It was 2012, and the 38-year-old mother of two had just quit the topical steroids she’d used for nearly 30 years to treat her eczema. Within days, she was crimson from head to toe, tormented by searing pain and a “bone-deep” itch.
“It literally felt like someone poured boiling water over my whole body,” Barta told The Post. The burning wouldn’t let up for five years — and in that time, she lost her career, her marriage and nearly her life.
Barta was battling topical steroid withdrawal syndrome, a debilitating condition some face after quitting high-potency creams used in treating skin issues like eczema.
Common symptoms include intense burning, redness, itching and skin shedding. Many sufferers are bedridden or housebound for months — or even years — before the effects begin to subside, according to the International Topical Steroid Awareness Network, which supports those affected.
