Eczema cream addict with red, scaly skin cruelly called a ‘MONSTER’

Woman cruelly called a ‘MONSTER’ when her skin turned red and scaly and her hair fell out is finally in recovery after breaking her ’10-year addiction to eczema cream’

• Nina Ajdin, 28, from Wheaton, Illinois, spent 10 years battling her addiction
• In the beginning, the creams soothed the red, scaly patches on her body
• But she eventually decided to stop taking them at 17 – and suffered side effects
• Doctors were baffled when her fair fell out and she was covered in red, raw skin
• Topical steroid withdrawal because it is not widely accepted by the medical

A woman cruelly called a ‘monster’ by bullies after steroid creams made her skin burn and hair fall out is finally in recovery. 

Nina Ajdin, 28, from Wheaton, Illinois, was suicidal during her 10 year addiction to the controversial creams.

In the beginning, the creams soothed the red, scaly patches on her body. But she eventually decided to stop taking them at 17.

Doctors were left baffled as Ms Ajdin’s hair then fell out and she was left completely bald, with her body covered in red, raw skin.

She was not diagnosed with topical steroid withdrawal because it is a theory not widely accepted by the medical community.

It was only when Ms Ajdin watched a video online about the severe reactions to coming off the drugs that she realised what was wrong. 

Now, for the first time in over a decade, Ms Ajdin – who is working in customer services and applying to start a degree in business management – is finally starting to lead a normal life.

Scroll down for video 

Nina Ajdin, 28, from Wheaton, Illinois, spent 10 years battling her addiction to the controversial creams (left, during her withdrawal, right, pictured in recovery)

In the beginning, the creams soothed the red, scaly patches on her body. But she eventually decided to stop taking them at 17 (pictured: symptoms of her withdrawal)

She said: ‘I’m finally able to start living a normal life. I still get flares, but not nearly as bad as they used to be. I know overall my body is healing inside and out.’ 

Ms Ajdin was prescribed steroid creams at the age of ten to help ease symptoms of eczema. She revealed the creams would help her rashes to subside. 

But when she stopped taking them as a teenager, she went bald and had ‘third degree burns’ from her scalp to the soles of her feet.

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Ms Ajdin was unable to move, walk, eat or dress herself without assistance and doctors were clueless as to what was wrong.    

She added: ‘It got to the point I felt like I’d rather be dead than dealing with what I was going through.

‘The most difficult part of it was the lack of awareness in the medical community. Every doctor I went to just told me to keep taking the steroids.’

She was not officially diagnosed with topical steroid withdrawal because it is a theory not widely accepted by the medical community (pictured: the symptoms of her withdrawal)

It was only when Ms Ajdin watched a video online about the severe reactions to coming off the drugs that she realised what was wrong (pictured: the symptoms of her withdrawal)

Ms Ajdin claims she visited more than 100 doctors. 

The reactions from the creams reportedly put her in a comatose state for up to 23 hours and caused bulling by strangers who called her a ‘monster,’ leading her to have suicidal thoughts.

This forced her to stay at home and isolate herself from the outside world.

In addition to the rashes and hair loss, a fluid with a foul smell was oozing from Ms Ajdin’s skin during the withdrawals.

She said: ‘When the oozing was really bad, I couldn’t go out at all. It just smelled like my skin was rotting away.

‘At the worst point, I was oozing so badly that I had to sleep with five towels underneath me.’

Ms Ajdin was prescribed steroid creams at the age of ten to help ease symptoms of eczema. She revealed the creams would help her rashes to subside (pictured recently in recovery)

Ms Ajdin burst into tears when she watched the video as she said it offered her an answer for her 10 years of suffering (pictured: the symptoms of her withdrawal)

WHAT IS TOPICAL STEROID ADDICTION? 

Topical steroid addiction happens when steroid creams, which can be used to treat skin conditions like severe eczema, are used for too long or in too high a dose. 

First described in 1979 in the International Journal of Dermatology, the theory is that, over time, the skin becomes ‘addicted’ to the steroids.

So when the patient stops using the steroids, the skin has withdrawal symptoms which can be worse than the original problem the drugs were used to treat.  

Symptoms can include:

• Redness, particularly on the face, genitals and area where the steroids were applied
• Thickened skin
• Burning or stinging 
• Dryness
• Skin sensitivity and intolerance to moisturisers  

Many sufferers also develop insomnia.  

Treatment focuses on anxiety support, sleep aids, itch management, infection prevention and drugs to weaken the immune system.

Excessive sweating and itching is a sign of recovery. 

Doctors should advise patients to avoid long term or high dose steroid use.

Source: DermNet NZ 

Her father then stumbled across a video online about the symptoms of topical steroid withdrawal four years ago. 

Topical steroid withdrawal is a theory not widely accepted by the medical community. Some experts say the sore and itchy skin caused by eczema end up being caused by the steroid creams used to treat the condition and that the only way to break this cycle is to stop using steroid creams altogether. 

First described in 1979 in the International Journal of Dermatology, the theory is, over time, the skin becomes ‘addicted’ to the steroids. And when patients stop using the creams it triggers a reaction that makes the problem worse.  

Ms Ajdin burst into tears when she watched the video as she said it offered her an answer for her 10 years of suffering.

She decided her best option was to go cold turkey and let the withdrawal symptoms work their course. 

After dealing with even worse symptoms for the next few years, Ms Ajdin has now had clear skin for four months and is finally starting to recover.

She said: ‘I’m working, I’m not afraid to leave the house anymore, I receive my Associates degree, and I’m applying to Bachelor’s programs.’

As part of her recovery, Ms Ajdin has also been taking Kratom, an Asian tea that is on the verge of being banned in America.

She claims the plant-based supplement has helped her battle the depression caused by the condition and improve her mood. 

Ms Ajdin wants other sufferers of TSW to know it is important to not lose hope, as she went from wanting to die to now being able to live a normal life.

She said: ‘It’s crazy to think that I went from wanting to take my own life to finding a solution.

‘I hope other sufferers realize that no matter how bad it gets, their life will go back to normal one day.’ 

Ms Ajdin wants other TSW sufferers to know it is important to not lose hope, as she went from wanting to die to now being able to live a normal life (pictured: symptoms of her withdrawal)

She said: ‘It’s crazy to think that I went from wanting to take my own life to finding a solution’ (pictured: before she suffered from withdrawal)

Ms Ajdin added: ‘I hope other sufferers realize that no matter how bad it gets, their life will go back to normal one day’ (pictured recently in recovery)

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