TSW (Topical Steroid Withdrawal) Case Example: Santiago Aufranc

The first video in a series of case examples of people going through TSW (Topical Steroid Withdrawal).

This case example is of Santiago Aufranc.

He was prescribed high potency topical corticosteroids, and then given oral corticosteroids to treat eczema.
This led to him getting worse symptoms, as he crossed over from having eczema into corticosteroid dependency.
He was experiencing severe rebound reactions in between applications of the topical steroids, until he eventually went through the withdrawal process, which lasted 20 months before complete recovery.

As is common with this process, you can see how he got much worse before getting better, until he made a complete recovery (unmedicated).

Please note:
TSW can happen from non-topical corticosteroids (oral, injected, inhaled, sprays, steroid drops etc).
It is also known as Red Skin Syndrome; although it doesn't present as red on darker skin colours.
These symptoms can also be caused by and/ or exacerbated by immunosuppressants (steroids are immunosuppressants).
It is commonly mistaken to be eczema ("bad", "severe", or "worsening" eczema); and is treated as such. Because it is an iatrogenic condition caused by eczema medication, the misdiagnosis and treatment of this as "eczema" only worsens the situation.
TSW lasts between months and years.
It is common to experience flares and breaks, until a full recovery is made.
There is a combination of rebounding/ withdrawing from the drug, and also recovery from the damage caused to internal tissues such as the nerves and blood vessels; which can take a long time.

See the "An Overview of TSW (Topical Steroid Withdrawal)" video on this channel for more information about this:
   • An Overview of TSW (Topical Steroid Withdr...  

Santiago's YouTube series on Topical Steroid Addiction:
   • Adicción al corticoide  

Santiago's blog (English):
https://steroidsaddiction.wordpress.c...

Santiago's blog (Spanish):
https://adiccionalcorticoide.wordpres...

Dr Marvin Rapaport MD's website:
http://www.red-skin-syndrome.com/

The TSW Atlas instagram account: @tsw_atlas

Thank you for watching

Dr Heba Khaled