Father's Agony: Missed Daughter's Birth After Steroid Cream Withdrawal
A young father from Hull has described screaming in agony and losing three years of his life after suffering a severe reaction when he stopped using a steroid cream. Callum Hobson, 25, experienced inflamed skin that oozed and peeled during his struggle with Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), also known as Red Skin Syndrome.
Heartbreaking Missed Moments
Callum's condition deteriorated so badly that he missed the birth of his baby daughter, Maddy, in April last year. The father described not being able to hold his newborn girl for six months as absolutely heart-breaking. "My life fell to bits, I couldn't get out of bed never mind walk," he stated. "It was so preventable which is the thing that hurts the most. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."
Prescription Without Warning
Callum was originally prescribed a steroid cream in December 2022 to treat blemishes on his arms caused by fibreglass insulation while working as an electrician. He used the cream for a full year, claiming he was completely unaware that it should not be used for more than five days. He alleged that doctors failed to warn him about the serious complications of overuse.
When he finally ceased using the steroid cream in November 2023, oozing sores appeared all over his body. "I was so ill and my skin was so bad I couldn't open my mouth without severe pain," Callum recalled. "At my worst I was only eating every couple of days, and because of it I dropped six stone in weight from 11 stone to seven stone."
Medical Oversight and Consequences
Callum remembered that doctors prescribed the steroid cream to manage eczema-like rashes that developed on his arms in 2022. A GP reportedly told him to use the cream "as and when" needed to ease itching and discomfort. The 25-year-old applied the cream every other week to rashes on his arms and face.
"The doctors were just happy to prescribe me more and more, this went on for a year," Callum explained. "At the time, I had no idea of the consequences of long-term use, but the doctors must have, yet they never pulled me in for a review or consultation to change the treatment."
Partner's Discovery and Hospitalization
In November 2023, Callum's partner Olivia Tweddell, who was studying Biomedical Science at Hull University, learned about the risks of prolonged steroid cream use during a lecture. Callum discontinued the cream without significant worry, but just one month later his skin went into complete meltdown.
His face, chest, arms, and legs became covered in itchy, painful, flaky and weeping lesions. Olivia rushed him to hospital in February 2024 fearing sepsis after his leg turned a strange purple colour. He spent a week at Hull Royal Infirmary where medical staff administered oral steroids, antibiotics, and immunosuppressants to calm his skin.
Life-Altering Impact
Callum's health deteriorated so significantly that he was forced to leave his electrician job in October, subsequently becoming bedridden for six months. "Missing my daughter's birth was tough," he explained. "I had to keep coming and going from the hospital to wipe cream off of my skin, wash it, get dressed and head back. On one of those occasions Maddy was born."
"I have missed events due to my skin, but this was by far the biggest. Then not being able to hold her because of how painful it would have been, it was just heart-breaking." He explained that his partner had to wash and feed him while caring for their newborn baby.
Costly Recovery Journey
Callum has spent £10,000 on treatments to date and is currently fundraising for £5,000 more to help him "get over the finish line." He has been receiving cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) therapy to address his skin issues. According to the NHS, CAP is a non-invasive treatment that functions by reducing inflammation, eliminating bacteria, promoting wound healing and strengthening the skin barrier.
Callum receives his treatment privately at a cost of £500 per session, with each session taking 35 to 45 minutes. He has already completed 20 sessions, totalling £10,000. The father stated he is currently 80% healed, but requires additional therapy on his hands and face, which he said are struggling the most.
He is presently crowdfunding to raise a further £5,000 with hopes of securing 10 more sessions which he believes should push him over the finish line. Callum has launched an Instagram page to highlight the condition and raise awareness to prevent others from encountering a similar situation.
