Red Skin Syndrome: Learn to Heal Outside and Within After Misusing Steroid Creams or Similar Medications

By Laura Dolgy (see bio below)

Although quite controversial, RSS or Red Skin Syndrome, also known as Red Burning Skin Syndrome, Topical Steroid Addiction (TSA) or Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) is a real thing. This week, we take a deeper look at Red Skin Syndrome and what treatment options are available for those suffering from the condition. We also take a look at some of the work the TSW community is doing to help heal within as well as regain full physical and emotional comfort.

If you’ve been suffering from RSS, TSA, or TSW and have tried countless creams and treatments, we encourage you to read on. Please keep in mind that although these suggestions can help provide relief, we are in no way medical professionals. Topical Steroid Withdrawal Syndrome requires medical intervention to avoid infection and burning skin.

What Is Red Skin Syndrome?

Red Skin Syndrome is a debilitating condition that arises after the misuse of topical corticosteroids to treat a skin condition (like atopic dermatitis/eczema). Topical Steroid Addiction is another term coined for this condition. Many people with Red Skin Syndrome condition experience extremely red, itchy, burning skin, which is both extremely painful and uncomfortable.

The term Topical Steroid Withdrawal is used to define the symptoms that arise after discontinuing, reducing potency, or reducing the application of topical corticosteroids.

Reported symptoms for Red Skin Syndrome/Red Burning Skin Syndrome/Topical Steroid Addiction/Topical Steroid Withdrawal are:

• Sunburnt-like skin redness
• Visible flaking of skin
• Oozing and itchy skin
• Red sleeves (arms or legs become red and inflamed)
• Body temperature changes
• Hypersensitivity of skin to water
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Hair loss
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Depression, anxiety, and mood changes

This condition is an iatrogenic (an illness caused by medication, in this case, the misuse of a medication). While there is much research out there both denying and supporting topical corticosteroids, the truth is that this condition is very real. However, like many other debilitating conditions, there are misconceptions about the illness as well as the topical corticosteroid use in general.

If you think you or your child may have Red Skin Syndrome, I highly recommend you read Is it Just Eczema or Steroid Induced Eczema? Then definitely speak with your physician – we do not recommend weaning your child off steroids without medical help.

If you have been on topical steroid creams or other topical corticosteroid medications for more than two weeks without a break, you are at a higher risk for topical addiction and it’s very important to talk to your doctor about either learning to use topical corticosteroids correctly with the mandatory break between two–week doses or weaning yourself off the medication altogether.

We recommend you also read more about the risks of weaning yourself off topical steroids if you do in fact have Red Skin Syndrome. This post is a good read on topical corticosteroid withdrawal.

Dr. Peter Lio has been studying this skin condition for many years and has helped countless patients going through these symptoms to regain normal skin. To learn more about what his thoughts are on topical steroids, as well as Red Skin Syndrome, make sure to check out our blog post: Topical Steroid Withdrawal: Myth vs. Reality.

Topical Steroid Withdrawal Treatment

Because Red Skin Syndrome is a debilitating condition, it’s important to seek medical advice as soon as possible. At the moment, there are no universally approved medications or methods of treatment that can quickly cure the symptoms of Red Skin Syndrome, yet your doctor can advise pain/itch management strategies, as well as appropriate medical treatments, also when you have very sensitive skin. Many doctors look at weaning a patient slowly off of topical corticosteroids so that their skin doesn’t immediately flare up and doesn’t cause severe nerve pain.

There is a new treatment methodology that is receiving a lot of attention these days, called the Aron Regime. We had the pleasure of recently meeting Dr. Richard Aron, who created this new approach to treating both severe atopic dermatitis and Red Skin Syndrome.

While we are not big supporters of topical corticosteroid treatments, after learning about Dr. Aron’s success rate with helping patients with severe Red Skin Syndrome, we were intrigued. And it turns out many patients are able to use his method to safely and slowly reduce and discontinue their use of topical corticosteroids altogether.

What’s the key to his approach? He treats the inflammation with a low–dose topical corticosteroid, dryness, and skin barrier weakness with an emollient, and the essential key to the treatment formula…..treating a topical infection with a topical antibiotic.

The second essential part is that he combines all three things – steroids, moisturizer, and antibiotic – in a recipe that is compounded at a local pharmacy.

Why does it work so well? Dr. Aron has said 70-100% of atopic dermatitis patients have a topical infection of Staphylococcus Aureus on their skin. Topical steroids will not stop the infection, so only treating with steroids is not the answer to healing atopic dermatitis. The key really is treating the infection, inflammation, and dryness together. Curious? Learn more on Dr. Aron’s website.

While working with your physician, here are some things you can try for added relief.

