Featured Mini Bios – Page 3 – Preventable: Protecting Our Largest Organ

Feature #8: Claudine and James

Claudine Arce

Age: 47

Career: ESL teacher and currently studying a Diploma in Holistic Nutrition

When did you cease using topical steroids: November 2014

What type did you use: Cortoderm, Clobetasol, Fluticasone, Hydrocortisone drops,Topiderm, Prednisone, hydrocortisone 0.5% and 1%

What is your favorite product for comfort? Irritable skin balm from Moo Goo and Edermaid face and body spray from Merry Clinic. and many supplements that helped my body during the process.

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? The burning and never ending itchiness in the beginning was almost unbearable . Having to sweep and clean every place I went because of the dry and flaky skin. The emotional burden on me and my family. The 24/7 discomfort because of the irritation on my entire body was huge.

What is the first thing you will do when healed? Hug people, wear my clothes again and enjoy each day as never before.

James De Vuyst

Age: 31

Career: Unemployed due to TSW

When did you cease using topical steroids: July 4th 2016

What type did you use: I used so many different types of TS including Elocom and Dermovate which I’m pretty sure are the strongest ones. I used them for about 3 years.

What is your favorite product for comfort? Ice packs and Vaseline.

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? The pain and extreme discomfort from the itching and inflammation have been torture. The length and unpredictability of Red Skin Syndrome are also tough to deal with.

What is the first thing you will do when healed? The first thing I’ll do once I’m healed is thank my family for helping me get through this awful process. I’m also going to thank everyone involved with ITSAN for spreading awareness of this mostly unrecognized condition. Without finding information about RSS online I probably would have lost my will to live.

Feature #7: Paloma & Juli-Anne

Paloma Rumsey

Age: 33

Career: Stay at home mom

When did you cease using topical steroids: November 5th 2015

What type did you use: Protopic (immnunosupressant) for about 10 years & triamcinolone acetonide for a few months

What is your favorite product for comfort? I used a lot of Acquaphor, original brand of Walmart brand or RiteAid brand. Also bepanthen nappy cream

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? Not being able to care or interact with my children and husband

What is the first thing you will do when healed? Take my babies for swimming classes and I will workout until I drip sweat

Juli-Anne Coward

Age: 49

Career: Artist and commended picture framer

When did you cease using topical steroids: 19th September 2016

What type did you use: Injected cortisone 6 months ( age 9), varyious topicals ranging from otc to most potent dermavate, betnovate, eumovate, hydrocortisone. Inhahled becotide, several courses of oral prednisone.

What is your favorite product for comfort? Dead Sea salt in the bath and sudo cream on the skin.

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? There are many hard parts, not knowing how long, the intensity of pain, mentally crippling, all consuming. Not being understood by doctors .

What is the first thing you will do when healed? It is hard to say at the moment there will be lots of things I will look forward to I am sure one will be renovating our Spanish house, but trying to help others and raise awareness of this disease

Feature #11: Gabrielle & Hollie

Gabrielle Guisewite

Age: 23

Career: Unemployed due to TSW, I worked as a Front Desk Manager for an alternative medicine wellness center until 5 months TSW.

When did you cease using topical steroids: End of July 2015

What type did you use: fluocinonide, triamcinolone acetonide, hydrocortisone

What is your favorite product for comfort? As much as I hate using it, Aquaphor – I wish something natural worked better, but not yet.

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? Not being able to look at myself in the mirror because of shame and disgust and pure fear that I would never look like me again. Being in pain and discomfort every single day, leading me down the long dark path of depression and being suicidal; hating your life to an entirely new level where you know you are no longer yourself. When you don’t complain about how you’re doing so others automatically assume you’re doing better, and when you complain too much others get annoyed or don’t really know what else to say to comfort you.

What is the first thing you are going to do when you are healed? TRAVEL, ENJOY LIFE & HELP OTHERS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH TSW! I am currently getting my Health Coaching certification (this is partially due to my TSW experience) and I hope to help prevent this debilitating disease while encouraging others who are going through the journey. I will never take life for granted again and will appreciate every single day in an entirely new light.

Hollie Dixon

Age: 38

Career: Teacher and a server

When did you cease using topical steroids: May 20, 2014

What type did you use: I don’t know for sure. I know I used a lot of the mild strength creams for my face, then I used Clobetasol and Mometasone for a bit after the rash had started spreading around my body.

