Toddler addicted to eczema cream suffers agonising red raw skin after coming off treatment
A TODDLER suffered withdrawal symptoms and red-raw skin after becoming addicted to steroid cream for eczema.
Little Charlie Maddy, now five, was originally prescribed the cream to treat the skin condition, but it continued to deteriorate and he ended up in hospital on morphine.
Doctors prescribed 10 different steroids in a bid to find a solution, meanwhile Charlie's desperate parents began to do their own research into the condition.
Douglas and Karen Maddy, eventually realised he was suffering red skin syndrome, which is caused by the skin becoming addicted to steroids in the cream.
Against doctors' advice, they stopped using the creams – and claim they were twice reported to the Child Safeguarding Board for failing to treat their son.
But the couple stuck to their guns, even when their son's condition initially deteriorated.
Now Charlie, of Great Doddington, Northamptonshire, is finally on the mend.
Douglas, 32, said: "Our little boy went through months of agony thanks to these steroid creams.
"It's such a relief to know that after all those months of our little boy being in agony, he is on the mend.
"We want people to know that children can get addicted to these eczema creams, and they sometimes are the cause of a worsening condition."
Charlie, who was born in October 2011, started suffering from eczema after coming off breast milk as a baby.
But it wasn't until April 2013 that his skin started to flare up again after he began eating solid food.
Douglas, also father to Alfie, seven and Abbie, four, with mum Karen, 27, says: "The redness started coming back, especially around the face and patches on the arms."
Charlie went to the doctor and was treated with Corticosteroid creams, an anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed for eczema.
His condition worsened and the toddler would be constantly red and itchy, often screaming in pain throughout the night.
We want people to know that children can get addicted to these eczema creams, and they sometimes are the cause of a worsening condition
Douglas Maddy
By March 2014, the toddler had to be admitted to hospital and was given morphine to help with the pain.
He even had to be sedated as hysterical Charlie was trying to pull off his own skin.
Douglas, a professional magician, said: "It was so heartbreaking to watch Charlie like this.
"I spent most of my free time on internet, trying all the different advice: creams, diets, change all the soaps in the house.
"We couldn't understand how he was fine for a year and suddenly got so bad - and was worsening every day."
By the end of 2014, Douglas had changed Charlie's diet, their washing machine and powder used, went to see a private allergist to pinpoint his problems - and nothing worked.
Dermatologists had prescribed 10 different Corticosteroids in creams and ointments to put on the skin.
It was then that he came across Red Skin Syndrome - which pins the painful condition on addiction to steroid cream.
Douglas said: "Charlie was itchy and red all over, and it was becoming apparent he looked like some of the victims of Red Skin Syndrome.
"I considered the possibility that it could be the steroid therapy making him worse."
Douglas showed his research to four different dermatologists who he claims refused to accept that was the cause.
Frustrated, the dad decided to take his son off the creams entirely - going 'cold turkey'.
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WHAT IS RED SKIN SYNDROME?
Red Skin Syndrome, also known as Topical Steroid Addiction or Topical Steroid Withdrawal, is a condition that can arise from the use of topical steroids to treat a skin problem, such as eczema.
RSS can also arise from topical steroid use in individuals with no prior skin condition; such as with cosmetic use for skin bleaching or to treat acne, or in the case of caregivers who neglect to wash their hands after applying topical steroids on someone else.
RSS is characterised by red, itchy, burning skin that can appear after ceasing topical steroid treatments, or even between treatments.
Symptoms:
These can fall into two categories - those that appear while using creams and those that appear when not.
- Rebound redness between applications
- Rashes spreading and developing in new areas of the body
- Intense itching, burning, stinging
- Failure to clear with usual course of treatment, requiring a higher potency topical steroid to achieve progressively less clearing.
- Increased allergic response
Treatment:
In order to treat the condition, the use of steroid creams must be stopped.
The condition resolves over time, but no medications or methods of treatment have been proven to speed up the healing process.
Source: Itsan - the red skin syndrome support group
Douglas tells of how he felt cruel going against all the advice he had been given by multiple doctors and dermatologists - but was so desperate to try something different.
He said: "I felt terrible, because what if I was causing my child additional unnecessary suffering for something I'd read online.
"My partner put her trust in me, but I've been constantly doubting myself for several months."
A month after taking him off all the creams, Charlie's skin started to ooze, his skin got hot and started to burn and was even flaking away.
He said: "All the symptoms that people wrote about online had suddenly appeared."
The family had a consultation with Dr Marvin Rapaport, a specialist who confirmed the diagnosis.
Douglas said: "Dr Rapaport's diagnosis gave us confidence moving forward as Charlie's skin continued to get worse.
"We were having to go back to hospital, each time doctors encouraged steroids."
The disagreement got so fierce Douglas was says he was investigated by the child safeguarding board twice as medics had reported the family for their decision not to treat his skin condition with medicine.
In January 2016 Dr Rapaport gave Charlie a healthcare plan, and sent it to dermatologists who finally agreed with his suggestions.
He also found a Facebook group called topical steroid withdrawal - red skin syndrome support group, which has helped the family share advice and experiences with their son.
Charlie is now slowly starting to get better, and his sore itchy skin is finally recovering.
Douglas said: "It's such a relief to know that after all those months of our little boy being in agony, he is on the mend.
"We want people to know that children can get addicted to these eczema creams, and they sometimes are the cause of a worsening condition."
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