1. Find and eliminate triggers – it is critical. In fact, I dare to say that this is the #1 thing anyone with eczema should be doing in order to find relief and possibly heal their eczema. If you don’t eliminate your triggers, your atopic dermatitis will come back, and you’ll have to continue using medications and skincare and all that jazz. Diet often plays a part in eczema and certain foods can be triggers. Try an eczema elimination diet to find your food triggers – always work with a nutritionist to make sure all proper nutrients remain in your diet, especially when nursing or when children are involved. There are a lot of other triggers that can be at play beyond food, learn more in Eczema 102: What Can Trigger Eczema?
2. Relieve the itch-scratch cycle. Eczema sufferers are known to have an increased risk for staph infection, as indicated above, so keeping the skin properly protected, as well as moisturized is key to healing from Red Skin Syndrome. To prevent scratching, consider eczema mittens and gloves. Keeping the hands covered with eczema gloves for adults or for children is essential to prevent scratching and causing an infection. Another idea is to soothe the itch during the day or overnight with Remedywear™ clothing for eczema : shirts, pants, bandages, gloves, socks and more! These garments are made with cooling fabric, as well as zinc oxide to reduce itching and inflammation.
3. Keep skin well moisturized and hydrated. During Red Skin Syndrome or TSW, the skin becomes extremely dry and as such causes an itch-scratch cycle that can be quite unbearable. Opting for a natural eczema treatment that uses few ingredients is a great choice, as it will be sensitive enough for skin going through these symptoms. Some wonderful natural eczema treatments that can be used are this Organic Manuka Skin Soothing Cream, which contains only olive oil, beeswax, manuka oil, manuka honey, filtered water, and grape seed oil. Not only is this cream extremely moisturizing and can relieve the driest skin, but the manuka is also anti-bacterial and wound healing. Another topical steroid withdrawal treatment is using Chinese herbs to help relieve angry, red skin like with this Emily Skin Soothers for Red Eczema Rashes.This balm is a perfect treatment for weeping, crusty and red eczema. Not only does it relieve irritation but it also treats topical bacteria, yeast, and fungus. This treatment also uses natural ingredients like organic sunflower oil, beeswax, frankincense, red peony root, dictamnus root bark, and phellodendron bark.

Coping with Red Skin Syndrome

Aside from healing from the outside, it’s important to also focus on your inner health as well. As mentioned previously, Red Skin Syndrome can affect mental health. Many of those suffering from this condition experience depression and anxiety as well. What turns out to be a physical journey, can manifest into both a mental and emotionally draining journey as well. This is why we recommend watching these incredible tips for living with the emotional challenges of eczema from a dear life coach friend of ours.

ILW Recommends: The Beauty of Eczema by Camille Knowles

If you are suffering from depression or anxiety after the misuse of topical steroid creams or similar medications, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Seeking help from both a medical doctor for your Red Skin Syndrome, as well as a therapist or psychologist is important, as the journey can be difficult.

Aside from seeing specialists, it’s also important to keep stress down to a minimum. Remember that stress is a huge trigger for eczema. For more guidance on how to heal both your skin and mind, make sure to check out our blog post: Eczema and Depression: How to Help your Skin and Mind.

And remember! YOU ARE NOT ALONE! There is quite a large community of TSW survivors and sufferers who have or had similar problems because of topical corticosteroids. Briana Banos is part of that community and made this video to remind those suffering that you don’t need to be so hard on yourself:

Briana is currently filming a new documentary that focuses on the severity of topical steroids’ misuse effects. Learn why she produced the above video and what she hopes to accomplish with her new documentary, Preventable: Protecting our Largest Organ.

“My motivation behind creating the music video stems from the inner battles we all face going through TSW. Our condition is way more than a surface issue. Our self worth is diminished, our demons magnified, and the loneliness we feel can consume our every thought. We become our worst critics and it’s difficult to face the world when all we can think most days is about how ugly and unlovable we are through Topical Steroid Withdrawal. I wanted to show our community that we are more than our skin and that we could tackle our fears. We need all the support we can get since this condition still isn’t recognized or taken seriously in many doctor’s offices.

My documentary, Preventable: Protecting our Largest Organ is about showcasing how this completely preventable suffering is tearing people’s lives apart. We deserve to be heard and acknowledged. I was able to interview individuals with TSW as well as doctors who were willing to open up about the dangers of over-prescribing topical steroids. It is running rampant in the medical community and I pray this project will open the medical community’s eyes as well as spark a change in how topical steroids are prescribed. The pain and loss need to end. It is negligent. It is irresponsible. It has gone on long enough.”

Are you suffering from Red Skin Syndrome, Topical Steroid Addiction or Topical Steroid Withdrawal? Please tell us about your journey.

Bio: Laura is a contributor and content developer for It’s An Itchy Little World. She is in no way a medical professional. Her comments, suggestions, and reflections are not intended to replace any medical advice. Always seek the help of a medical professional before undertaking any diet or lifestyle changes. Please see It’s An Itchy Little World’s disclaimer for information about affiliate links and more.