Side Effects of Cortisone and Why Homeopathy Shines as a Safer Alternative

I worry about the way some prescriptions are tossed around in our society. I have been treating quite a few cases of eczema lately. Therefore, I have been researching the side effects of cortisone steroids. And what I have found has frustrated me. If I didn’t love homeopathy before, I sure do now!

Doing Things Different

When I am writing a blog post, I go through several stages. One, I decide what to write about. Usually, this is something I have been asked about recently or has recently happened in my family. Two, I researched the “standard medical” treatment of that topic. I include the side effects of the “standard treatment.” Finally, I will list the homeopathic remedies with zero side effects to treat my chosen topic.

However, I am going to do it a little differently this week. In researching the topic of eczema, I was absolutely horrified to see the side effects of the standard treatment. And I am going to practically beg you to use homeopathy instead.

I am a relatively “young” homeopath. Maybe not in age, but in terms of how long I’ve had a practice. I have always been scared of eczema. The skin is our largest organ, and eczema is painful and intrusive. I didn’t want to mess up!

What is Normally Prescribed?

Generally, it is a steroid cream and/or oral steroids that are prescribed. WebMD says that the steroids bring down swelling and stop skin growth to give clearer skin. Steroid cream causes skin thinning, skin lesions, and acne. So, yes, the eczema is better, but now you have other issues not present before the prescription. However, there is something much worse lurking below the surface.

Have you ever heard of “Steroid Cream Withdrawl?” I hadn’t until I listened to this PODCAST by Eugénie Krüger. That sent me on a rabbit trail of research. I like to start with sites like WebMD or the MayoClinic to see what a medical doctor would do. However, it just kept getting worse the deeper I dove.

Steroid cream withdrawal has also been called:

• Topical steroid withdrawal
• Steroid addiction syndrome
• Topical steroid addiction
• Red skin syndrome

WebMD goes on to blame the victim and says that withdrawal is only from stopping the cream too soon. However, they also tell you that you shouldn’t take it for longer than two weeks because it might cause this withdrawal.

The skin symptoms include:

• Burning, stinging, or painful skin
• Redness, sometimes in a sleeve pattern on the arms or legs
• Itching
• Peeling or cracking
• Swelling
• Pus-filled bumps

People with steroid cream withdrawal also report non-skin symptoms like these:

• Trouble sleeping
• Hair loss
• Shivering
• Tiredness
• Depression

Symptoms are often worse right after you stop taking steroids. First, the skin turns red, then it becomes itchy. The skin may clear, but there will be flares of symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from a couple of months to many years. We can call it withdrawal symptoms, but these are side effects of cortisone.

What Did You Say?

WedMD then has the guts to say, “Many people who’ve had topical steroid withdrawal say its symptoms are severe and life-altering. Yet some dermatologists question whether it really exists.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about topical steroid withdrawal. It’s not clear why it happens, who gets it, and how high the steroid dose has to be to trigger it.”

Let that sit for a minute. People who have had this happen to them say it is severe and life-altering. And then are told by doctors it doesn’t exist. I have been told my symptoms were in my head. Have you or someone you love been told what you are experiencing doesn’t exist? I have. And that makes me angry.

What About Homeopathy?

I’m so glad you asked! Another shift from my normal blog post is that I am not going to give you a list of remedies to treat eczema. I have treated seven cases of eczema in my practice so far. Each one had a different treatment path. With this condition, it is highly individualized.

Please reach out to a homeopath to find the answers you need. First, homeopathy is non-toxic and has zero side effects. Secondly, a good homeopath is going to listen to you and go the distance with you. With some of my clients with eczema, we have had to have several remedy changes as the healing has happened or because the remedy didn’t act. There must be patience on both sides. You want this done well and without any risk.

Next Steps

I hope I have convinced you that homeopathy is the way to go when treating eczema. So, what now? You need to find a good homeopath. I have listed a couple of resources below to get you started.

Homeopathy Help Network (homeopathyhelpnow.com)

Registered Homeopaths Directory – NASH (homeopathy.org)

I am a firm believer that we can treat ourselves with homeopathy. It’s a bit of a rebellious thought among most homeopaths. I like to live on the edge. But, in this case, I recommend finding someone who knows eczema and the remedies. Going with a professional will save you a lot of time and suffering.

Conclusion

I hope I have scared you straight about the dangers and the side effects of cortisone for eczema. I try to stay away from scare tactics. My preferred method is to give the facts and let the other person form their own ideas (while trying to keep my judgment off my face.) However, with this topic, the facts were scary enough.