Zainab's story

I've had eczema for as long as I can remember.

I started using steroids when I was only 6 months old. For the most part they worked, but as I got older, the strengths of my creams increased until again they had to be upped. The creams I used were Elocon and Betnovate. As the years passed, my eczema got progressively worse, my skin was becoming sore and it was spreading to places I never used to have it, like on my face.

In 2017 I started a Youtube channel and made a video talking about my eczema - loads of people could relate. One girl in particular asked if I had ever heard of Topical Steroid Withdrawal. She said because I had been on steroid for so long - 28 years by this point - that maybe my skin was addicted to them and that was the reason my skin could never get better. I googled it, and a had a lightbulb moment. I had to stop.

I'm 10 months in now but I haven't used steroid creams since November 2017 and my skin went through a crazy journey. The skin on my face became insanely dry, it shed everyday, it went bright red, it wept, it cracked and repeated that process over and over.... until May/June, 6 months after starting my withdrawal, it just calmed. My face became smooth and supple and was no longer dry. It stopped shedding and the redness was gone.

I still have eczema in places but nothing like it was before. I'm going to battle it without any medication or steroid creams. Stopping the steroids, though it was a challenge I thought I would never have to face, it was the best decision I ever made.

 

Youtube: IAmBeeZee Intagram: @TSW_Beezeebuzz