Medical organizations debate topical steroid withdrawal diagnosis and treatment

Medical groups in the UK, including the National Eczema Society and the British Association of Dermatologists, have released a joint statement on topical steroid withdrawal, known as TSW. This condition can develop when people stop using steroid creams after a long period of regular use.

Patients who experience TSW report symptoms such as severe skin redness, a burning feeling, tiredness, and weakness. Some say these symptoms are worse than their original eczema. A large study of over 2,000 people found that nearly 80% of adult patients noticed signs that matched TSW.

Doctors currently disagree on the best way to treat the condition, and there is no shared guidance. Medical advice generally recommends reducing steroid use slowly, with professional support, rather than stopping suddenly. The NIH began working on formal diagnostic criteria in 2025.