Home / Health / Life After Steroids: A 33-Year-Old's Battle with TSW
Life After Steroids: A 33-Year-Old's Battle with TSW
2 Oct
Summary
- Harriet Williams stopped topical steroid creams after 20 years, triggering withdrawal.
- TSW symptoms included skin/hair loss, intense itchiness, and body temperature issues.
- Despite challenges, she advocates for TSW awareness, especially for black skin.
Harriet Williams, a 33-year-old content creator from London, has detailed the profound impact of stopping topical steroid creams after more than two decades of use. Diagnosed with eczema as a child, she began using prescribed steroid creams at age five, continuing for over 20 years.
In April 2020, Harriet decided to gradually reduce her steroid treatment. By the following winter, she experienced the full effects of topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), including skin and hair loss, heightened itchiness, and difficulty regulating body temperature. She described her skin becoming hard and burning, and she lost all her hair, leading to confinement at home for seven months.
Even as of 2026-10-02T12:33:28+00:00, Harriet continues to manage her eczema and TSW, experiencing intense "rebound" flare-ups. One significant rebound from September 2023 to March 2024 also led to her being housebound for seven months. She emphasizes that while stopping steroids was the right choice for her, it remains an ongoing journey.
Harriet highlights the challenges of TSW, particularly for individuals with black skin, noting that medical understanding is often based on fairer skin tones. She actively shares her experiences on Instagram and co-founded EczeMates, a London-based group providing social support for those with skin conditions, aiming to build community and raise awareness.
