Bethany Gamble calls for greater recognition of topical steroid withdrawal after suffering severe, life-altering symptoms
BIRMINGHAM, UK — A young woman from Birmingham says she would “do anything” to return to her original eczema after a suspected severe reaction to long-term use of steroid creams left her bedbound, forced her to shave her head, and derailed her university studies.
Bethany Gamble, 20, had been using topical corticosteroids since the age of two to manage her eczema symptoms, which included severe itching and skin bleeding. But after nearly two decades of increasing dosages and potency, the creams appeared to stop working—and what followed was far worse than the original condition.
At 18, Bethany began experiencing what she describes as excruciating burning sensations, extreme itchiness “deep in the nerves,” widespread skin inflammation, oozing wounds, and hair loss—symptoms that she believes stem from Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), an emerging and controversial condition not yet widely recognized in the medical community.
“It burns a lot, it feels like your skin is on fire, like hundreds of pieces of glass are sticking into your skin,” Bethany told PA Real Life. “I would rather have my original eczema for the rest of my life than TSW for one day.”
Despite her worsening condition, Bethany said doctors refused to acknowledge TSW as a legitimate diagnosis and instead insisted she was suffering from extreme eczema. Without official recognition or treatment options, she turned to social media for answers.
She discovered a growing community on TikTok—where the hashtag #TSW has over a billion views—sharing nearly identical stories of withdrawal symptoms after prolonged steroid use. She eventually self-diagnosed with TSW after finding her experiences mirrored those of others online.
Bethany was forced to drop out of the Academy of Contemporary Music in May 2023, where she had been studying music production. Bedbound and battling insomnia from constant discomfort, she also began losing her hair in clumps, ultimately shaving her head.
“The creams have different potencies and strengths, and as you get older they gradually stop working,” she explained. “Eventually, I was prescribed oral steroids because I had reached the top of the ladder.”
Bethany has since begun taking immunosuppressants to manage her symptoms, but recovery remains uncertain. “I’ve been using steroid creams pretty much my whole life so it’s hard to tell how long I’ll experience this for – I’m definitely not out of it yet,” she said.
Determined to raise awareness, Bethany joined a group of suspected TSW sufferers in delivering a petition to 10 Downing Street on March 29, calling for better regulation of topical steroid prescriptions and official recognition of the condition by healthcare authorities.
“We want people to know it is real,” she said.
A joint statement issued by the National Eczema Society, British Association of Dermatologists, and British Dermatological Nursing Group acknowledged the growing concern around TSW and emphasized the urgent need for high-quality research. While corticosteroids are considered safe and effective for most patients, the group noted that potential withdrawal symptoms remain poorly understood and difficult to diagnose due to a lack of clear medical criteria.
According to NHS guidance, individuals using topical corticosteroids long-term—typically over 12 months—should speak to their doctor about tapering use to minimize the risk of withdrawal reactions, which can, in rare cases, be severe.
For Bethany and many like her, official recognition of the condition would offer not just validation—but hope.
“I would love a diagnosis. I would love to be listened to,” she said.
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