A little boy was left screaming in agony after a horrific reaction to eczema steroid creams.

Colby Chun, now 20-months-old, used topical steroid based creams, oral treatments and wet wraps prescribed by doctors concerned about his severe skin condition.

But his parents Kristi, 36, and Matt, 37, found a rash came back in larger patches all over the tot's body.

Doctors, including dermatologists and allergists, decided the extreme redness was caused by the steroid treatment itself.

After ceasing the drugs, Colby underwent topical steroid withdrawal, which saw him contend with traumatic, continuous cycles of burning skin and oozing scabs.

He has now been off the medication for 17 months and his family, from Honolulu, Hawaii, were delighted this week to see him smile for the first time in months.

Kristi and Matt Chun have described their difficult ordeal

Kristi said: "Every time we increased the steroids to a higher dosage it would work and then stop, followed by it coming back with a vengeance.

"We did everything under the sun, the list was endless trying to figure out the cause for the severe eczema, we exhausted all options.

"I truthfully believe if we continued on the same path he would have been in the hospital, because he was very ill already."

The financial advisor said strangers would point at Colby when his rash was at its worst.

She added: "When we first took him off, he was red from head to toe like a lobster, strangers constantly asked what was wrong with him.

"After the red portions, it started to dry out and crack in large thick patches, then he went through the oozing stage which was the worst.

"It was the worst kind of torture, most parents can relate to seeing their child in pain but this was 24-7, with no relief.

The baby's skin became bright red and oozed with scabbing
Colby was so weak he could only whimper

"Today he is walking, laughing and sleeps through the night, his hair has grown-back and he is gaining weight like any normal baby.

"Before he was so weak he couldn't even cry, only whimpering, he wouldn't let us put him down when he was suffering but now he is so much better.

"We can count the spots now, whereas before it was over his entire body, there are large patches of normal skin now and I notice when areas disappear."

Kristi and Matt became so worried about their son they changed his diet and even altered their home environment in a bid to end his agony.

But Matt, who is a government worker, said: "I believe he could have died, he was completely swollen, missing milestones, unable to focus and eat because he was so red, swollen and bleeding.

"The point that turned me onto the idea of it potentially being topical steroid withdrawal was people on the street saying, 'Hey your baby is so red'.

"Doctors had us putting lotions all over his body, his skin was clear but looked swollen and red.

Kristi, a financial advisor, has been wowed by her son's recovery

"What finally broke the camel's back was when Kristi sent a picture of a kid on a website, I looked at it and mistook it for Colby. They looked so similar."

Kristi has become overwhelmed with Colby's "vast improvement" but wants to help other parents in the same situation.

The International Topical Steroid Addiction Network, a non-profit firm which educate and support individuals and their loved ones battling with the withdrawal effects, aided the family.

"Conventional doctors and medicine make you feel like you are crazy, and watching your child suffer is a very hard decision and path to take.

"I tell them his body is healing from the steroids, it's hard for people to understand that what he has is not eczema but Topical Steroid Withdrawal.

"Now we don't have strangers coming up and asking us what's wrong with him, we have a lot of people commenting how great he is doing and surprised by the progress," Kristi added.

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A spokesman for British Association of Dermatologists said: "Topical steroids are commonly used for the treatment of skin disease, and range in strength from mildly potent to very potent. Amongst other things, they tend to be effective at reducing inflammation, and as such are often used for managing moderate or severe cases of inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema.

"When used correctly, topical steroids rarely cause significant side effects. However, if topical steroids (particularly the stronger preparations) 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 steroid or to one of the other constituents of the topical preparation may develop, and cause more inflammation. If applied for a long time or if used on an extensive area, the steroids can be absorbed into the blood system and cause internal side effects. Because of the potential for side effects it is important that topical steroids are not taken without guidance from a doctor."