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Chase HendersonBoy With Eczema And Topical Steroid Cream Addiction Cure With Natural Skin Treatments
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Suffering from Red Skin Syndrome
- Steroid-Induced Nightmare
- Desperation Leads to Topical Steroid Withdrawal
- The Withdrawal Syndrome
- Horrific Symptoms
- Natural Remedies Bring Relief
- What is Red Skin Syndrome?
Boy with Eczema and Topical Steroid Cream Addiction Found Relief with Natural Skin Remedies
Red, Raw to Flawless: Boy's Journey to Overcoming Eczema and Steroid Dependence
Five-year-old Chase Henderson, once too frightened to look at himself in the mirror, has almost entirely overcome his eczema. For nearly two years, he relied on prescription topical creams, but when the withdrawals hit, the side effects were horrifying.
Suffering from Red Skin Syndrome
After going through topical steroid withdrawal, Chase became immobile and lost significant hair. His skin burned constantly, pus seeped from his pores, and he shed layers of scaly skin. Chase's mother, 40-year-old Michelle of Highland, California, feared she was going to lose her son. His body was shutting down as it fought the drug dependency.
For two years, Michelle changed Chase's sheets every morning, which were covered in dried skin and blood from his constant scratching in his sleep. The only relief Chase found was in nine-hour baths.
Steroid-Induced Nightmare
"My son was in such a terrible state, he was lethargic and had lost so much weight," Michelle recalled. "We had to wrap him in blankets to keep him warm as his body temperature was dropping."
"He couldn't walk for two months because he had lost so much muscle. He couldn't move his legs. It was all steroid-induced. But at the time, the doctors had no idea what was wrong with my son."
"We were all in tears. I thought Chase was going to die. Nobody could explain what was happening, except that he had allergies. We refused to go into the hospital, as we felt his life was in our own hands."
Desperation Leads to Topical Steroid Withdrawal
Michelle continues, "It's every mother's worst nightmare. Despite everything I did, Chase would scream in pain, scratching himself constantly, even in his sleep, until he drew blood."
"It got so bad, every time Chase looked in a mirror, he would cry. Eventually, he became terrified of his own reflection. He thought he was so ugly."
Henderson had been prescribed topical steroid creams to treat the dry skin on his body that accompanied his eczema. The dosage gradually increased, and Michelle began applying a liquid cream more frequently, eventually covering Chase's entire body. She was told to rub the topical steroid cream on his back until the rash went away. However, the rash typically returned within a couple of weeks.
At one point, she was applying cream three times a day, covering her son's body from head to toe. This continued for at least a year.
The Withdrawal Syndrome
Abruptly, the medication stopped working. Henderson's health began to decline, and his case baffled doctors. He saw 13 different specialists in three months.
A close friend of Michelle's suggested looking into topical steroid addiction. To alleviate Chase's symptoms, Michelle would have to stop using the cream abruptly.
The 'withdrawal' period can last for as long as the person has been using topical steroids, which was about two years in Henderson's case.
Horrific Symptoms
Michelle says, "The first stage of withdrawal was all scaly. His skin was so itchy all over. Every time he moved, his skin just fell off."
"Eventually, Chase was too weak to get off the sofa. His body temperature was all messed up. He was cold to the touch, but a gentle brush against his skin caused him agony. It was torture to watch."
"His skin was peeling off him. I lost count of the number of tubs of Vaseline I bought. I would slather it on him and wrap him up, trying to cool and soothe his skin."
"When he was able to get off the sofa again, his legs had lost so much muscle tone, I basically had to teach him to walk again."
Natural Remedies Bring Relief
The Hendersons consulted Dr. Wayne Dysinger at Lifestyle Medical Solutions. He prescribed natural skin remedies, free of chemicals and toxins.
Over the past year, Chase's symptoms have subsided, and today, he is about 95% clear.
"We've got our son back—it's amazing," Michelle said. "There are times when he still gets a little bit itchy, but it's nothing like it used to be."
"Last summer, Chase was able to go outside and play for the first time in more than a year and a half."
"It's wonderful to go out and see your child running and playing, and so appreciative that he has his life back."
What is Red Skin Syndrome?
Red Skin Syndrome (RSS), also known as Topical Steroid Addiction (TSA), is a debilitating condition that can occur from the misuse of topical steroids prescribed to treat skin conditions, including eczema.
Steroid addiction can also develop in people without prior skin conditions, such as those who use skin-lightening or acne creams cosmetically. Health professionals who don't wash their hands after applying topical steroids are also at risk.
Topical steroids are also known as topical corticosteroids, glucocorticosteroids, and cortisone.
They come in various forms, including creams, ointments, oils, gels, and lotions. Some are available over the counter.
Over time, the use of topical steroids becomes less effective. The condition the steroids are treating worsens and spreads to previously unaffected areas of the body. In the case of eczema, this 'progression' is often mistaken for a flare-up.
Red Skin Syndrome is an iatrogenic condition, meaning a condition unintentionally caused by medical intervention. Not everyone who uses topical steroids develops an addiction.
