33-year-old Francesca Tebbutt has endured two years of hell after a common cream left her unable to put clothes on or go in the shower as her skin was trapped in a “vicious cycle”
A woman has been going through two years of hell after she noticed small red marks on her arm, initially thinking it was minor irritation. Francesca Tebbutt has spent more than two years of her life living with a relentless, little-known condition which has stolen more than just her health, but her independence, career and who she is.
The 33-year-old was diagnosed with Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) meaning Francesca endures a severe reaction to steroid creams prescribed to treat her rash. This has led to her skin burning, flaking, weeping and swelling with no warning. At her worst, even just moving her warms, putting clothes on or stepping in the show became unbearable.
“Water feels like battery acid on my skin,” Francesca said. “I have to take salt baths just to be able to tolerate it. This is my new normal.”
During winter, she couldn’t even wear a coat due to the slightest touch of fabric on her skin set it ablaze. “I couldn’t even sit still without pain. That’s when I knew something wasn’t right,” she continued.
Rewind to March 2023. Francesca, from Clunderwen, Pembrokeshire, noticed three small round red marks on the inside of her left arm by her elbow, which were mildly irritating. Having never experienced a skin condition and blessed with clear skin throughout her childhood, she was left puzzled, Wales Online reports.
“Looking back, it was nothing compared to the pain I feel now,” Francesca shared regretfully. “Honestly I wish I could turn back time, especially now knowing what I know.”
By May, when the marks hadn’t disappeared, she decided to bite the bullet and visit her doctor. Upon inspection, Francesca was told that it was likely psoriasis or eczema and given topical steroid cream; a very common prescription.
Francesca said that initial, the treatment had worked, but within weeks the rash returned—worse and spreading. Stronger steroids were prescribed, but the pattern repeated itself. Each time the steroids would clear the rash, but come back multiplied and more aggressive.
“I was trapped in this vicious cycle: steroid cream, temporary relief, then a flare worse than before,” Francesca explains.
By January 2024, after months of steroid use, Francesca decided to stop the medication and see what happened. The response was immediate and devastating.
Within that same month, Francesca said that her arms were swollen beyond recognition. She couldn’t exercise her wrists and was in agonising pain. She described the inflammation as extremely intense—burning, oozing, and unrelenting.
She recalled: “One day, I got home from work and I was shaking from the pain. I told my partner that I didn’t know what to do, so I went into the bath to try and calm it. I couldn’t get any relief.
That evening, the pain completely “erupted”, forcing Francesca to A&E. Nine hours later, a doctor admitted: “I don’t know what this is.”
For Francesca, the honesty was extremely refreshing, especially after hearing multiple doctors simply write off her condition as a common skin infection. Instead, the doctor took photos and sent them to a dermatologist for further evaluation.
Days later, Francesca was informed that the dermatologist also believed that she was suffering from a form of eczema and was consequently prescribed more steroids. Trusting her diagnosis, Francesca diligently applied the cream, which only served to worsen her pain.
“It burned like fire,” she recounted. “I had to fan myself for the burning to ease. That went on for two weeks. The swelling lessened but the rash spread constantly.”
Sleep became a stranger. She was constantly hot, uncomfortable, unable to use her hands properly. Simple tasks—washing, cooking—became insurmountable. “Every time I go to bed I have to bandage up like a mummy. I can’t lie completely under the duvet. It got to the point where I couldn’t remember what comfort felt like.”
To make matters worst, a few months later, the symptoms had spread to her face. At first, small blisters appeared around her mouth, then that extended to her eyelids. Eating became painful, her face burned constantly, and ice packs became a permanent fixture.
“Even my nephews and nieces were scared of me – they looked at me like I was something out of a horror movie.”
Again, she was prescribed steroids for her face. “Knowing what I do now, I can’t believe I actually put it on my face… it’s mad.”
Her life unravelled. An avid rock climber and wellness professional, Francesca found herself unable to move without excruciating pain. By January 2025, the suffering continued unabated.
“I couldn’t wear clothes touching affected areas because it would burn. I struggled to work because the pain would become too much; taking breaks after every two patients just to rest and manage the symptoms. I stopped going into shops because people stared. I became a shell of myself.”
That relentless pain, isolation, and unpredictability of her condition also took a severe toll on her mental health. “I’m generally positive, but six months of this broke me. I stopped making plans because I never knew what my skin would be like that day.
“It became impossible to stuff without help. Honestly, it really tested my relationship. My partner, works full time but he essentially takes care of me now. Even in the middle of night, just to help me get out of bed and change my icepacks or bandages.
