A young women prescribed steroid cream for her eczema says she was left looking like a 'lobster' after using it.

Tayla McLuskie developed eczema as a child and was advised to use steroid creams by her GP.

The 23-year-old, from Manor Park, London, was horrified to find that she looked 'lobster red' after applying up to 12 tubes of steroid cream a week to her rashes - far more than the NHS recommends.

She found herself unable to sleep or even move due to the reaction, and had to give up her jobs as a barmaid and cleaner.

Some days, her skin was so sore she had to be helped out of bed and dressed by her mother, Sharon.

Miss McLuskie even resorted to sleeping outside in winter in a bid to cool down after she felt like she was being cooked.

But when she begged her GP for help, she claims she was simply told to apply more steroid cream.

Tayla McLuskie, 23, was left looking 'lobster red' after suffering a horrific reaction to steroid creams prescribed for her eczema

The reaction was so bad Miss McLuskie could barely walk, and her mother had to help her get out of bed and get dressed. She was forced to give up her job as a barmaid and waitress

Miss McLuskie even resorted to sleeping outside in winter in a bid to cool down after she felt like she was being cooked. Her hands are pictured during a flare up

Eventually Miss McLuskie was referred to a dermatologist, who took her off steroid creams and treated her with herbal remedies.

Now, she is finally seeing an improvement in her skin and has vowed never to use steroid creams again.

Miss McLuskie said: 'I was left lobster red and felt as if my skin was being cooked because of my persistent use of the steroid creams I was prescribed by my doctor.

'The medication that was supposed to make my life better has made it a misery.

'I can't sleep at night I am in so much pain from the itching all over my body.

She added: 'I constantly feel hot and have even tried to sleep outside in the garden in the middle of winter, just to cool down.

'In the mornings I would wake up in my own body fluid. Not sweat, but weeping from all over my skin.

'It's so bad that I need my mother to help dress me on some days and have found it too painful to get out of bed on my own.

'The pain I experienced was so severe that the only relief I got was in the bath. I would bathe for five hours as it brought some comfort to my skin.'

WHAT ARE STEROID CREAMS? Topical corticosteroids, or topical steroids, are creams, gels or ointments containing corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are hormones that can reduce inflammation (redness and swelling), suppress the immune system and narrow the blood vessels in the skin. Their main purpose is to reduce skin inflammation and irritation. Topical corticosteroids usually only need to be used once or twice a day for a few days or weeks at a time and should only be applied directly to the affected areas of skin. Occasionally, a doctor may suggest using a topical corticosteroid less frequently but over a longer period of time, to help prevent periods where symptoms worsen. If used as directed, topical corticosteroids are a very safe treatment. The most common side effect is a burning or stinging sensation when the medication is applied, but this usually improves as the skin gets used to the treatment. Serious side effects, such as thinning of the skin and changes in skin colour, usually only occur if too much potent or very potent topical corticosteroids are used for a long period. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

Miss McLuskie was repeatedly prescribed the creams after being diagnosed with eczema as a child.

Steroid creams are used to treat eczema as they reduce inflammation.

According to the NHS, they should only be applied once or twice a day for a few days or weeks at a time.

A thin layer should only be applied directly to the affected areas of skin.

In April this year, her eczema had got so bad she went to the GP, who told her to used the cream all over her body.

And even though the creams made her skin worse, she claims her doctor kept giving her more tubes.

'There came a point when he was prescribing me up to 12 tubes a week for my rashes,' she said.

'I found out afterwards that recommended use is two weeks maximum and that should be covered by one tube.

'I was using up to 12 tubes a week for five months and it has wrecked my body.'

Her symptoms got so bad she became convinced she was suffering from a more serious illness.

But her GP, who visited her at home as she couldn't walk, insisted it was simply eczema.

Bedbound, she asked to be referred to a dermatologist but was told it could be weeks before she was seen.

One day, she was in such pain she visited Whipps Cross hospital, where a dermatologist took her off her course of creams immediately.

Miss McLuskie said: 'Whatever I said to my doctor, he just repeated that I had eczema or dermatitis.

'It got so bad that I was bedbound and the doctor had to come round to visit me, a young fit woman who should have been perfectly capable of walking to her local GP's surgery.

Miss McLuskie was applying 12 tubes of steroid cream a week. According to the NHS, they should only be applied once or twice a day for a few days or weeks at a time. She is pictured during a flare up

'I don't ever want to use a steroid cream again because my skin, although it is still bad, is getting better the longer I don't use steroids for,' Miss McLuskie said. Her body is pictured looking 'lobster red'

'But when I had to go to hospital, the staff immediately took me to see a specialist dermatologist who was more sympathetic to me.

'She agreed to take away my creams and put me on a course of steroid tablets instead.'

After taking the tablets instead of the creams, she was thrilled when her skin began to recover - and thought this might be the end of her ordeal.

However, as she was recovering, the doctor suggested moving her to a lower dose of steroid tablets.

This saw the return of her rashes, and her dermatologist once again suggested a different type of steroid salve - which saw her skin return to its red, raw, agonising state.

I want to get better so that I can have the life a woman my age deserves Tayla McLuskie,23

She said: 'For the time that I was taking the tablets, my skin began to heal quickly and I was hopeful.

'But after I was switched onto new steroid creams, my rashes came back immediately.'

After she pleaded for help, Miss McLuskie's dermatologist then agreed to refer her to an NHS herbalist in an attempt to treat the condition naturally.

Now, despite still living with considerable pain, she is seeing gradual improvements in her skin.

She said: 'When I showed everything I found to my dermatologist, she immediately agreed and referred me to the NHS herbalist who I am to work with to find a natural solution to the problem.

'I don't ever want to use a steroid cream again because my skin, although it is still bad, is getting better the longer I don't use steroids for.

'I want to get better so that I can have the life a woman my age deserves. I should be able to have fun with my friends and I want to get there.

'I want to get better so that I can have the life a woman my age deserves. I should be able to have fun with my friends and I want to get there,' Miss McLuskie said, pictured with her steroid cream

'With herbal solutions I am really hoping that it will make a difference. It's small steps but I am going to get over this.'

A spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists, said: 'When used correctly, topical cream steroids (TCS) rarely cause significant side effects.

'However, if TCS are used for excessive periods, they may cause changes to the treated skin, including thinning, bruising, stretch marks, folliculitis and pimples, loss of skin pigment, and hair growth at the site of application.

'Burning or stinging is quite common in the first few days of treatment, however this usually clears up.

'Occasionally, an allergy to the TCS or to one of the other constituents of the topical preparation may develop, and cause more inflammation.