Woman no longer recognises herself after eczema cream ‘burns’ skin all over body

A woman who used steroid cream to treat her eczema says it ended up ‘burning’ her skin so badly that she no longer recognises herself in the mirror, and she’s barely able to move

A woman who treated her eczema with topical steroid cream says that within just six months of using it, the steroids had ‘eaten away’ at her skin ‘beyond repair’. Nicole Mackenzie, from Glasgow, Scotland, began using the cream just over one year ago and says it ended up ‘burning’ her skin so badly that she can no longer recognise herself in the mirror.

The ‘heartbroken’ 26-year-old claims her body’s reaction to the steroid cream has left her in ’10 times more pain’ than she ever was with her eczema, and admits she can barely move or leave her own house.

According to the National Eczema Association, Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) is a serious potential side effect of using topical steroids. It can lead to a number of debilitating withdrawal symptoms, including oozing, pus-filled bumps, swelling, and burning sensations.

The excruciating pain has forced Nicole to quit her admin job, and she now spends her ’empty’ days applying moisturiser every 30 minutes and lying down. For the last four months, she’s been unable to wear anything except pyjamas, and struggles to bend her legs.

Due to her condition, Nicole experiences a ‘hot and burning’ sensation, while her skin ‘weeps with fluid’. She manages her extreme pain by taking co-codamol and morphine, and says she would not wish the agony on her ‘worst enemy’.

She’s even had to move out of the flat she shared with her boyfriend to live back at home with her mum, who she says is now her full-time carer.

Nicole said: “I couldn’t shower because the pressure of the water against my skin would hurt. I was struggling to look after my personal hygiene. It is like a disability. It completely disables you from doing anything. You cannot live a normal life and that needs to be recognised.

“I’ve had my whole life taken away from me because of a cream and the damage it’s done to me. If I’d have known the chance of this, I’d have chosen my eczema any day. I wouldn’t have ever chosen steroids if I’d known the pain it could cause.”

Nicole’s condition has also affected her mental health and feels the ordeal has completely changed her personality altogether. She now feels like a ‘burden’ to herself and others, and describes her day-to-day existence as ‘so depressing’.

She recalled: “I’m not who I used to be. I was so outgoing and confident, and now I couldn’t even imagine doing half the things I used to, like walking into a pub and doing karaoke, I just would never do that.

“When I look in the mirror I’m just heartbroken. It’s just not me anymore. It’s like I’m looking at another person. I don’t think ‘oh that’s Nicole’. I look so different, my mindset is so different, I feel so different, there’s nothing about me that’s my old self.”

Thankfully, Nicole has support from her family as well as online, where a video of her tearfully recounting her story has clocked up more than 400,000 views and 20,000 likes. She now hopes to improve awareness of her skin condition and believes far more support is needed for those dealing with issues.

Nicole explained: “It’s nice to know there are people out there like you, it gives you hope you can get better. I hope sharing my experiences will help educate others and hopefully avoid someone else down the road damaging their skin.”

Prior to starting the steroid cream treatment, Nicole had avoided them for eight years after hearing about the possible harsh side effects and only turned to them as a last resort.

Following multiple visits to her GP and referrals to the dermatologist, Nicole has now been prescribed an immunosuppressant drug. Although this isn’t a cure, it’s hoped this will stop Nicole’s skin from flaring up to the same extent, and that she’ll feel well enough to be a bridesmaid at her brother’s wedding.

“My brother’s getting married in May and I’m a bridesmaid so I’m just hoping that it’ll work,” she says.

Do you have an eczema-related story to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com