were unsure what was causing the condition - but prescribed more steroids. This flare-up lasted months before fading, but again, when stopping the use of steroid creams, returned with a vengeance.
Francesca says the constant pain was "unbearable," and after the patches spread to her face, she was once again prescribed more steroid creams by doctors.
"I couldn't relax - I was so uncomfortable in my own skin, and there was no comfort anywhere, apart from in a bath, because my skin was so bad," she said.
"I was constantly burning, but I was also really, really cold at the same time. I'd have ice packs on my arms where it would be burning, and then a hot water bottle on my belly to try and keep me warm. My partner couldn't sleep in the same bed as me for months because I had to keep moving and keep putting ice packs in places to stop the burning.
"After a few months of the steroids, things started to calm down - I wasn't as inflamed, but you could still see these almost red sleeves that cut off at the wrist.
"I started to get some patches around my lips, and I went to the doctor, and they advised me to put some steroid cream around my lips, so I did as I was told, thinking this will be the end of it."
After stopping a course of steroid cream in late 2024, her condition worsened again - with the skin on her face tightening and causing pain when she tried to eat, talk, or drink.
"Within three to four weeks, my face started to erupt. It started with a burning sensation, then it started to get all these little bubbles over it. They developed into this big red mass. I looked like my face had been in a fire, like I was burnt. I couldn't move my lips. Eating actually became very difficult. I remember, I used to eat an apple a day - but I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to eat an apple."
Feeling like her life had been taken over by research into skin conditions, Francesca felt like she was at breaking point.
In January this year, her research led her to an organisation spreading awareness of Topical Steroid Withdrawal - a condition that can occur after stopping high doses of steroids, and results in itchy, peeling skin.
Despite being estimated to affect 15% of steroid users, she says she was never warned about the risks, and believes the regular use of steroid creams has worsened her condition.
Francesca discovered Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) Therapy - a non-invasive therapy that reduces inflammation, kills harmful bacteria, and helps restore the skin barrier. She received a diagnosis of TSW after a consultation with a clinic offering the treatment - which is only available privately.
Desperate to return to normalcy, Francesca posted a video online, describing her experience with TSW - and launched a fundraiser to help get her life back.
Thankfully, within days, Francesca had received outpourings of support - and has been able to undergo the first three sessions of CAP treatments, after which she says she has already noticed improvements.
The fundraiser has not only allowed her to pay for treatments, but to afford things like new bandages to protect her irritated skin in between sessions, which she says has been a "huge relief."
The support has been overwhelming - and she has become determined to share her own story, to avoid anyone else feeling alone while suffering from TSW. I just cannot believe how generous people have been and are being for me - I am lost for words," she said.
A link to the fundraiser can be found here: Donate to Help me Heal TSW with CAP Therapy.
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