Callum Hobson, 25, from Hull said he was unable to hold his baby girl for six months after suffering topical steroid withdrawal
Katy Hallam and Charlie Fenton
23:22, 22 Mar 2026
(Image: SWNS)
A young father was left “screaming in agony” and “lost three years” of his life after suffering a severe reaction when he discontinued the use of a steroid cream.
Callum Hobson, 25, experienced inflamed skin that oozed and peeled during his struggle with Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), also known as Red Skin Syndrome (RSS).
Callum, from Hull, East Yorkshire, said his condition deteriorated to such an extent that he missed the birth of his baby daughter, Maddy, in April last year.
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The father described not being able to hold his newborn girl for six months as “heart-breaking”.
He stated: “My life fell to bits, I couldn’t get out of bed never mind walk. It was so preventable which is the thing that hurts the most. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
He was prescribed a steroid cream in December 2022 to treat blemishes on his arms caused by fibreglass insulation whilst working as an electrician. Callum used the cream for a year, claiming he was unaware that it should not be used for more than five days.
He alleged that doctors did not warn him about the complications of overuse, according to the Express. When he ceased using the steroid cream in November 2023, oozing sores appeared all over his body. Callum said he has spent £10,000 on treatments to date and is currently fundraising for £5,000 to help him “get over the finish line”.
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Callum stated: “I was so ill and my skin was so bad I couldn’t open my mouth without severe pain. At my worst I was only eating every couple of days, and because of it I dropped six stone in weight from 11 stone to seven stone.”
Callum is now speaking out about his experience to raise awareness and prevent others from encountering a similar situation.
He remembered that before TSW, his skin was “nice and smooth”, and he hadn’t experienced acne during his teenage years. However, in 2022, he started developing itchy, eczema-like rashes on the insides of his arms, leading him to seek medical advice.
Doctors prescribed a steroid cream to manage the rashes, but Callum recalled a GP telling him to use the cream “as and when” needed to ease the itching and discomfort. The 25 year old said he applied the cream “every other week” to the rashes on his arms and face.
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He also stated that whenever he ran out of cream or if it became ineffective, he would contact the doctors who would either re-prescribe the same cream or provide a stronger one. Callum explained: “It all came out of the blue, my skin was reacting to the fibreglass. The cream would work for a week causing the blemish to go away and before I knew it a week later it was back.
“The doctors were just happy to prescribe me more and more, this went on for a year. At the time, I had no idea of the consequences of long-term use, but the doctors must have, yet they never pulled me in for a review or consultation to change the treatment.” In November 2023, Callum’s partner Olivia Tweddell, 25, was studying for a Biomedical Science degree at Hull University when the risks of prolonged steroid cream use were discussed during a lecture.
Callum discontinued using the cream without significant worry, but just a month later he said his skin went into “melt down”. His face, chest, arms, and legs became covered in itchy, painful, flaky and weeping lesions. Olivia rushed him to hospital in February 2024 fearing sepsis after his leg turned a “strange purple colour”.
He spent a week at Hull Royal Infirmary where medical staff administered oral steroids, antibiotics, and immunosuppressants to calm his skin. Callum was discharged with new treatments, but he said none worked effectively, causing his skin to flare up once again.
(Image: SWNS)
Callum said his health deteriorated significantly and he was forced to leave his electrician job in October, subsequently becoming bedridden for the following six months. The father explained: “Missing my daughter’s birth was tough. I had to keep coming and going from the hospital to wipe cream off of my skin, wash it, get dressed and head back.
“On one of those occasions Maddy was born. I have missed events due to my skin, but this was by far the biggest. Then not being able to hold her because of how painful it would have been, it was just heart-breaking.” He explained that his partner had to wash and feed him whilst caring for their newborn baby.
Callum launched an Instagram page to highlight the condition. He has been receiving cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) therapy to address his skin issues. According to the NHS, CAP is a non-invasive treatment that functions by reducing inflammation, eliminating bacteria, promoting wound healing and strengthening the skin barrier. Callum receives his treatment – which takes 35 to 45 minutes – privately at a cost of £500 per session.
He has already completed 20 sessions, totalling £10,000. The father stated he is currently 80% healed, but requires additional therapy on his hands and face, which he said are “struggling” the most. He is presently crowdfunding to raise a further £5,000 with hopes of securing 10 more sessions which he believes should “push him over the finish line”. To donate visit the GoFundMe page here.