{"id":6867,"date":"2022-04-29T17:31:50","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T17:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/?p=6867"},"modified":"2025-08-14T14:22:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T14:22:40","slug":"chis-story-i-became-addicted-to-my-eczema-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/2022\/04\/29\/chis-story-i-became-addicted-to-my-eczema-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"CHI\u2019S STORY: \u201cI BECAME ADDICTED TO MY ECZEMA TREATMENT\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_full-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_full-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_full-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_one_full  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_heading-02d0a237aef9d99ad3d27bf1e16e4afc\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-02d0a237aef9d99ad3d27bf1e16e4afc{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-av_heading-02d0a237aef9d99ad3d27bf1e16e4afc .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-av_heading-02d0a237aef9d99ad3d27bf1e16e4afc .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-av_heading-02d0a237aef9d99ad3d27bf1e16e4afc av-special-heading-h3  avia-builder-el-1  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >CHI\u2019S STORY: <span class='special_amp'>\u201c<\/span>I BECAME ADDICTED TO MY ECZEMA TREATMENT<span class='special_amp'>\u201d<\/span><\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><p><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><em>\u201cDuring TSW, a lot is going on internally. It would have been so helpful to have had a clinic help me manage my addiction. But TSW is not yet recognized by general practitioners and dermatologists. In fact, topical steroids are the most common treatment that a dermatologist prescribes for eczema.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>There was never a conversation about alternative treatments or that it was dangerous to stay on a topical steroid for so many years. I felt very betrayed. I may have even grown out of my eczema by now had I not been on the medication.\u201d -Chi Villines, excerpt from \u201cI Became Addicted to My Eczema Treatment,\u201d Verywell Health, Mar 2022<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read &#8220;I Became Addicted to My Eczema Treatment&#8221;<\/strong><br \/>\nSource: Verywell Health, Mar 2022<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-av_button-5a240cd9deb7a683c667d6bfbe0ecaed-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_hr '><a href='https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/chi-villines-eczema-story-5220614' class='avia-button av-av_button-5a240cd9deb7a683c667d6bfbe0ecaed avia-icon_select-yes-left-icon avia-size-medium avia-position-left avia-color-theme-color' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_left' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue803' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Click to view <\/span><\/a><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-fbebcb4fe7f7f93a621d8b6783460008\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-fbebcb4fe7f7f93a621d8b6783460008{\nheight:30px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-fbebcb4fe7f7f93a621d8b6783460008 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_button  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>MORE ABOUT CHI\u2019S TSW STORY<\/p>\n<p>Chi shared her TSW healing progress pictures and more of her story with ITSAN to help raise awareness of different stages of TSW on darker skin.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_three_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_image-09e6d4919561f392cea050141cc09ad0\">\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-09e6d4919561f392cea050141cc09ad0 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-av_image-09e6d4919561f392cea050141cc09ad0 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-av_image-09e6d4919561f392cea050141cc09ad0 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-8  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/chi-villines-eczema-story-5220614\" class='avia_image' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-6868 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-6868 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/chi2.jpg\" alt='' title=''  height=\"255\" width=\"300\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"  \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_one_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6869\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6869\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6869\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/1-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/1-9.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/1-9-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6869\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1 month TSW<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-12  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6870\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6870\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6870\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-7.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-7-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6870\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">3 years TSW<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_half-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_half-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_half-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_half  avia-builder-el-14  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_three_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>What steroid medications did you use?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Triamcinolone Acetonide .1% ointment<\/p>\n<p><strong>For how long?<br \/>\n<\/strong>22 years. I had severe eczema as a child and started with a low dose. It wasn&#8217;t working so when I got older I was able to get on the .1%<\/p>\n<p><strong>Age started topical steroids?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Around 9-10 years old<\/p>\n<p><strong>Age stopped topical steroids?<br \/>\n<\/strong>28 years old (April 2019)<\/p>\n<p>In 2014, without realizing it, I went through my first TSW experience. I had no clue at the time. I had stopped my medication after running out of it. I was unaware of what was going on and had no knowledge of TSW. I immediately thought I was having some sort of allergic reaction and went to the ER where they asked me if I\u2019d ever been tested for lupus? They put me on rounds of antibiotics and I got back on my steroid ointment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-18  el_after_av_three_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-19  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_three_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-20  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6873\" style=\"width: 955px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6873\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6873\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"945\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sas.jpg 945w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sas-300x127.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sas-768x325.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sas-705x298.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/sas-450x190.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6873\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2014 &#8211; Before stopping all topical steroid creams.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-22  el_after_av_three_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-23  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_three_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-24  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TSW flares started to erupt in 2018, with small reoccurring spots and a very problematic flare on my foot. Again, unknowing that I was going through TSW, I thought my eczema was just taking a turn for the worse. It was apparent that the steroid ointment was not working any longer. These flares would persist even after applying the ointment. I can look back and see the signs of what I know now as Topical Steroid Addiction and Topical Steroid Withdrawal. I wasn\u2019t completely off the steroids around that time I was having a hard time affording medication so it was a time period where I wasn\u2019t using for a few weeks until I was able to afford the medication. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-26  el_after_av_three_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-27  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_three_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-28  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6874\" style=\"width: 955px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6874\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6874\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/legs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"945\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/legs.jpg 945w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/legs-300x127.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/legs-768x325.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/legs-705x298.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/legs-450x190.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6874\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2018 &#8211; Before stopping all topical steroid creams.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-30  el_after_av_three_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-31  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_one_half '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_half-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_half-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_half-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_one_half  avia-builder-el-32  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_hr  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6877\" style=\"width: 623px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6877\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6877\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/arm.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"613\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/arm.jpg 613w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/arm-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/arm-450x294.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 613px) 100vw, 613px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6877\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2018 &#8211; Before stopping all topical steroid creams.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-34  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_three_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-35  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>In 2019, I intentionally stopped steroid use. I felt internally I wanted to take a more natural approach to treating my eczema. Having being dependent on the steroids for so long I felt in my soul it was not healthy. While everything happened so fast, the immediate redness and oozing were my first symptoms of TSW. I found out I was going through TSW by visiting ITSAN\u2019s website &amp; following a few accounts on Instagram. From there throughout the next 2-3 years I went through many different flare cycles. The ooze, the dryness, the burning, prickly feeling. Intense bone deep pain. Immobility and adrenal glands compromised. Low heart rate, fatigue and even an intense staph infection on my back that has left me with a scar on my back. The skin would open and close and open and close, and shed and start all over again. Many different textures and symptoms during TSW. I lost so much weight, I became extremely ill and malnourished as I was afraid to eat anything.