Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to help increase knowledge of topical steroid withdrawal for (a) GPs, (b) Dermatology departments and (c) medical schools.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reviewed topical steroid withdrawal reactions, and first communicated about these reactions in September 2021 via our Drug Safety Update, which is read by a wide range of health care professionals. This communication is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topical-corticosteroids-information-on-the-risk-of-topical-steroid-withdrawal-reactions

The MHRA has continued to monitor reports of topical steroid withdrawal, and in 2024 it undertook a further review, which is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/topical-steroids-introduction-of-new-labelling-and-a-reminder-of-the-possibility-of-severe-side-effects-including-topical-steroid-withdrawal-reactions.

During this review, further advice was sought from dermatologists, the National Eczema Society, and the Commission on Human Medicines. Consequently, the MHRA is taking forward a number of actions, including updated warnings in the product information, and the inclusion of information regarding the potency of topical steroids on the packaging. The MHRA is also engaging with the British Association of Dermatologist, who have released an updated statement, which is available at the following link:

https://cdn.bad.org.uk/uploads/2024/02/22095550/Topical-Steroid-Withdrawal-Joint-Statement.pdf

Following this engagement, the British Association of Dermatologists has formed a Topical Steroid Withdrawal Working Party Group (TSW WP), in collaboration with the National Eczema Society, Scratch That, the Primary Care Dermatology Society, and the British Dermatological Nursing Group. The aim of the TSW WPG is to produce an expert consensus and guidance on supporting people with concerns about topical steroid withdrawal, including a Patient Information Leaflet, and any revision to the joint statement, as appropriate. The joint statement is available at the following link:

https://www.bad.org.uk/topical-steroid-withdrawal-joint-statement/