Here's a list of steroids names use to treat Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis

This potency chart shows brand-name topical steroid medications along with the generic version. Please note that the percentage of ingredient in the medication does not always correlate with the strength of the steroid. This list is not comprehensive.

Brand name	Generic name
CLASS 1—Superpotent
Clobex Lotion/Spray/Shampoo, 0.05%	Clobetasol propionate
Cormax Cream/Solution, 0.05%	Clobetasol propionate
Diprolene Ointment, 0.05%	Betamethasone dipropionate
Olux E Foam, 0.05%	Clobetasol propionate
Olux Foam, 0.05%	Clobetasol propionate
Temovate Cream/Ointment/Solution, 0.05%	Clobetasol propionate
Ultravate Cream/Ointment, 0.05%	Halobetasol propionate
Vanos Cream, 0.1%	Fluocinonide
Psorcon Ointment, 0.05%	Diflorasone diacetate
Psorcon E Ointment, 0.05%	Diflorasone diacetate
CLASS 2—Potent
Diprolene Cream AF, 0.05%	Betamethasone dipropionate
Elocon Ointment, 0.1%	Mometasone furoate
Florone Ointment, 0.05%	Diflorasone diacetate
Halog Ointment/Cream, 0.1%	Halcinonide
Lidex Cream/Gel/Ointment, 0.05%	Fluocinonide
Psorcon Cream, 0.05%	Diflorasone diacetate
Topicort Cream/Ointment, 0.25%	Desoximetasone
Topicort Gel, 0.05%	Desoximetasone
CLASS 3—Upper Mid-Strength
Cutivate Ointment, 0.005%	Fluticasone propionate
Lidex-E Cream, 0.05%	Fluocinonide
Luxiq Foam, 0.12%	Betamethasone valerate
Topicort LP Cream, 0.05%	Desoximetasone
CLASS 4—Mid-Strength
Cordran Ointment, 0.05%	Flurandrenolide
Elocon Cream, 0.1%	Mometasone furoate
Kenalog Cream/Spray, 0.1%	Triamcinolone acetonide
Synalar Ointment, 0.03%	Fluocinolone acetonide
Westcort Ointment, 0.2%	Hydrocortisone valerate
CLASS 5—Lower Mid-Strength
Capex Shampoo, 0.01%	Fluocinolone acetonide
Cordran Cream/Lotion/Tape, 0.05%	Flurandrenolide
Cutivate Cream/Lotion, 0.05%	Fluticasone propionate
DermAtop Cream, 0.1%	Prednicarbate
DesOwen Lotion, 0.05%	Desonide
Locoid Cream/Lotion/Ointment/Solution, 0.1%	Hydrocortisone
Pandel Cream, 0.1%	Hydrocortisone
Synalar Cream, 0.03%/0.01%	Fluocinolone acetonide
Westcort Cream, 0.2%	Hydrocortisone valerate
CLASS 6—Mild
Aclovate Cream/Ointment, 0.05%	Alclometasone dipropionate
Derma-Smoothe/FS Oil, 0.01%	Fluocinolone acetonide
Desonate Gel, 0.05%	Desonide
Synalar Cream/Solution, 0.01%	Fluocinolone acetonide
Verdeso Foam, 0.05%	Desonide
CLASS 7—Least Potent
Cetacort Lotion, 0.5%/1%	Hydrocortisone
Cortaid Cream/Spray/Ointment	Hydrocortisone
Hytone Cream/Lotion, 1%/2.5%	Hydrocortisone
Micort-HC Cream, 2%/2.5%	Hydrocortisone
Nutracort Lotion, 1%/2.5%	Hydrocortisone
Synacort Cream, 1%/2.5%	Hydrocortisone

http://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/treatments/topicals/steroids/potency-chart

So what are the healing steps in TSW?

In TSW you don't know when you going to get better only time allows us to heal. The healing process varies between individuals from one to four years depending on the potency and duration of roids used.

Whats are the healing steps in TSW?
You can have one step forward and 2 steps back. So don't take this too seriously and think that your one good day is leading you to more the next few days. There will be ups and downs with TSW. This is what I am experiencing as I am healing.

