If Genie gave me three wishes, I’d use one of them to heal everyone going through topical steroid withdrawal.
It’s pure hell.
But while we wait for the Genie to appear…I’ve got 10 tips for you to help you through the day-to-day struggles.
You can hop from diet to diet, from product to product, but you need to build some sort of routine to help you get through it.
When healing, consistency is key.
10 Daily Topical Steroid Withdrawal Tips
Table of Contents
Toggle1. Sweep and/or Vacuum
Due to the amount of skin flaking and shedding, it piles up quickly…
Dry skin is also a contributor to dust and dust can then trigger eczema.
So it’s important to try and do this every day or almost every day. You might be exhausted from topical steroid withdrawal alone and just the lack of sleep, so ask someone to help you out, hire a maid or if you have the money, maybe a Personal Support Worker or Home Support Worker or even a Roomba might help.
You’ll also mentally feel free knowing that your room is clean.
2. Change towels and bedding often
When going through topical steroid withdrawal, your scabs and scratches will bleed. You will ooze. You will flake.
By changing your towels and bedding frequently, you can prevent yourself from getting a skin infection.
Trust me, that’s the last thing you want right now.
It also helps mentally. When getting into bed where you have fresh clean sheets and pillows, this can help you feel relaxed while helping you stay clean as possible while you heal.
I love hopping into bed when the blanket and sheets are still warm!
3. Wash towels and bedding
You want to wash your towels and bedding in a chemical-free detergent and fabric softener.
You’d be surprised by the amount of cheap synthetic chemicals in our products.
I am currently using Nature Clean. It’s cruelty-free, vegan, biodegradable, gluten-free, allergy tested, and has no sulphates, perfumes, or dyes.
These can actually trigger your eczema.
Your body is already detoxing itself from the toxins from the products we’ve used over time. So one less thing our body needs to fight.
4. Disinfect laundry
I highly recommend disinfecting your laundry. Even though your laundry detergent should do the job you want to make sure the bacteria from your skin oozing and flaking, are killed.
You can use tree oil, lavender oil, some lemon juice, and even dry it in the sunlight.
With the essential oils, you can add a few drops into your load or find a detergent that has some already in it.
5. Sunlight
Studies have shown that Vitamin D helps your skin, eczema and your overall immune system. Vitamin D is also beneficial for your mental health.
Especially during TSW, our mental health is severely impacted so let’s support it with getting some fresh air and sunlight.
If you are taking time off from work or school like I did, try to wake up and catch some sunlight indoors.
PS. If you are somehow managing TSW and going to work/school, you are my hero!
I opted to stay home until things got better. If you feel overwhelmed as well, try taking a few days off at least and just sleep!
If you work/school all day and then go home and stay indoors, DON’T!
Try to go for a walk during your lunch or breaks and catch some light.
You may also want to supplement with Vitamin D to help your body.
6. Short Walks
This may seem daunting. You have no energy and it hurts to move because your skin is so tight and fragile.
When you can and when your skin allows it, try to go for a walk.
When going through TSW, you are most likely in bed all day.
But you need to keep the lymphatic system moving to help flush out your toxins.
The lymphatic system is “the body’s drainage system, working around-the-clock to clean up and properly dispose of waste left behind by other body systems”, according to Unity Point Health
If you don’t have the energy for a walk today, just sit on your front porch, balcony or backyard.
7. Fresh Air
Get some fresh air in your room. When you are constantly oozing and flaking, your body gives off a strange body odour.
This can be left behind on your clothes and bedding (which is why points 2, 3 and 4 are important) so it’s good to get some fresh air to make you feel better and keep the air fresh.
When you can muster up the energy, go for a walk and get some fresh air.
The sunlight and fresh air can help you stay positive.
In the 1900’s, hospitals always had rooms with windows that you could open and view nature to promote healing. However, as the world became more modernized and prioritized profits, hospitals wanted to pack as many patients as possible in rooms. Check out this interesting article about how fresh air helps the body heal.
8. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can help calm your nerves and senses.
It will help purify the air, make it smell better, and help you sleep at night.
The best part is that it’s essentially essential oils diffused into the air.
There are various essential oils with it’s own unique benefits.
Just make sure to stay away from Amazon when getting essential oils. The quality is typically much lower.
9. Replace
As you are healing from TSW and Eczema, it’s important to replace towels, pillows, and even your bed.
Over time, the oozing will ruin and sink into your items. No matter how much you wash it, nothing beats new.
So when your oozing has slowed down or even stopped, think about completely replacing them.
Out the old, in with the new!
10. Optimism
This is probably the hardest thing to do but stay positive.
No matter how long it takes, you will get better, the day-to-day will get better.
You know in the end, this will all be over.
So focus on the day-to-day, rather than waiting for it to all be over.
Focus on today and ask yourself, what’s the one thing I can do today that will make me happy? What would make today a little bit more tolerable?
It could be binging a new show, taking a nap, or eating your favourite foods.
Stuck on your healing journey?
I’ve been there.
Nothing was working. Acupuncture. Homeopathy. Ayurveda. This diet. That diet.
Celery juice. Meditation. Skin brushing. You. Name. It.
Not to say none of this is helpful.
But what you need is focus. You need to stick to one plan. That’s been created for you. Personalized for your lifestyle.
And you would probably benefit from working with a Skin Health Coach for at least 3 months.
“But where can I find a Skin Health Coach?!”
This is your lucky day my friend because I know someone.
Me.
Yes, I gotta tout my own horn sometimes.
I only became a Skin Health Coach after helping myself heal from topical steroid withdrawal.
Oh, and learning to manage my eczema.
I know what you are going through on a mental, emotional, and physical level.
Let me help you. Don’t be scared to ask for help. Don’t suffer all by yourself.
Check out the XZMA Warrior Healing Program and let me help you get back to your normal self.