A mother of two was left with terribly painful, red and rough skin after she stopped using eczema creams for the first time in 35 years, and nearly lost everything during the treatment.
Christine Vyse from Perth was prescribed various topical and oral steroid medications from the age of seven, on the advice of doctors, to treat her dry, sensitive skin after her parents noticed she was allergic to their dogs.
As her skin condition worsened, she was prescribed increasingly stronger creams until she found that the highest strength cream was no longer working.
After decades of being heavily dependent on the medication, she finally stopped taking steroids in 2020, realizing her eczema wasn’t getting better.
However, her decision came at a very painful price.
Eventually, she developed topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) symptoms: a debilitating condition where the skin reacts when the creams are stopped.
The pain was so unbearable that she was glued to her sheets every morning because of the ‘moisture’ and blood seeping from her skin.
In a desperate attempt to soothe her paralysed face, the mother said her skin treatments were costing her more than a mortgage.
Christine Vyse told how she ended up with extremely painful, rough skin after ditching her eczema creams for the first time in 35 years
In a desperate attempt to soothe her crippling, swollen skin, the mother said her skin treatments cost her more than a mortgage
“My skin was constantly bleeding, red, crusted and cracking. It was a really horrible time. I’ve always taken pride in my appearance and to constantly feel so ugly and uncomfortable was awful,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I would wake up in the morning and be glued to my sheets with slime and blood, my hair would be stuck to my face, there would be cracks around my lips and eyes… just dealing with it every morning was a huge challenge.
‘I was very depressed and at one point I also had gloomy thoughts, but fortunately my motherly instincts also played a role. I could not have imagined that I would leave my children without their mother.’
Christine said her doctors prescribed her topical steroid creams when she developed a mild skin condition as a young child.
‘Over the next 35 years I became stronger and stronger, as I began to experience more and more relapses after stopping the steroids, each time manifesting itself in more severe eczema,’ she recalls.
Over time, she noticed that her symptoms were increasing uncontrollably.
Like many other eczema sufferers, she believes her skin problems are caused by the constant use of topical steroids prescribed by dermatologists and doctors.
Christine spent thousands of dollars on specialists, tests and skin treatments, including $3,000 on a red light therapy machine.
After decades of relying heavily on the medication, she finally cut steroids out of her life. However, her decision came at an extremely painful price.
Within four months of the treatments, she noticed that her skin stopped cracking, bleeding and leaking
“Over the years I’ve tried everything. Wet wipes, lots of dietary changes, multiple rounds of immunotherapy, allergy testing, even CBD oil,” she said.
‘I stopped drinking alcohol, wine in particular was a big trigger, and I avoided all the known triggers that my tests showed, such as gluten, pork, cats, horses, tree pollen, and dust mites.
‘Stress makes it worse, and I watch what I eat. I might have a piece of cake on a birthday, but then I avoid gluten like the plague.
Her body was covered with severe eczema
‘At home, we took out all the carpets, curtains, plants and trees, which reduced the chance of me having an allergic reaction. Chemicals also messed me up, and when I bleached my hair, it burned any skin it touched within seconds.’
As a last resort, in 2020 her doctor recommended an eczema treatment called Dupixent, a targeted medication that prevents the body’s immune system from overreacting and causing more inflammation than normal.
Although there is no cure for eczema, Dupixent has been described as a ‘life-changing medicine’ for Australian patients suffering from severe atopic dermatitis.
The drug is injected once every two weeks, for the rest of a person’s life.
“A box of two injections cost $1,615 a month, which made it absolutely unaffordable,” she recalled, adding that it cost her more than $2,000 a month in medications, moisturizer and specialist appointments.
Christine’s skin condition was so severe that her husband started a FIFO job.
‘I was so depressed, and when I reached breaking point my husband said “there’s no other choice”, so he took a FIFO job to pay for it. I felt incredibly guilty, but was pushed to the limit,’ she said.
Once Christine got her skin under control with the injections, she started using MooGoo cream
Christine said she had to switch from working part-time to full-time so she could afford the monthly costs of treating her eczema.
“It cost us the same as taking out a second mortgage,” she said.
‘But I got so desperate that if someone had told me that rubbing dog poop on my skin would help, I would have done it.’
When Christine managed to get her skin under control with the injections, she started using MooGoo cream.
“I found the cream to hydrate my skin without any irritation. It’s well priced and easily accessible, so it became part of my routine,” she said.
Within four months of using the medication in combination with the natural Australian skin care, she noticed that her skin no longer cracked, bled or oozed.
“It took a lot of time, money and dedication, but the difference was incredible,” she said.
Christine’s skin condition was so severe that her husband started a FIFO job and she went from part-time to full-time so they could pay $1,600 a month for her ongoing medications.
The mother cried tears of relief when the Australian government placed Dupixent on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from March 2021, making the drug subsidised for all Australians suffering from severe eczema.
On PBS, a prescription now costs her just $41.30.
“When the show aired on PBS the following year, it was like winning the lottery. We no longer had to spend so much money on medications,” she said.
Her skin has become increasingly stronger over the years.
“My skin is so soft, it’s changed my life. We don’t panic anymore when we have a rare flare-up, and know that it will go away with a little MooGoo, by watching what I eat and not freaking out about it,” she said.
‘I wake up every day feeling happy and positive. Then I go to my morning Pilates class, where I can wear an outfit that shows my skin. I am no longer ashamed of my skin or desperate about it.
“I’ve also lost weight, because I’ve gained a lot of weight over the last few years because of the steroids. I’ve gotten to the point now where people who haven’t seen me for a few years don’t even recognize me anymore. That always makes me laugh.”
She now spends less than $100 a month on her skin care routine
She now spends less than $100 a month on her skin care routine.
“I still take Dupixent, which is only $41.30 per prescription,” she said.
‘I now swear by three MooGoo creams – each under $25. They are the natural Double Cream with Ceramides, Soothing Natural Moisturiser and the Magnesium Moisturiser.
For those struggling with severe eczema or withdrawal symptoms from topical steroids, Christine said, “Urge your doctors and specialists for answers and new treatments.
‘I was lucky enough to have some amazing people, like my holistic nutritionist, who had me do some tests and supported me throughout this journey. They were expensive, but it was definitely worth it.
“If those tests ($400) were available through Medicare, we could help thousands more people who are struggling, especially with the rising cost of living.
‘I would also encourage people to seek out online support groups, such as Facebook, as there are so many people around the world who are suspected to have TSW and it really helps to know that you are not alone.’
For confidential support, call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
