Briana Banos, creator of the Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) documentary Preventable, discusses her journey and the lack of awareness about this condition in dermatology. She shares her motivation behind creating the documentary and how she uses filmmaking to advocate for TSW sufferers and, hopefully, eliminate this condition.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical or health advice. This podcast does not substitute medical treatment. Always consult a doctor or dermatologist regarding medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

After prolonged use of topical steroids, Briana describes the debilitating symptoms she experienced during withdrawal, including redness, swelling, burning, itching, and hair loss. Picking up a camera, Briana began to share her experiences on YouTube, which offered a transparent, behind-the-scenes perspective to TSW sufferers.

Through her documentary and the film Preventable, Briana Banos raises awareness about TSW and the severe withdrawal symptoms that could have been avoided with proper medical care. Patients living with TSW face immense physical and emotional challenges. They must receive support and not go through it alone. Briana mentions the time spent thinking about and managing her skin, how TSW impacts what she eats, her relationships, and her confidence.

While Briana has every reason to be upset about how TSW has impacted her life, this episode also discusses why Briana lives in Scotland and is studying filmmaking to produce the second chapter of ‘Preventable.’ Briana encourages medical practitioners to be open and honest with patients, even if they do not have all the answers, because patients appreciate transparency and genuine care from their healthcare providers.

She mentions the nonprofit organization ItSan, which provides resources and support for TSW patients. Additionally, she highlights the Scratch That Girls organization in the UK, which offers valuable resources for individuals in the region.

This episode is produced by Skip The Boring Stuff, a podcast strategy company for small business owners.

Organizations mentioned in the podcast:

https://www.itsan.org/
Preventable Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-pzwdSmT6o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv5Lmy-ItY0

https://scratchthat.org.uk/