1) Itch maybe accompanied by hives, shingles, herpes, cold sores, blurry vision, swollen lymph nodes, constipation, severe mood swings, panic attacks, dehydration (dry chapped broken lips).
2) Bleeding/Weeping/Oozing/Raw Skin
3) Tight dry skin accompanied by burning (skin on fire) and chills
4) Itching continues by drawing more blood
5) Itch stops, burning continues followed by chills and insomnia
FYI do not force yourself to sleep even if you didn't sleep for 2 days straight, can trigger panic attacks. Sleeping or anti anxiety meds won't work at this point. TSW can be that BRUTAL and no matter what you try, it has a mind of its OWN!
6) New spots developed ( right arm & right inner thigh, legs and face) Don't panic! ( Easier said that done :)
7) Cycle repeats over next 20- 25 days with new itch areas.

Advanced Healing
1) Intense itch kicks in! (6 to 8 hours no breaks)
2) Skin heals right away, then itch again (3-4 hours no breaks)
3) Intense burning, chills. Scratching from head to toe.
4) One day break
5) Itch comes back with vengeance - itching longer hours (12 to 18 hours)
6) Skin getting stronger, less bloody, less oozing
7) Itching, oozing, skin gets really tight; Burning and chills subsides replaced with "ants crawling sensation"
8) 2 days break... Yah!
9) Able to sleep 4 to 6 hours without waking up every hour.
10) 4 to 9 repeat, with itch getting less intense
11) Foul smell develops.. is that another advanced sign of healing?

FYI took 4 Doxepin and still wide awake!!! During TSW, nothing works, you can eat an apple and flare which you did not 2 days ago!

Please do not suggest or recommend seeing more doctors! The only doctor I would go see is Dr Rap!

Dear friends,

I have done plenty of research, seen a dime and dozens of  "specialists". If they meant well and the roids worked I be sleeping at this hour. All I am asking for is lent me an ear to rant. I had enough with these so called "doctors" who learnt from same "textbooks". Is easier to teach a dog not to bite than to educate doctor's on Topical Steroid Addiction/Withdrawal.

THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED TO KNOW... PERIOD. It only makes you angrier to convinced them that your symptoms are REAL. What do you mean burning? They don't like to know they are STUPID, so they make you the stupid one by telling you, is DEFINITELY chronic eczema! Now you doubt even if your gut feeling was right about ROIDS! You may have been through withdrawal once or many times. The symptoms were so unbearable (flares and other new areas affected) and doesn't seem to end, that's why you went back to same or another dermatologist to find out the same diagnosis as the previous one did, CHRONIC ECZEMA.
Is common for new derm to bad mouth the last derm for not giving you the right meds. So now this new derm, is going to pump up the potency of the roids (both oral and injected), higher strength TS, antibiotics, anti histamines (day and night). Guess what it works!!! 2 weeks later... You flare and burn again!!!

Trust your gut!
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=gut-second-brain

Here's a video about Dr Rapaport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7dXTkq0fn0

Bottomline doctors are not healers! Their interest is to make money and fulfill their self fictitious importance - EGO!!! Let's face it, if they don't prescribe ROIDS they might as well say goodbye to their profession!

Marathon Continues...

I soaked in Epsom Salts with a touch of Himalayan Salt (out of Dead Sea Salts) at 12:30am. Couldn't soak more than an hour. It stung so bad, couldn't sit still in the tub. Bath can be so calming and yet stinging. Some days not sure which part of my body should go in first.

Right after bath I stayed up all night itching away. After the one day break past 2 days, my itch came back with vengeance  Ask God for a day relieve but didn't know I had to pay back :)

I did set up a TSW gift registry and today my first package arrived. Bamboo Salt roasted 9x. This product is expensive but I heard from another TSWer back in Brunei it is well worth it. Going to give it a try.

http://www.mybamboosalt.com/MSProductView.aspx?itemcode=S02-B&lang=&itemoptioncustom=

Going to make my bath!!!

