Support Rachel Through TSW

Hello everyone,

My name is Rachel and I’m currently 23 years old. I was previously a chef who loved cooking and could never leave the kitchen. But after a bad eczema flare in 2022, I realised my skin had been on steroids and Protopic for too long and it wasn’t working anymore.

My history of eczema brings me back all the way to when I was 3. I came back from a trip to New Zealand which left my cheeks red and dry, prompting my parents to bring me to a doctor. I was prescribed Protopic and you could say that’s why my journey with eczema began. I always had patches between the folds on my arms, my neck and sometimes my face. We were always told to manage it with steroids, Protopic and moisturisers. As I got older, I went on to taking oral steroids to suppress my eczema symptoms even further.

Today I am 1 year and 3 months in Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). TSW is a debilitating condition that has stripped away my independence, my career and my life. On good days, I can go without dabbing my oozing skin and trying to go back to normal. But most days aren’t like that anymore. I’ve noticed my skin healing rate deteriorate as time goes on.

I’ve tried several Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners who recognise TSW, Red Light Therapy, naturopathy and holistic General Practitioners. All of which have exhausted all options. Which has led me to my last “natural” option: Cold Atmospheric Plasma Therapy (CAP).

Scientific Basis of CAP Therapy

CAP is an ionized gas containing reactive species that exhibit antimicrobial properties and stimulate tissue regeneration. Studies have demonstrated CAP’s effectiveness in wound healing and its potential in dermatological treatments. For instance, research published in the European Journal of Medical Research highlights CAP’s ability to promote tissue proliferation and wound healing, making it a valuable tool in dermatology .

Application in Treating TSW

TSW is a challenging condition resulting from the discontinuation of prolonged topical steroid use, leading to symptoms like redness, burning, and peeling of the skin. CAP therapy addresses these issues by:

• Accelerating Skin Regeneration: CAP promotes the healing of damaged skin, which is crucial for TSW patients experiencing skin barrier disruption.

• Reducing Inflammation: The anti-inflammatory effects of CAP help alleviate redness and discomfort associated with TSW.

• Restoring Skin Microbiome Balance: CAP’s antimicrobial properties assist in rebalancing the skin’s microbiome, reducing the risk of infections during the healing process.

This leads me to why I have to travel. Peerawat Jay is a Thai practitioner who has been treating patients with topical steroid withdrawal in Bangkok for 16 years. His unique CAP machines have gone through various iterations and calibrations to specifically treat TSW skin have resulted in successful patient care and outcomes. The specific CAP machines and their custom tailored approach for each individual patient has resulted in patient care and treatment outcomes over the past 16 years.

After speaking to him, he has classified my case as severe, needing at least 1 full year of treatment in order to get my skin back to a stable state.

Here is the background of my steroid use to get an idea of how long I’ve been on them

Age 3-6:

Protopic 30g

Elomet 0.1% 35g

Fucicort 15g

Age 7-9: 

Betamethasone 0.025% 15g 

Densonide 0.5% cream 10g 

Protopic 2g

Age 10-12

Hydrocortisone 1% 20g 

Bethamthasone 0.0025% 10g 

Elomet 0.1% 5g

Protopic 2g

Age 13-16

Elosone cream 0.1% 15g 

Gentriderm 100g 

Elomet 0.1% 20g

Protopic 20g 

Age 17-22

Protopic 70g 

Elosone Cream 0.1% 30g 

Elomet 0.1% 50g 

Dermasone 0.1% ointment and cream 80g 

Fucicort 15g

Fubancort 10g 

Oral steroids 

Prednisolone, unsure of exact amount. Took it 4 times thoughout the my 23 years. Usually starts with 5 pills a day and taper off slowly 

Augmentin antibiotics along with each course of oral steroids 

Cost for treatment

2,000 THB/30 minutes, whole body treatment needs 120-160 minutes/visit once a week. Thankfully, the clinic has a cap limit for the treatment fee at 8,000 THB/visit.

I am seeking to raise $15,000 to cover the costs of 6 months of treatment, accommodation and travel. The bills for the past year has added up very quickly and any donation would go a long way.

Breakdown for expected expenses:

$2500 Travel costs (plane tickets and daily transport)

$7500 CAP Treatment

$2000 Accommodation

$3000 Food/Medication

Thailand is rather cost effective, so the more I can raise the more treatments I would be able to get. Leaving me in a more stable and manageable state of TSW, giving me a better outlook on recovery.

I will be documenting my journey through YouTube as I intend to bring more awareness to this debilitating condition. In the hopes that no one would ever have to go through this with the knowledge i’ve shared.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your contribution to my journey to recovery. It means the world to me.