Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 3, 2026, Topical Steroid Withdrawal Awareness Day in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1517

BY: M. of A. Rules (Rajkumar)

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        February 3,  2026,  as  Topical  Steroid  Withdrawal
        Awareness Day in the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are  set  aside  to  increase  awareness  of  serious
diseases that affect the lives of citizens of the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  hereby  memorializes
Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim February 3, 2026, as Topical Steroid
Withdrawal Awareness Day, in conjunction with the observance  of  Global
Topical Steroid Withdrawal Awareness Day; and

  WHEREAS,  Both  intentional  and  unintentional  exposure to topical
steroids can lead to  Topical  Steroid  Addiction  (TSA)  and  Red  Skin
Syndrome  (RSS)  leaving  individuals  to  heal  through Topical Steroid
Withdrawal (TSW)-a painful, prolonged, and debilitating syndrome with  a
lengthy recovery process; and

  WHEREAS,   Topical   steroids  are  widely  prescribed  and  readily
available over  the  counter  to  treat  both  acute  and  chronic  skin
conditions-including  eczema,  psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and
various  forms  of  dermatitis-making  topical   steroids   a   commonly
relied-upon  treatment,  often  used  without  full  awareness  of their
potential long-term risks and side effects; and

  WHEREAS,  Topical  Steroid  Withdrawal   is   characterized   by   a
progressive  and  debilitating  range of symptoms-including intense skin
flushing, redness, inflammation,  widespread  rashes,  and  itching-that
often escalate in severity and spread beyond the original condition; and

  WHEREAS,  Additional  symptoms  may  include  hot, burning, weeping,
oozing, crusting, flaking, thickened "elephant" skin; edema; epinephrine
spikes and surges; nerve  sensitivity;  tremors;  difficulty  regulating
body temperature; severe insomnia; lymphadenopathy; and hair loss; and

  WHEREAS, TSW symptoms may arise during active use, pauses in use, or
upon  discontinuation of topical steroids, and can persist for months or
years-leaving many individuals  bedridden,  housebound,  and  unable  to
work, care for children, or attend school; and

  WHEREAS,  The prolonged withdrawal and recovery process has profound
consequences on both physical and mental health; studies show  that  81%
of  adults  and  56% of children going through TSW report anxiety and/or
depression, while 47% of adults and  11%  of  children  report  suicidal
ideation; and

  WHEREAS,  The lack of public and medical awareness-combined with the
often prolonged and painful recovery-can lead  to  significant  friction
between  patients and healthcare providers; patients may feel dismissed,
misdiagnosed, or  neglected,  while  healthcare  providers  may  wrongly
interpret  symptoms  as non-compliance and in some pediatric cases, this

misunderstanding  resulted  in  unwarranted  accusations   of   parental
neglect; and

  WHEREAS,  The  lack  of sufficient research, clinical awareness, and
recognition of Topical Steroid Addiction, Red Skin Syndrome, and Topical
Steroid Withdrawal continues to  impede  accurate  diagnosis,  effective
treatment,  and  the  development  of  standardized  medical guidelines,
limiting both healthcare provider  education  and  informed  prescribing
practices; and

  WHEREAS,   Addressing   this  gap  through  increased  research  and
education  will  promote  responsible  prescribing,  improve  diagnostic
accuracy,  and  enhance  patient  care,  ultimately providing meaningful
support and recognition for those impacted by TSW; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
support   initiatives   that  promote  public  health  and  enhance  the
well-being of all New Yorkers by encouraging efforts that  will  improve
awareness of Topical Steroid Withdrawal; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul  to  proclaim  February  3,  2026,  as
Topical  Steroid  Withdrawal  Awareness Day in the State of New York, to
honor and support those affected, raise public  and  medical  awareness,
and  encourage continued research, education, and the responsible use of
topical steroids; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of  this  resolution  be  transmitted  to  the
International  Topical  Steroid  Awareness  Network  (ITSAN), as well as
other appropriate public health and medical organizations.