A teacher from Birmingham claims that prescribed eczema creams left her unrecognisable and in indescribable pain, leading to hospitalisation. Amy Wilson, 36, was first prescribed topical steroid creams for eczema at just six months old and continued using them for over three decades.
Severe Withdrawal Reaction
Amy believes years of repeated use caused a severe withdrawal reaction after she stopped the creams in January 2024, known as topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). Days after quitting, she experienced "indescribable pain," full-body inflammation, and severe swelling. Three weeks later, she was hospitalised.
"When I stopped using them, my face swelled to the point it was almost unrecognisable and my skin was cracked and oozing from virtually every inch of my body," said Amy, from Birmingham. "The severity, burning, swelling, and full-body symptoms felt completely different from anything I had experienced before."
Mental Health Impact
The pain, exhaustion, isolation, and fear became overwhelming. "There were moments where I genuinely felt prepared to take my own life because I couldn't see a way out," she said. Amy described intense burning skin, severe redness, nerve pain, flaking, exhaustion, temperature dysregulation, and extreme sensitivity after stopping the creams.
At its worst, her skin became so inflamed and fragile it felt "paper-thin and raw." "My skin felt like it was on fire constantly. I barely slept, and the pain consumed every second of the day," she added.
Holistic Recovery Journey
Amy is now under the care of a dermatology consultant and has taken a holistic approach to recovery, including stress management, nervous system regulation, skincare focused on repairing her skin barrier, improved nutrition, and red light therapy. She also takes medication to manage symptoms.
"Healing has not been linear, and honestly, I still believe I'm on that journey," she said. "Recovery for me has involved time, understanding my triggers, supporting my skin barrier, improving nutrition, reducing stress where possible, and finding approaches that support both my physical and emotional health."
Raising Awareness
Amy now uses her social media platforms to raise awareness about eczema, TSW, and visible skin conditions. "This journey has changed me deeply. I've become more compassionate, more aware of how visible conditions affect people, and more passionate about advocating for patients to feel heard," she said.
She encourages doctors to "stay curious, truly listen to patient experiences, and recognise that not every worsening skin condition is simply more eczema." For patients, she advises: "Ask questions, understand what you're using, and trust yourself if something feels wrong."
