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The Prescribed Addiction

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Girls Who Film is a collective group of female Video Journalists based in London.

Our current project is called The Prescribed Addiction. It aims to investigate the world of topical steroids and their usage in the treatment of common skin conditions such as eczema.

Our friend Emma, like millions of others, has suffered from moderate eczema for most of her life. After years of relying on prescribed topical steroids to manage her condition, she believes her skin became ‘addicted' to the treatment. She stopped using topical steroids and has spent several months affected by what she believes to be Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), a debilitating and life-altering condition caused by the overuse of topical steroids. The condition is also referred to as Red Skin Syndrome.

Most doctors do not recognise TSW, but there are thousands of other people like Emma, reporting the same distinctive symptoms which include: full or part-body skin flushing bright red, burning, oozing, flaking, an intense itch, chills, nerve pain, insomnia, fatigue and depression/anxiety, amongst others. Almost all report insufficient medical support or a lack of understanding of their condition.

Topical steroids are currently the most common treatment for eczema, and in most cases can be very effective. These steroids are completely different from those in contraceptive pills or used for bodybuilding. They need to be used appropriately and under the supervision of a medical professional and it is widely accepted that these creams or ointments shouldn't be used daily for longer than 2-4 weeks. However, this is not always the case, and many find themselves prescribed this treatment on a long-term basis.

The link between the use of topical steroids to treat eczema and the withdrawal symptoms is not yet properly understood. Our documentary aims to investigate it.

To do this, we need your help. We've set up this page to raise some funds for the production of this documentary. Any money raised will go towards hiring cameras, edit suites and buying equipment. In turn, we hope to raise the profile and understanding of this complex condition.

Thanks for your help!

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Girls Who Film #GirlsWhoFilm
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