This is how different the same hands can look as TSW cycles through the various different symptoms until full recovery is achieved. It can take months to years, it can either be a long flare until the end with better and worse moments, or there can be multiple flare cycles with breaks in between.
As you can see, it can leave a person debilitated during the worst moments, and then more functional in the better times.
This is purely an iatrogenic condition, as these set of symptoms only appear after corticosteroids have been overprescribed under the assumption that the gradually worsening symptoms are ‘bad eczema’ which needs to be controlled.
It is in fact the corticosteroids which not only thin the skin, but produce a set of distinct symptoms associated with Topical Steroid Withdrawal (or Red Skin Syndrome), which is mainly a vascular issue. As corticosteroids constrict blood vessels, these dilate during TSW and in conjunction with the nerve damage this leads to spreading redness, swelling, burning, deep bone itching, shedding, flaking, thermoregulation issues, restricted movement, nerve pain, cracking, bleeding, and more.
When the hands are affected this can greatly affect a persons ability to take care of themselves and/ or others, their work, and more.