“It’s difficult because my friends and family see just a skin condition. They don’t see what happens behind closed doors.”
Every day, Francesca’s skin sheds constantly, leaving flakes everywhere. The burning and stinging sensation never stops. It’s like her skin is on fire—she experiences uncontrollable itching attacks, oozing skin, and open sores vulnerable to infection.
“There’s just no break from it,” she said.
Over months of feeling this way, Francesca continued to research – desperate to find out what was happening to her. The turning point came when she discovered ITSAN, the International Topical Steroids Awareness Network.
Reading the medical symptoms and watching the educational videos was a revelation; the information mirrored her symptoms perfectly.
TSW occurs when the skin becomes dependent on steroids, and withdrawal causes severe, painful inflammation, itching, and skin damage. Despite being estimated to affect 15% of steroid users, it remains largely unknown among doctors.
The relief of finally having a name for her condition—and a community of people going through the same ordeal—was immense. She shared: “Seeing others who looked like me helped my mental health more than anything.”
Looking back, Francesca realises her initial symptoms were likely a fungal infection—not eczema or psoriasis—and she never should have been prescribed steroids in the first place.
“When I first went to the doctor, I also had bad dandruff, which would’ve hinted towards a fungal infection but this wasn’t even considered,” she claimed. “Had I been properly diagnosed, I would have been over it within four weeks. It’s heartbreaking to think about.”
However, now fully aware of her condition, Francesca has discovered a promising treatment that could give her “life back”.
Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) Therapy is a non-invasive therapy that reduces inflammation, kills harmful bacteria, stimulates skin repair, and helps restore the skin barrier—a potential lifeline for TSW patients.
The catch? The medical-grade CAP therapy is only available in three places worldwide: Singapore, Bangkok, and the UK.
“I immediately called the UK branch in Winchester but was informed that there was no immediate availability,” she said. “They were able to put me on a waitlist, but there was no indication of when they would be free.”
In her desperation, Francesca contacted the clinic in Bangkok, which confirmed her diagnosis. “They asked me to send over my medical history, to see the potency of the steroids and the length of time I had been using them.
“From that, they estimated that my recovery without CAP could take up to two years. With the treatment, my skin would return to normal within six months.
“Hearing that it could be two years before I was myself again — that was a real kick in the teeth. It made me even more determined to get this treatment.”
The caveat of it all was that Francesca would have to relocate to Bangkok for four to six months; which as a self-employed health professional, was impossible. “There are thousands of people like me who have had to go and live in these countries for this treatment. I tried to reason staying a month, but they said that by the time I settled to the change of climate, it would be pointless.”
Thankfully, in the weeks between, a spot has opened up in the UK. Francesca is about to start six months of weekly sessions, each costing £180–£270. She shared that the financial burden has pushed her to set up a GoFundMe, which has so far raised over £2,000—something Francesca can barely believe. The link can be found here.
“It has meant the absolute world to me. I was so nervous when I first set up this page, to show people these pictures of me. I didn’t know what to expect.
“But it has been unbelievable to see the amount of support. It is emotional for me to think about these people—many of whom I’ve never even met—wanting to help me get my life back.”
To add to the cost, Francesca has to take into account travel and accommodation. The clinic is four hours away, too far and risky for public transport due to infection. She’ll need overnight stays and a companion to drive and support her, as fatigue from treatments will force her to cut back work drastically.
“It’s hard to ask for help, and I feel embarrassed. But I’ve reached the point where I have to try. I can’t do this alone—though it often feels like I have been, during this ordeal.”
Her income has dropped sharply, and every day feels like scaling a mountain she never expected to climb. Yet, despite the exhaustion and pain, Francesca’s spirit refuses to break.
She’s determined to turn her suffering into strength — to not only fight for herself but to shine a light on this misunderstood condition. “TSW stole two years of my life. I want people to know about it so no one else has to suffer in silence or feel as lost and alone as I did.”
Her dream is simple, yet profound: to wake up not thinking about her skin, to fall asleep without wrapping herself in bandages, to wear clothes that she wants to wear — to look in the mirror and recognise herself.
“It brings tears to my eyes to even think about it. I want to live without the constant fear of flare-ups, without the isolation and the pain that takes over everything.”
Francesca knows the road ahead will be tough. But with the treatment, the support of strangers turned friends, and her own fierce resilience, she holds onto the hope that one day soon, this chapter will end, and a new one will begin.