What is your favorite product for comfort? Vaseline and gauze and Cerave lotion

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? The hardest part was the unknown and the loneliness. I also feel inadequate and like I’m not doing my job to the best of my ability. I feel like I’m robbing my students of an education. Waking up, if I was able to fall asleep, and feeling the pain and the itch immediately. From the second I opened my eyes, it began. From the second I woke up I started thinking, “I can’t do this today”. The mental struggle is harder than the physical. Every day I wonder how much longer can I go on, but in reality I don’t have many other options.

What is the first thing you are going to do when you are healed? The first thing I’m going to do when I’m healed is appreciate not being in pain. Appreciate everything around me. Waking up and getting ready to leave the house in 30 minutes. Showering. Getting in and out of the car easily. Not having dead skin surround me 24/7. Get a massage. I’m just going to live and appreciate life.

Feature #6: Sally & Susan

Sally Yirka

Age: 33

Career: Nurse (opiate addiction field)

When did you cease using topical steroids: 10/3/14

What type did you use: Triamcinolone and Betamethasone

What is your favorite product for comfort? Dead Sea Salt in the bath

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? It has changed since the beginning months to now. Now the worst part is not the physical symptoms, though I still have them and they still suck, it is the mental battle. Currently battling some pretty heavy depression/anxiety.

What is the first thing you will do when healed? I have a whole list, but the thing I have been wanting most is a tattoo. Thinking of getting a tiny Elephant (can’t help but feel connected to them with all my Elephant skin) holding a phoenix feather in its trunk behind my left ear (we all are rising from burning ashes that is for sure).

Susan Ryza

Age: 63

Career: Jewelry Designer, Crafts teacher

When did you cease using topical steroids: 9/29/2011

What type did you use: FML eye ointment, OTC hydrocortisone, 2.5% hydrocortisone, Rhinocort nasal inhaler, Asthmacort inhaler

What is your favorite product for comfort? I used Vaseline in the early months, then palm oil, then beef tallow. In the last few years, I decided not to put anything on my skin that I wouldn’t eat or at least be a pure, natural ingredient. I’ve been making my own cream mixing beef tallow, shea butter, avocado oil, sunflower oil almond oil and a few drops of lavender essential oil. I also use Hoskings cream (from Australia) on my eyelids. In the last few weeks, however, I’ve found that I’m better off with nothing most of the time, even though I still have dry, rough areas on my arms, hands and parts of my face.

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? Itching! And lack of sleep the first 6 months. I only oozed twice for a day or two, so that wasn’t a problem for me. I also never had lack of energy.

What was the first thing you did when healed? See my friends. I was a recluse for a long time because I was so itchy I couldn’t sit still. Also, just sitting still is such a pleasure!

Feature #5: Levi & Alicia

Levi Akkerman

Age: 7

Career: Student

When did you cease using topical steroids: September 6, 2013

What type did you use: Desodine cream, then ointment, then Triamcinolone

What is your favorite product for comfort? During TSW was Lemongrass balm and zinc balm from the Home Apothecary

What was the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? Nights are the hardest part of TSW, it’s like around 3am the whole body heated up with insane itch.

What is the first thing you will do when healed? Live life! We (his mother and Levi) got sporadic breaks between flares and we just tried to live happy and normal when we could. Went to Adventureland and swimming, but the best thing is just seeing his beautifully clear and smooth skin. I just rub it in disbelief and pure joy now.

Alicia Akkerman

Age: 38

Career: Homemaker

When did you cease using topical steroids: September 6, 2013

What type did you use: Desodine cream, then ointment, then Triamcinolone

What is your favorite product for comfort? Renew Intensive skin therapy lotion was my favorite product during TSW, and ice!

What was the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? I had swollen, oozing hands for the first year and was very handicap with 5 children, 1 going through full body TSW. Mornings were the hardest and would soak them in ice water to help numb the intense itch. I lived in cotton white gloves for about 6 months.

What was the first thing you did when healed? Mainly I am just so thankful for my hands now. Being able to cook and prep food again!

Feature #4: Adele & Tessa

Adele Newman

Age: 30

Career: Barmaid

When did you cease using topical steroids: July 2015

What type did you use: Prednisone. Eumovate, Elecon, Betnovate,Trimovate.

What is your favorite product for comfort? Aveeno skin relief lotion and vaseline

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? The pain and being unable to move somedays. Not being able to look after/do things with my 2 kids the way I used to.

What is the first thing you will do when healed? Take my kids swimming, do as much activities as I can with my kids, and treating myself to new clothes that don’t have to be cotton and long sleeved!

