Topical Steroid Withdrawl

If you have been suffering from severe side-effects of topical steroids and have decided to stop using them completely, please keep in mind that there are still no proven modern medications that will speed up the healing process, or eliminate the withdrawal process. So, it is important to do extensive research and come up with strategies for managing your TSW as best you can, prior to giving up on steroids.

Let's list a few. 

1. Ointments : get an oil based salve, or non-irritant oil of your choice as a daily moisturizer.  It is very important to moisturize your skin while it's still a bit damp to lock moisture into your skin barrier after a shower or washing.

2. Improve your sleep : you definitely need to find ways to improve your sleep as the typical symptoms of TSW can be very itchy and scratchy in the evening hours. Do acupuncture on a regular basis as it helps mellow you down. Keep your thermostat low or cool before you go to bed, because with TSW, the hotter you become, the worse your condition tends to be. A lot of TSW and eczema patients wake up in the middle of the night because they become overheated. So, choosing soothing and cooling linens is a must. Clean, soft and cooling linens made of breathable fabrics are the best for people with TSW or eczema.

3. Join a support group : when you suffer from TSW, you are definitely not ALONE. Be with people who are likely to have a common purpose and understand one another. It will help you feel less lonely, isolated and judged.

4. Avoid the FOODS : Dairy, Fermented foods, Sugary fruits, and junk foods. Eating healthy is so important and yet, it is always a battle that we lose. Why? That's because we rely on willpower rather cultivating good habits. Come up with recipes that are fun, tasty, but healing. 

5. Herbs : The beauty of Korean medicine and TCM is that there's no 'one-size-fits-all' solution. Instead, treatment is customized for each individual patient to aim to resolve the root cause, rather than proving temporary relief of symptoms.  In doing so, the issue and the related symptoms disappear. At NYC Total Health, these herbal prescriptions come in the form of extracts, granular, and capsules.