what is tsw

TSW stands for Topical Steroid Withdrawal Syndrome, also known as Topical Steroid Addiction (TSA) or Red Skin Syndrome (RSS) . It is a rare condition that can develop after stopping the use of topical steroid medication. TSW can cause a severe rash, swelling, and other symptoms that are more severe and painful than the eczema it was originally used to treat. The symptoms of TSW can include burning, weeping, flaking, shedding, peeling, spreading, swelling, redness, wrinkling, and more. Treatment for TSW is different for everyone, and there is no specific timeline for how long symptoms are expected to last. While topical steroids have a role to play in the management of eczema, it’s important for the eczema community to be aware of TSW.