Callum Hobson, a 25-year-old electrician from Hull, East Yorkshire, has endured excruciating pain and devastating health setbacks after prolonged use of a steroid cream prescribed for a simple skin irritation spiraled into a severe condition known as Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW).
Initially treated for fibreglass-induced blemishes on his arms with a steroid cream, Callum used the medication continuously for nearly a year—far exceeding the advised five-day usage—unaware of the potential risks. He claims his doctors never warned him about the dangers of overuse or monitored his treatment closely.
By November 2023, after stopping the cream, Callum’s skin erupted into painful, oozing sores covering his face, chest, arms, and legs. The reaction was so severe that it rendered him bedridden for six months, during which he was unable to hold his newborn daughter, Maddy—who was born in April 2023. The father describes the heartbreak of missing precious moments with his child, unable to comfort her due to intense skin pain.
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“I lost three years of my life. My skin was raw, inflamed, and I was in screaming agony. I couldn’t open my mouth without pain and sometimes went days without eating,” Callum said. The severe symptoms resulted in significant weight loss, dropping from 11 stone to 7 stone.
Callum’s partner, Olivia Tweddell, who was studying Biomedical Science, learned about the risks of prolonged steroid use during a university lecture, prompting Callum to discontinue the cream. Unfortunately, this led to his skin’s “meltdown” and a hospital stay where he was treated with oral steroids, antibiotics, and immunosuppressants. Despite this, traditional treatments failed to bring lasting relief.
Determined to recover, Callum sought specialized cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) therapy—a cutting-edge, non-invasive treatment that reduces inflammation, combats bacteria, promotes healing, and reinforces the skin barrier. Each session costs £500, and Callum has completed 20 treatments totaling £10,000. Although he reports 80% healing, his hands and face remain severely affected.
To continue his recovery, Callum is raising funds for 10 more sessions, hopeful that this will finally restore his health. Throughout his ordeal, he has launched an Instagram platform to raise awareness about TSW and the risks of prolonged steroid cream use, advocating for better patient education to prevent others from suffering similarly.
Callum’s painful journey is a stark reminder of how essential it is for both patients and healthcare providers to understand the risks of topical steroids and to monitor their use closely to avoid irreversible damage.