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-37  el_after_av_three_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-38  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_one_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-39  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6879\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6879\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6879\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/1-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/1-10.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/1-10-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6879\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1 month TSW &#8211; open cuts, oozing<br \/>&amp; bone deep pain<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-41  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_one_fourth  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6880\" style=\"width: 543px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6880\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6880\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"533\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-8.jpg 533w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-8-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-8-450x338.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6880\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2 months TSW &#8211; no skin elasticity, deep cuts, tough skin felt as if there was a fungus that physically attached itself to my skin and I couldn\u2019t get it off. My TSW went through a cycle of open, oozing and painful to dry, raised flakey, back to open oozing and pain, until I cycled through the next level of healing.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-43  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_one_fourth  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6881\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6881\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6881\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3-6.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3-6-169x300.jpg 169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6881\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2 months TSW<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-45  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6882\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6882\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6882\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/4-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/4-7.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/4-7-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6882\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">4 months TSW &#8211; dry powdery, raised &amp; itchy<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-47  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_three_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-48  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6883\" style=\"width: 1040px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6883\" class=\"size-large wp-image-6883\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/c-1030x385.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1030\" height=\"385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/c-1030x385.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/c-300x112.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/c-768x287.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/c-705x263.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/c-450x168.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/c.jpg 1071w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6883\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2019 &#8211; After stopping all topical steroid creams.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-50  el_after_av_three_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-51  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_three_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-52  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6884\" style=\"width: 1040px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6884\" class=\"size-large wp-image-6884\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/h-1030x269.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1030\" height=\"269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/h-1030x269.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/h-300x78.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/h-768x200.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/h-1500x391.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/h-705x184.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/h-450x117.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/h.jpg 1533w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6884\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2019 &#8211; After stopping all topical steroid creams.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-54  el_after_av_three_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-55  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_three_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-56  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6885\" style=\"width: 931px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6885\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6885\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"921\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-2.jpg 921w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-2-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-2-768x334.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-2-705x306.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-2-450x195.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 921px) 100vw, 921px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6885\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2019 &#8211; After stopping all topical steroid creams.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-58  el_after_av_three_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-59  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_one_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-60  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6886\" style=\"width: 332px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6886\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"322\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6-2.jpg 322w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6-2-242x300.jpg 242w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 322px) 100vw, 322px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6886\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2019 &#8211; After stopping all topical steroid creams<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-62  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_one_fourth  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6940\" style=\"width: 454px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6940\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6940\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"444\" height=\"592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-9.jpg 444w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2-9-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6940\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2022 &#8211; After stopping all topical steroid creams<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-64  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_one_fourth  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><div id=\"attachment_6941\" style=\"width: 454px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6941\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6941\" src=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"444\" height=\"546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3-7.jpg 444w, https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/3-7-244x300.jpg 244w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-6941\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2022 &#8211; After stopping all topical steroid creams<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-66  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_hr  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165{\nheight:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-616cd310f4c6bf63bbd1f033802c1165 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-67  el_after_av_one_fourth  el_before_av_three_fourth '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-15d750bd1b332b34c6e70b077ebbccdf av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-68  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-av_textblock-2de302bf1aa3cf4c9157dbe6f50ac7eb '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Timeframe for TSW to resolve?<br \/>\n<\/strong>One solid year of TSW flare and unmanageable symptoms. After year two, I found my skin barrier was stronger and the symptoms were more manageable but still present.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How many months TSW are you now?<br \/>\n<\/strong>72 months<\/p>\n<p><strong>How are you doing now?<br \/>\n<\/strong>Overall I am much better. I have two big flares per year consisting of oozing and pain and sometimes immobility and smaller bouts of irritated dry, itchy skin throughout those times. The pattern is around the New Year and typically an anniversary flare (March-April). My skin, my mind, my career, my life trajectory has all been altered due to TSW. This year seems harder to swallow when I have a flare because there&#8217;s longer periods in between each flare now, and outside of the flares my skin is the best it&#8217;s ever been.<\/p>\n<p>With that being said, experiencing intense TSW flares after months of clear, unproblematic skin can be quite daunting. Each year physically I feel my skin is getting stronger but mentally it&#8217;s challenging to continue going through the patterns. While I still have flares &amp; symptoms they are nowhere near the pain &amp; anguish as in 2019. My skin is stronger as I\u2019ve worked extremely hard to heal from the inside out. Making lifestyle changes and doing the work internally. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever have \u201cperfect\u201d skin but I do believe as the years go by my skin barrier will strengthen making my TSW &amp; eczema symptoms more manageable.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-c8fc129dc35fd1ae2a1e410224d39ea8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-70  el_after_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cThere was never a conversation about alternative treatments or that it was dangerous to stay on a topical steroid for so many years. I felt very betrayed.\u201d -Chi Villines<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6939,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6867"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6867\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11461,"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6867\/revisions\/11461"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itsan.org\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}