PETITIONClosedPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Review the prescribing and sale of topical corticosteroids
We ask the government to review prescribing protocols and over-the-counter availability of topical corticosteroids. We believe that topical corticosteroids have been over-prescribed and irresponsibly prescribed for decades – leading to what is known as ‘Topical Steroid Addiction’.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
2,106
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 2,106/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 2,106/100,000
Background
This can cause the iatrogenic illness known as ‘Red Skin Syndrome’ – often misdiagnosed as ‘worsening eczema’.
The recovery process - ‘Topical Steroid Withdrawal’ is brutal, highly debilitating, and often lasts for years. Healthcare professionals need to fully understand the potential serious side-effects of these medications before prescribing them to patients, to prevent unnecessary, preventable suffering.