What is Red Skin Syndrome?

Red Skin Syndrome is effectively an ‘allergic reaction’ to the withdrawal of the regular use of topical steroid skin creams used to help with Eczema. It’s also known as Topical Steroid Withdrawal.

What Causes Red Skin Syndrome?

Red Skin Syndrome in a growing secondary health condition caused by the overuse of steroids creams for controlling eczema.

Many eczema sufferers have been using steroid creams from their childhood or teens and eventually become resistant to them or decide to stop using them due to other side effects such as skin discolouration or skin ‘thinning’.

According to itsan.org, a red skin syndrome support organisation, the problem of Red Skin Syndrome usually arises when steroid creams that have been used for a long period of time, often several years, are either drastically reduced or suddenly stopped altogether and the skin goes into a state of ‘shock’.

What are Red Skin Syndrome Symptoms?

Red Skin Syndrome symptoms include sudden red, hot and itchy skin, skin swelling, skin tightening, skin with a painful burning sensation and very dry and flaking skin.

Skin affected by Red Skin Syndrome can also become highly sensitive and it can trigger multiple other allergic reactions to skincare products, shampoos and cosmetics. Sufferers can start to feel that everything they put on their skin burns or stings. Even applying water can be painful in more severe cases.

Red Skin Syndrome can occur in a longer than normal gap between steroid treatments or, more commonly, when steroid use is stopped altogether.

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