If you suffer from eczema, dermatitis, rosacea or psoriasis, chances are, if you've been to a doctor, chemist or dermatologist, you have been prescribed a steroid cream. These irritating skin conditions are difficult to live with and steroid creams might seem like a cure all, however they do come with side effects, are made from synthetic hormones and for some milder cases, may not even be necessary if a holistic approach including lifestyle factors is taken into account.Ā
Maybe you have been using one for a while and are looking for something different to use as you know continued use of steroid cream can cause skin to thin? Maybe you would prefer to use a plant based alternative? Maybe you are looking for a way to treat Topical Steroid Withdrawal?
In this article we run though what are topical steroids, what they are used for, what exactly is Topical Steroid Withdrawal and some natural alternatives to consider that have research demonstrating their effectiveness.
What are Topical Steroids?
Corticosteroids are drugs used to treat several different medical conditions. They have varying effects on the body and are fast acting so are often prescribed for severe symptoms and for allergic reactions.
They have an anti-inflammatory effect, suppress the immune system, and can help with hormonal imbalances.
The body produces steroids which are natural hormones, these hormones are synthetically made into medical steroids. Two types of steroids are used, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, and anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass. These treatment medicines come in varying levels of strength including very potent, potent, moderate, and mild.
Conditions that are regularly treated with corticosteroids include:
- Allergies
- Eczema
- Asthma
- Hives
- Psoriasis
- Arthritis
Stronger versions of corticosteroids require a prescription, but milder options such as hydrocortisone are also available over the counter. Many people are unaware they are even using a steroid when they can easily get them over the counter.
Steroids have many well documented side effects, are not ideal for long-term use, can thin the skin over time, which increases absorption into the bloodstream, and can lead to topical steroid withdrawal in the case of steroids that are applied onto the skin.
If you are recommended a steroid cream or steroid solution to asthma or allergies, ask your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects, make sure you are clear on dosage and ask them how long they think you will need to use it for. When we ask more questions, we can make more informed choices about how we help our own body to heal and what we feel comfortable putting in and on our bodies.
For many of these conditions, there are natural alternatives available. These might be worth considering in exchange for steroids all together, to wean off steroids or to use in conjunction to minimise steroid use.
We look at the side effects and alternatives below, which will hopefully help you with questions to consider. For this article we will consider steroids mostly in the context of treating skin issues.
Using Steroid Creams for Eczema & Psoriasis
Topical corticosteroids are regularly prescribed for skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. They are used to help reduce redness, swelling, itchiness and inflammation. For some people, their eczema, psoriasis or rosacea can be managed instead with mindful use of skincare products and avoidance of known triggers. We delve deeply into holistic ways to heal eczema naturally hereĀ and we cover triggers, foods, skincare routines and more.Ā
It's important to note that if your skin is infected, it is advisable not to use steroid cream unless it is in conjunction with an antibiotic. Antibiotics can disrupt the flora and microbiome of your body, including gut and skin, leading to further exacerbation of skin issues. This is something to keep in mind if more and more things are being prescribed, have a look at our eczema post to learn more ways you can heal and manage eczema naturally.Ā
Topical Steroid Withdrawal
Research published in The Journal of American Academy of Dermatology showed Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) can cause severe reactions that are worse than the patientās original condition. TSW is more likely to occur when moderate to high potency topical steroids are stopped after long-term use (defined as more than 3 months). Symptoms may include:
- Erythema (redness of the skin)
- Painful skin
- Itching
- Burning sensation on the skin
- Flaking or peeling skin
- Extreme fatigue
- Weakness in the body
- Sleep disorders
- Hair loss
- Depression
It can seem like the eczema has come back worse than before, but TSW often gets mistaken for eczema.
Anything topical applied to eczema, is going onto broken, inflamed skin with a weakened barrier, and this increases the absorption of that topical into the bloodstream and once it is in our circulation, it is impacting every system in the body. When using a potent steroid cream for a long time, this can particularly impact the adrenal glands.
The adrenals are responsible for producing cortisol, and steroid creams are a synthetic form of cortisol, so they can mislead the adrenal glands into thinking it doesnāt need to produce cortisol. The National Eczema SocietyĀ says when an individual stops using the topical steroid, the adrenal glands take time to realise they need to produce more cortisol now that it is not being artificially simulated by the cream. This is known as hypoadrenalism, and it is why symptoms of TSW can result in extreme fatigue, weakness, and low blood pressure.
Plant alternatives to topical steroids
Hemp Seed Oil
Research on plants used to treat skin diseases recognised Hemp seed oil as a useful treatment for eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, cradle cap, acne, and rosacea due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It stated that hemp seed oil strengthens the skin and assists it in resisting bacterial, viral, and fungal infection. Medical News confirms multiple research studies that have highlighted the skin benefits of Hemp seed oil including reducing inflammation, moisturising properties, and controlling oil production.Ā
Chamomile extract
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomile) has been shown to aid skin cell regeneration and has antixodant properties that fight free radical damage on the skin. A study showed chamomile cream equally effective at treating eczema as 0.25% hydrocortisone cream.Ā
Sunflower & Coconut oil
Healing an impaired skin barrier and keeping skin moisturised is an important part of preventing eczema flareups. The National Eczema Association recommends sunflower and coconut oils as they have some scientific research behind them and because they both act as anti-inflammatories that soothe itchy skin. Coconut oil is antimicrobial which also helps eczema. Both have moisturising properties and can assist in restoring the skin barrier.
Tea Tree Oil
The benefits of Tea Tree Oil are well known and researched. Most prominently, its key bioactive component Terpinen-4-ol is a potent anti-inflammatory that may help relieve swelling, redness and irritation caused by eczema, rosacea, acne and psoriasis. Tea Tree oil has antibacterial and analgesic (pain relieving) properties which have been shown to help heal wounds associated with Golden Staph (Staphylococcus aureus).Ā
One clinical study demonstrated Tea Tree oil to be most effective as an anti-eczematic agent when used on contact dermatitis and compared to topical glucocorticoid.Ā
Tea Tree has also shown to be effective to stop itchiness when used on eczema, specifically eczema occurring on the scalp.Ā
Healing Skin Balm with Australia Hemp Seed Oil, Chamomile, Sunflower Oil & Tea Tree
We like this luscious, creamy balm that will replenish essential acids and restore and maintain skin barrier health. Its botanical formula protects from environmental aggressors including bacteria, pollution & fungal organisms, making it ideal for eczema and dermatitis.Ā It contains plant ingredients including Australian Hemp seed oil, Tea Tree oil, chamomile extract and sunflower oil.
The Skin Balm, 80g
$40
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