Topical Steroid Withdrawal (Skin)

If you have applied a strong topical steroid for a long time, especially on the face, neck, or skin folds, and then stop suddenly, a rebound reaction can occur: intense redness, a burning sensation, oozing (exudate), swelling, and flaking or peeling. This is called Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). Because it can be hard to tell apart from a flare-up of the original eczema or dermatitis, it is important to work out a plan with a dermatologist or other physician rather than handling it on your own judgment.

Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective

From Dongjedang's detox perspective, we see this state as 'the heat and inflammation that the cream had been suppressing in the skin, breaking out all at once when the medication is stopped.' Korean medicine does not tell you to stop the cream instead — rather than an abrupt full stop, while you taper gradually according to the plan set with your physician, we support cooling the flared-up heat and helping the skin barrier recover.