Feature #3: Megan & Sheryl

Megan Garza

Age: 25

Career: Unemployed due to TSW

When did you cease using topical steroids: September 2014 last application of TS

What type did you use: Clobetasol, Triamcinolone, Fluocinolone and Protopic 0.1% ( I’ve also been on iv/ oral rounds)

What is your favorite product for comfort? Lemongrass balm, avene thermal spring water, & organic rose water

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? The beginning days of TSW when I had cracks all over my face/ neck and oozing. Having my hands completely covered with RSS as well as oozing blisters on all my fingers. Self esteem has been shot down completely due to TSW as well as having anxiety.

What is the first thing you will do when healed? Wear a short sleeve shirt with jean shorts. Then I would take off to a beach and wear a bikini 24/7 and soaking up some sun rays.

Sheryl Morris

Age: 36

Career: Systems Support Officer, University of Dundee, Scotland

When did you cease using topical steroids: 1st time Sep 2010, 2nd time was 6th Jan 2013 (however was on orals between Mar 2013 and Dec 2013). Date stopped using any type of steroids 21st Dec 2013

What type did you use: Hydrocortisone, Elocon, Dermovate, Betnovate creams/ointments. Also used Haelan Tape (tape impregnated with steroids), oral steroids (prednisolone), hair mousse (betnovate in it)

What is your favorite product for comfort? The turning point for me came when I started using a combination of Milton bleach solution on patches skin that kept getting infected along with Manuka honey under cotton gloves for my hands overnight. I also found using Moogoo shampoo, conditioner, baby bubbles wash and nut oil free moisturiser really helping. I also use a nettle moisturisers made locally in Scotland. I used several different products over the years, some helped at different stages of the process – for example, heavy 50/50 really helped my skin when it was red raw but trapped heat and bacteria in so in the long run actually made it worse, and more itchy.

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? Recurring skin infections, lack of support from doctors/dermatologists, the uncontrollable itch, the pain, the wet feeling of ooze, feeling disgusted, the flakes of skin EVERYWHERE, depression, anxiety

What is the first thing you did when you healed? First thing I did when I got my first real break was go to Glastonbury festival and few months later got married, I did have several skin infections after this so it took a while longer before I felt truly healed.

Feature #2: Ava & Christine

Ava Knapp

Age: 5 years old

Career: I start kindergarten next year

When did you cease using topical steroids: January 16, 2016

What type did you use: All kinds but chlobetasol foam .05% is the last one I used.

What is your favorite product for comfort? Homemade zinc cream and Dead Sea salt baths

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? The burning and itching has been the hardest part. I really didn’t like all the skin I found in my bed. I’ve lost a lot of hair and some fingernails along the way, too.

What is the first thing you will do when healed? Wear dresses and sandals comfortably!! I also want to take a dance class again and be able to wear the recital outfit without having a reaction this time.

Christine Lozano

Age: 26

Career: Marriage & Family Therapist

When did you cease using topical steroids: June 15, 2016

What type did you use: Not sure exact names of topicals, but many different creams/ointments of various strengths. Most recently used oral steroids (Prednisone) April-June 2016 (for 8 weeks)

What is your favorite product for comfort? Zinc cream. Many natural supplements prescribed from my wonderful naturopthic doctor.

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? There are absolutely no words that could describe the physical, mental, and emotional pain of this journey. Every single day-to-day activity became an excruciatingly painful moment.

What is the first thing you will do when healed? I wouldn’t consider myself healed, but I’m in the process! When I am healed, I will exercise, sweat, take a completely pain-free shower, and smile.

Feature #1: Joanne & Sandy

Joanna Anderson

Age: 36

Career: Daycare provider. Forced to close business due to RSS. Unemployed.

When did you cease using topical steroids: April 2015

What type did you use: Clobetasol propionate.

What is your favorite product for comfort? Curel itch defense with ceramide.

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? Having to be alone taking care of my newborn despite the pain.

What is the first thing you will do when healed? When I am healed I will help others in need.

Sandy Weinberg

Age: 53

Career: Customer service Representative for ReadyRefresh by Nestlé (Nestlé Waters)

When did you cease using topical steroids: I stopped using prednisone the beginning of June 2015

What type did you use: Mainly oral prednisone, also Triamcinolone, Desonide Cream and Clocortolone Pivalate Cream

What is your favorite product for comfort? I have a few favorites: Stephanie’s Home Apothecary Body balms, coconut Oil and Cerave products, also started using Germolene cream…love it!

What is the hardest thing to deal with during this condition? Working out and running. Saying no to going out with friends. Not being able to sit in the sun. Missing a lot of time from my job .

What is the first thing you will do when healed? Possibly run a marathon! Spending more time with family and friends. Just enjoying life! Traveling and meeting some of the others who have gone through like myself.