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Former frontwoman of the iconic metal band Crisis, Karyn Crisis, has recently launched a fundraiser to raise awareness and support for those suffering from Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), a debilitating condition that has impacted countless lives worldwide, including Karyn's.
On January 5, 2025, Karyn Crisis launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe after becoming disabled and disfigured due to a medical injury.
In a detailed post accompanying the announcement, Crisis shared the full story of her Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), revealing that two years and 10 months ago, she suffered a medical injury that has left her struggling with daily, unpredictable, and violent pain attacks.
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Crisis described the severe impact on her life, explaining that she no longer recognizes herself and that the injury has drastically affected her ability to care for herself -
"2 years and 10 months ago I was medically injured, which as left me disabled and disfigured and facing unpredictable and violent attacks of pain daily, along with other complications. I don’t recognize myself in the mirror," Crisis wrote.
As Karyn Crisis has shared her story and discussed the skin conditions resulting from this injury, the symptoms and causes of Topical Steroid Withdrawal have been examined.
According to National Eczema, potential symptoms of TSW include a burning sensation, flaking, shedding, peeling, or spreading skin, swelling, or dermatoses in affected areas, among others. The condition is often caused by prolonged use of topical corticosteroids.
Understanding Topical Steroid Withdrawal and its symptoms
According to WebMD, Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), also known as Red Skin Syndrome, is a condition that can develop after the prolonged use of topical corticosteroids. It can also occur when these steroids are taken in excessive amounts or stopped abruptly.
These medications are commonly prescribed to treat various skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. However, not everyone will be affected by these steroids, so it is important to be aware of the symptoms.
In addition to the previously mentioned symptoms, others can include erythema (redness of the skin), wrinkling, thinning of the skin, oozing, pus-filled bumps, steroid dermatitis, pain, insomnia, hair loss, shivering, fatigue, depression, and disability.
The symptoms of Topical Steroid Withdrawal can vary from person to person, and they are most commonly observed in areas such as the face and genitals.
According to WebMD, there is no definite and singular cause of Topical Steroid Withdrawal. It is believed that discontinuing steroids or using them for prolonged periods can cause the body to release a substance that widens blood vessels under the skin, contributing to the development of this condition.
This information provides a general understanding of TSW. For expert advice and personalized treatment, it is important to consult a doctor or specialist.
Karyn Crisis starts crowdfunding campaign for Topical Steroid Withdrawal fight
On Sunday, January 5, 2025, reports surfaced online announcing that Karyn Crisis, the former frontwoman of the band Crisis, has launched a crowdfunding campaign after being left disabled and disfigured due to a medical injury.
Along with the announcement, she shared a lengthy statement reflecting on how she ended up in this condition and how she is currently coping with the challenges.
In her post, she also requested support, highlighting the need for physical therapy for her feet in order to regain some mobility or, at the very least, improve her walking posture —
"I still need : physical therapy for my feet since I’ve not been able to walk on one and both are mangled due to walking on ti[ toes and strange ways to get by. I have other issues needing to tend to. I’ve found a practitioner to help with some symptom support. I don’t know when I’ll be better. I’ve already had some moments where I thought everything was healing up, only for the cycles to begin again," Crisis wrote.
Previously, on September 26, 2022, Crisis also addressed her condition in an Instagram post, where she shared the GoFundMe link to raise funds for her treatment. According to Metro, as of January 14, 2025, nearly $12,000 has been raised.
No further updates have been provided at this time.