Good Night!

Itching Marathon without Terrorist Interference from 1a to 6a! Longest marathon I tore up :)

After a day break, you hoping for another. Payback time. I itch from 1a to 6a, at this point not much damaged can be done, since the skin is learning how to heal itself. When you stop or done itching, it burns. Nerves twitching is another symptom because the skin is so tight. Not sure between the intense burning & nerve pain or itching is more fun. Some TSWers were prescribed with gabapentin aka neurontin or Lyrica. These meds are used to treat chronic deep, radiating pain nerve pain caused by diabetes, shingles, fibromyalgia or a spinal cord injury.

Unfortunately I can only use ice and natural supplements. I am allergic to anti histamines, antibiotics, pain killers and codine. Sleeping meds don't work on me either. At least with natural supplements, I don't feel so guilty when I get a reaction and so far natural alternative didn't really caused any flare ups. Maybe they just placebo pills :)

brb...

It is taking so long just to draft this ... Itch is relentless. It has come to a point this is eating me alive. Trying to stay positive, is not easy. I meditate whenever I can, 2/3x a day, there's is no escape with the itch. You can do anything like bathing for hours and breathing exercise, once you stop, the itch welcomes you!

Itching now... Please god, just for today!!!

One happy day break!!! Thanks to Margarita

Last night had a good break. Thanks to my dear friend, Margarita who came and helped me clean, cook, laundry and distracted me from scratching. She recently went to see John of God in Brazil and brought me some water from the casa. I was so down the day before, crying and all. 

I was able to fall asleep after an hour bath (usually 2 -3 hours). Is important during TSW to soak in Epsom Salts, Dead Sea Salts or Himalayan Salts to disinfect and calm ourselves. Play some soothing music in the background and have a sip a cup of hot chamomile tea while soaking in the bath. Make sure lights off and no mirrors! So I don't scare myself with me :)

Margarita had to leave at 4pm this afternoon. Took a short nap and woke up with panic attack because it got dark outside. Dreaded for the night to come. This is where itchy devil possess me. During TSW forget about sleeping, you will be waking up every sec because your skin is on fire and itchy. Past week I took ibuprofen 800mg, sometimes up to 1200 mg. When the burn subsides, the itch comes, You can't WIN!
Btw if you ever mentioned burning skin, Derm will diagnosed chronic eczema. How is that so, when does eczema burns? They don't get it, when they are wrong and they try to hide their stupidity by saying "TEXTBOOK" or "CLASSIC CHRONIC ECZEMA". 

There are currently only 2 doctors who identify/diagnose TSWers; one is Dr Rapaport in California and Dr Mototsugu Fukaya in Japan. Dr rap understands the burning, insomnia and intense itch very well. Anyways here's a video of Dr Rap..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNbtSGurllM

Pre Requisite quiting synthetic corticosteroids

http://members3.jcom.home.ne.jp/mioworld/E.prerequisite.html
Written by Japanese doctor

What is necessary to overcome these difficulties with less agony and avoid a setback to go back under protection of corticosteroids ?
I would like to present several prerequisites below for ones who want to leave corticosteroids.

1) motivation

Why don't you want to use corticosteroid ointments?
You must collect informations, think over and decide by yourself. Your own clear motivation will be essential to hold on.

2) strong will

Natural healing process is not easy. This will be a thorny path. Weak-willed person won't be able to endure.
Can you take the responsibility of your choice by yourself?

3) financial guarantee

4) helper

As you quit repressing symptoms, strong inflammation will occur.
It may prevent you from living and working as usual temporally or for quite a long time.
I suppose many AD patients cannot help choosing corticosteroids use because they feel the responsibility to live themselves or to work for their living.
But I dare ask you whether you really don't have another option.
Don't you think you may contrive if you want to realize it by all means?
It'll take a long time, but you will have better times as well as worse times. If you can manage today, tomorrow will come.

Maybe you are a gentle person who don't want to make a nuisance of yourself to others. But one cannnot live alone. It is the hard fact that you need other's help when you are in bad condition. Don't be too constrained. You may help them back when you become better.

