Topical steroids can suppress the skin for years, then withdrawal leaves it unable to find a stable state at all.

In this episode, we sit down with Mazin Al-Khafaji, doctor of Chinese medicine and co-author of a manual of acupuncture points, to explore treating TSW through Chinese medicine. We unpack what potent steroids do to the skin barrier and microbiome, the three phases of treatment, and why rushing to heavy tonics can reignite the fire you just put out.

Healing skin that's been stripped of its own defenses isn't a quick fix, it's a slow rebuild that asks for patience from both practitioner and patient.