Lifestyle Tips for TSW Healing

This is for everyone. Whether you are receiving medical Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) at our TSW Clinic or not, adopting a skin-safe lifestyle can be a fundamental key to unlocking your healing.

Patients experiencing Topical Steroid Withdrawal* (TSW) / Red Skin Syndrome* (RSS) have very fragile and hypersensitive skin that needs extra care and attention. Our medical Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) treatment is one modality to healing but it goes hand in hand with patients managing their lifestyle to minimise flares.

"It’s like driving a car. CAP can accelerate but you steer"

CAP is a tool to accelerate healing, but you are in the drivers seat. Adopting skin-safe lifestyle choices will ensure you’re steering in the right direction for smoother, longer-term healing, both with and without CAP. Below we detail examples of common flare triggers that anyone suffering with TSW* / RSS* can learn to be aware of and avoid.

*TSW (Topical Steroid Withdrawal) refers to redness, burning, irritation, skin thinning or other adverse effects of topical steroid use. It can also be known as Red Skin Syndrome, Topical Steroid Addiction and Topical Steroid Damage.

A person driving a car during sunset with mountains in the background.
Ocean waves with a dramatic sky filled with pink and purple clouds at sunset.
Sunlight filters through a misty tropical jungle with palm trees and dense foliage at sunrise or sunset.

Flare triggers that can delay
TSW / RSS healing

Triggers are internal or external stimuli that can exacerbate symptoms and prolong recovery from Topical Steroid Witdrawal* | Red Skin Syndrome*.

Flares are not random.

Understanding these triggers help you to regain a sense of control. 

Triggers can be divided into 3 groups; Internal, External and Physical. All patients have different levels of sensitivity to different triggers so it’s important to be your own detective and learn what is aggravating your skin. In our experience, external triggers,  particularly irritants (usually chemical substances in your environment), are the most common flare trigger. See below to learn more about each group below! 

Internal Triggers

  • Stress

  • Lack of Sleep

  • Menstrual Cycle

  • Physical Illness

  • Food & Drink

Learn about Internal Triggers

External Triggers

  • Irritants

  • Allergens

  • Infections

  • Climate

Learn about External Triggers

Physical Damage

  • Scratching

  • Rubbing, Slapping, Hitting

  • Sun Damage

  • Friction

Learn about Physical Damage

Common Culprits

What Triggers a TSW Flare?

If you are healing from Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) or Red Skin Syndrome (RSS), your skin barrier is compromised, making you hypersensitive to everyday factors that healthy skin ignores. Identifying these "culprits" is essential to stop the cycle of inflammation and accelerate healing.

New Furniture

Laundry Detergents

Peeling Citric Fruits

Skincare Products

Makeup

Soaps

Perfume and Deodorant

Moisturisers

Construction

Lingering Toothpaste

Pesticides

Dust Mites

Cleaning Sprays

Scented Wipes

Harsh Shampoos

Pollen

Kimchi

Glue

Car Scent Diffusers

Wine

Dusty AC Vents

Paints

Exhaust Fumes

Sun Damage

Air Pollution

Scented Tissues

Mold

Dust Mites

Bleach

Scented Candles

New Furniture Laundry Detergents Peeling Citric Fruits Skincare Products Makeup Soaps Perfume and Deodorant Moisturisers Construction Lingering Toothpaste Pesticides Dust Mites Cleaning Sprays Scented Wipes Harsh Shampoos Pollen Kimchi Glue Car Scent Diffusers Wine Dusty AC Vents Paints Exhaust Fumes Sun Damage Air Pollution Scented Tissues Mold Dust Mites Bleach Scented Candles

Perfume and Deodorant

New Furniture

Peeling Citric Fruits

Skincare Products

Makeup

Soaps

Laundry Detergents

Moisturisers

Construction

Lingering Toothpaste

Pesticides

Dust Mites

Cleaning Sprays

Scented Wipes

Harsh Shampoos

Pollen

Kimchi

Glue

Car Scent Diffusers

Wine

Dusty AC Vents

Paints

Exhaust Fumes

Sun Damage

Scented Candles

Air Pollution

Scented Tissues

Mold

Dust Mites

Bleach

Perfume and Deodorant New Furniture Peeling Citric Fruits Skincare Products Makeup Soaps Laundry Detergents Moisturisers Construction Lingering Toothpaste Pesticides Dust Mites Cleaning Sprays Scented Wipes Harsh Shampoos Pollen Kimchi Glue Car Scent Diffusers Wine Dusty AC Vents Paints Exhaust Fumes Sun Damage Scented Candles Air Pollution Scented Tissues Mold Dust Mites Bleach

Testimonials

  • Two polaroid photos of a man with curly hair, one showing his side profile with TSW skin damage and the other showing him smiling with healthy skin.

    "The environment, the team and the space really supported my healing."

    - Te Rima Whakatau

  • Comparison of two women photos, with different TSW skin conditions, showing before and after skin treatment effects.

    "TSW recovery is not only about CAP, but adjusting my whole lifestyle was the key."

    - Anna Novykova

  • Before-and-after photos of a woman showing TSW skin improvement; the first photo shows her with severe skin issues known as Topical Steroid Withdrawal and the second photo shows her smiling with clear, healthy skin.

    “Wave Skin Wellness has been more than a clinic for me.”

    - Annina Martignoni

  • Two Polaroid-style photographs of a woman, one with eyes closed and visible facial redness (TSW), the other with eyes open, smiling, and wearing a pearl necklace with a shell pendant, in front of a window with outdoor scenery.

    “Treatment days quickly became the best days of my week”

    - Maria Kondrashova

TSW Healing Stories with CAP