About the helper, the most likely candidate will be your family member.
Maybe your parents will be the helper first. Considering they are much older than you, you'll agree that earlier practice will be preferable.
If you already have your spouse, this challenge will reveal whether each of you has a true respect to another or not.
You must be honest and considerate to the helper.
If your condition is not light, you will need plural helpers. Long-lasting hard days without recess will wear the helper out. You had better gaze around to find understanding relatives or friends.
Mental helpers are also important whom you can talk and confess difficulties.

5) social problem

During the term of withdrawal aggravation, or some more time, you won't be able to go to work or school.
So you'd better choose when to start. Times when have less influence to your career will be better. Generally, younger time will be fine. Younger times are also profitable since you can get earlier recovery because of more physical strength and less complicated situation.

Generally, a fixed social position is considered quite important for an adult as a proof of being a valuable person in the society. So you may feel rather alienated and frustrated if you lose or have lost your position due to your absence for recuperation.
But don't be too discouraged.
Is it so important as usual people say? Isn't it natural there are several setbacks or intervals during long lifetime? -Don't be tied to the fixed idea. You go your own way.

6) medical support

In Japan there're a small number of physicians who ackowledge AD patients who quit corticosteroid so far. Though I don't know much, I suppose situations will be similar in other countries. Therapists of alternative medicines may be more preferable than usual dermatologists.

Medical support will be important in case of severe secondary infection( caused by staphylococcus, streptococcus, and herpes simplex virus), some decline in general condition or severe acute allergic state like anaphylaxis. If you have severe facial eruptions or history of patting your face due to itch, ophthalmologist's examination is essential for fear of complications like cataract or detachment of retina.

But supportive physician is valid for every case. He(She) will give you medical informations, some drugs or remedies, and above all, mental assistance to overcome this long predicament.
You should take it to heart that the leading role of this precess is you, not the doctor. You must not depend on your doctor too much. There's not a certain remedy for AD to cure. So the main force to cure is the power for spontaneous healing in you. Doctors cannot give you the healing without your effort.

It is also important that you should take proper care of yourself.
Restoration of injured inflammed skin itself will require lots of energy from you every day.
Unwholesome living will mar your power for spontaneous healing and may cause not only secondary infections, but also an attack of anaphilaxis.
Recovering phase is another point to care. Rapid widening of range of activity to get back the delay may cause anaphylaxis, too.

So I lied about being eczema free by end of Feb 2013!

I am not so much of a writer, so this is hard for me. I found out a month ago that I am battling with TSW (Topical Steroid Withdrawal)

Today wan't too bad of a day. The fact that 2 days ago my sweet gracious master from Dahn Yoga came by to give me private, topless meridian tapping and brain vibration exercise. I needed the tapping so bad that my body was heated up and I felt I was detoxing!!!

Anyways  being awake all last night and icing left arm till 7am. I quickly requested my bf(poopie) to draw me a bath with a mix of Dead Sea Salts and Himalayan Salt (one cup each). It lasted 2 hours and managed to take a nap in the bath tub. Day dreaming how my day would go. so I plan to go for a walk after my bath. Not everyday I like to do something outdoors. Been stuck inside my gloomy(shades down) apartment for almost 25 days now since the start of 2nd flare March 13th 2013. The only time I been outside was for doctor's appointments and Trader Joes' after. I missed a couple of appointments because my skin was oozing too much.

Anyways I ended up scratching my dried up arm... LOL
I am definitely taking this scratching challenge well. I was laughing so hard when I drew blood, my poopie turned around and asked if I am ok. He really thinks I been indoors too long and the laughter wasn't a good sign... LOL

Past week, I have been so depressed and depleted from this on going viscous no end itchy scratchy cycle. This is what TSW is all about. Massive mood swings, intense itch (every sec) no joke, it can hit you when you are in the middle of making a comment on Facebook and you go to say brb... and you never coming back for a good 1 to 3 hours. This is how relentless the itch can be. Once you start, the feeling of satisfaction turns into orgasmic minus the smell of blood.