Closed petition: Review and introduce safer prescribing regulations for topical corticosteroids

Closed on 18 June 2026

We ask the government to urgently review and implement stricter, safer, and more regulated prescribing protocols for topical corticosteroids - used for skin conditions such as eczema. We believe that topical corticosteroids have been over-prescribed for decades, leading to horrific side effects.

The overuse of topical corticosteroids can lead to the iatrogenic illness of 'Topical Steroid Addiction' - also known as 'Red Skin Syndrome.' This is often misdiagnosed as 'worsening eczema.'

The recovery process is the total cessation of topical corticosteroids - known as 'Topical Steroid Withdrawal.' This can be a brutal, highly debilitating and painful process, which can last for months or years. We believe prescribing of these drugs needs to be highly regulated to prevent this totally unnecessary suffering.