'Eczema cream has left me suicidal - I struggle to leave the house'

When Gemma Armstead suffered mild eczema as a child, steroid cream seemed to work wonders. The young woman was just six-years-old when she started experiencing itchy skin inside her elbows and on the back of her knees.

Gemma was taken to see a doctor where she was prescribed steroid cream, a treatment commonly used for eczema to reduce inflammation.

The video game artist, from the Shaw area of Oldham, used the cream all over her body for 20 years without any issues. That was until 2022 when her skin suddenly became extremely hot, red and painful. Her temperature would skyrocket while she also felt freezing cold.

READ MORE: Their little boy couldn't walk until he was two - the reason why shattered their world

Concerned by her rapidly deteriorating condition, Gemma visited A&E where she was given oral steroids. Believing she was suffering from severe eczema, Gemma agreed to take them.

And while the steroids helped for a while, her skin reverted back to being red raw just a few weeks later.

The 26-year-old made repeated visits to hospital but medics couldn’t figure out what was wrong. “Doctors didn’t think it was a real thing,” she told the Manchester Evening News.

“When I went to see a dermatologist and told them I thought I was experiencing steroid withdrawal, he laughed me out of the door. He told me that wasn’t a thing and prescribed me more steroid creams.”

Struggling to get a diagnosis, Gemma began doing her own research and discovered Topical Steroid Withdrawal in May 2023.

Topical Steroid Withdrawal, known as TSW, is a condition that can occur after long-term or inappropriate use of topical corticosteroids, commonly prescribed to treat conditions like eczema, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin disorders.

When people stop using these topical steroids, especially if they’ve been using them for an extended period or on large areas of the body, their skin can go through a difficult withdrawal process.

There is no definitive "cure" for TSW, but the condition does resolve over time as the skin gradually heals itself.

The recovery process can be long and difficult and the symptoms can be severe, but with proper management and care, most people eventually regain healthy skin.

Having used steroid creams for 20 years, Gemma knew she was suffering from the condition and immediately decided to stop using the treatment.

“Upon hearing about TSW, I stopped all steroid medication and began my withdrawal journey as the steroids were only making things worse,” she said.

“Initially, it was very much the same – very red, hot skin and I couldn’t regulate my temperature. I was applying Vaseline a lot as it was the only thing that helped. I was easily applying it 20 times a day.”

As her pain continued, Gemma tried a ‘no moisture’ technique, which involves limiting bathing, lowering water intake and avoiding moisturisers.

While the method appeared to help, she was eventually left with skin so dry and flaky even a shower felt like “throwing acid” onto her skin.

Sadly, one year after she began experiencing Topical Steroid Withdrawal, Gemma’s condition took a dramatic turn for the worse in May 2024.

Not only did her oozing skin become incredibly itchy and infectious, Gemma also began experiencing a whole range of unpleasant symptoms – ranging from insomnia to hair loss. Tragically, the harrowing ordeal has left her feeling suicidal.

“TSW is hell,” she said. “It is painful, dehumanising, debilitating and I have lost all quality of life.

“I am in pain and uncomfortable. I suffer from insomnia, my lymph nodes are like grapes, I've lost my eyebrows and my hair falls out in clumps.

“I've lost 2 stone from no appetite, my skin oozes when I scratch it, I've had several infection and I am mentally and physically exhausted.

“Some days I struggle to move around the house. I have missed family members' birthdays, I've missed holidays and events I was looking forward to and I refuse to leave the house. I have contemplated suicide and live every day in pain.”

Gemma says her skin is so sensitive she finds it difficult to wear anything other than pyjamas. “I’m very depressed,” she added. “My days are the same. I wake up, I work from home, I go to sleep. That’s it, but living in pain at the same time. It’s really bad.”

Gemma now believes she would not be facing her situation if she hadn't been prescribed steroid creams for 20 years. As she continues to live in pain, she hopes one treatment can help ease her suffering.

She is now fundraising to undergo Cold Atmospheric Plasma treatment, a procedure which aims to soothe inflammation, promote healing, provide antimicrobial effects and enhance skin regeneration.

Helplines and websites

Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.

For support for people feeling suicidal, if you are concerned about someone or if you are bereaved by suicide see http://shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk

CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.

Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death. No one needs to feel alone as they deal with their grief. www.greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk

Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.

PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

Beat Eating Disorders: Beat provides helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders. These helplines are free to call from all phones. Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677, Studentline: 0808 801 0811, Youthline: 0808 801 0711. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Anorexia & Bulimia Care: ABC provide on-going care, emotional support and practical guidance for anyone affected by eating disorders, those struggling personally and parents, families and friends. Helpline: 03000 11 12 13. www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/

Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org

For information and links to charities and organisations that can help with substance abuse, visit https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/drugs/

However, Gemma says the treatment is only available in three locations across the world – two of which are believed to be fully booked.

With the only available location being Singapore, Gemma is hoping to raise enough funds to fly over to the country for treatment.

“CAP is a once-a-week treatment,” she said in a Gofundme fundraiser. “At the beginning, I will need 130-minute sessions and a total of 24 sessions.

“This is only a rough gauge and can change, but CAP costs £120 for 30 minutes. I will also be living in Singapore for the duration of treatment and it is very costly in terms of rent. So I really really need any help I can get.

“CAP is my last hope of having any form of life, anything that any lovely people can donate will help greatly with the costs of a long trip to Singapore for CAP, and will help me get my life back, will help my mum get her daughter back, will help my partner get his girlfriend back.”