Singapore Chronic Eczema Sufferer Creates Blog to Help Others after Finding Cure to Chronic Eczema through Published Dermatology Articles Offered on ITSAN.org
(PRWEB) April 01, 2014 -- Singapore beauty, Juliana is helping a lot of Red Skin Syndrome sufferers more than what she could imagine. Her blog gets daily hits from people all over the world and it all started when she found the answer to her steroid induced eczema through the International Topical Steroid Awareness Network (ITSAN). She publicly thanks the non-profit for the published research and support she needed to endure the wearisome drug withdrawal all the way through.
Steroid addiction was documented and published in the 1979 International Society of Topical Dermatology Journal by Dr. Albert M. Kligman M.D. Ph.D. and Dr. Peter J. Frosch M.D.
Quote from the journal:
"Addiction to (Topical) Steroids is a serious problem which reaches tragic proportions in some cases. It is more common than realized, sly and seductive and will be prevented only when the physician becomes as impressed with the capacity of the steroids to do harm as they are with their power to suppress, not cure, virtually any inflammatory disorder."
In 2003, Dr. Mark Lebwohl and Marvin Rapaport M.D. co-authored "Corticosteroid Addiction and Withdrawal in the Atopic:The Red Burning Skin Syndrome" published in Clinics in Dermatology. Japanese doctor, Dr. Fukaya M.D. also wrote a 2010 book on steroid addiction and made a video on it as well for You Tube. These resources offered on the ITSAN site offered a life ring to Juliana and so many others suffering like her.
Juliana suffered through graduated steps of more and more steroid cream until she searched the internet via Google which led her to the Addicted Skin website now called ITSAN.org. Even though there were only four photos of Red Skin Syndrome posted, Juliana could tell that she was experiencing the exact same condition also described as topical steroid addiction recognized by certified dermatologists.
It was a huge encouragement to learn that this was something that she could recover from in time and started a blog with progressive pictures to prove it. You can read her story on the highly visited blog and see how she helps many others who come to her site for support and encouragement through their own steroid withdrawal.
In her words, "back then before ITSAN was formed, it was just a small community of people going through the same thing, giving each other support and encouragement through the Google forum. Till this day, I think the non-profit group has not changed in that aspect, it is still striving to help others by being there for one another. While ITSAN is not a medical authority, we seek emotional comfort from other skin friends and share experiences that may help others. Steroid withdrawal is a very daunting journey, it is just like exploring a new found planet where every symptom is foreign and new to us.
It is through ITSAN that I managed to ease my worries during those times when no doctor can explain my conditions. Knowing that someone else is going through the exact same thing as you makes things appear more normal than you initially thought it was, and that makes things easier to swallow - that I’m not alone in this fight. In unity, I find strength.
After having gone through steroid withdrawal, I am happy to say that this is the best decision I have ever made, even though when I was in the midst of it I could hardly ever convince myself so due to the pain and depression that I was in. It was a hard and tough journey, but it has strengthened me in ways I can never imagine. It has changed my skin for the better, and changed me into a better person.
The friends I made through International Topical Steroid Awareness Network and the support I received from them will forever be etched in my heart for we have fought a war together like comrades. Nothing ties people closer than going through turmoil together. This is one of the beauties of the support as it brought us together from all part of the world and all walks of life to forge a one of a kind friendship."
ITSAN, ITSAN: International Topical Steroid Awareness Network, http://www.itsan.org, +1 321-704-9304, [email protected]
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