Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 3, 2026, Topical Steroid Withdrawal Awareness Day in the State of New York
This resolution memorializes Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 3, 2026, as Topical Steroid Withdrawal Awareness Day in New York State, in conjunction with Global Topical Steroid Withdrawal Awareness Day. It frames the observance as a public health awareness effort focused on Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), Topical Steroid Addiction (TSA), and Red Skin Syndrome (RSS), conditions described in the resolution as painful, prolonged, and potentially debilitating reactions associated with topical steroid use or discontinuation.
The resolution explains that topical steroids are commonly prescribed or sold over the counter for skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and dermatitis, but may carry underrecognized long-term risks. It describes a range of symptoms associated with TSW, including severe redness, burning, itching, inflammation, skin changes, insomnia, nerve sensitivity, and hair loss, and emphasizes that symptoms can persist for months or years and significantly affect daily functioning, mental health, school, work, and caregiving responsibilities. The resolution also calls attention to the need for greater research, education, and responsible prescribing practices.
As a resolution, this measure does not change statutory law, create a new program, or impose regulatory requirements. Its legal effect is limited to formally urging the Governor to issue a proclamation and to transmitting the resolution to relevant health and medical organizations. Its practical impact is symbolic and educational: it seeks to elevate awareness among the public, patients, and healthcare providers, and to encourage more research and better clinical recognition of TSW-related conditions.
The overall sentiment reflected in the text is supportive and advocacy-oriented. The resolution presents TSW as a serious and underrecognized health issue and expresses sympathy for affected individuals and families. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so no contrary views are documented. The measure appears to have been introduced as a public-awareness resolution rather than a contested policy proposal.
The main points of contention identified in the resolution are not legislative disagreements but medical and public-health concerns: the lack of research, the absence of standardized clinical guidelines, and the possibility that patients are misdiagnosed or dismissed by healthcare providers. The text also highlights friction between patients and providers, including claims that symptoms may be mistaken for noncompliance and that some pediatric cases have led to allegations of parental neglect. Because there are no committee transcripts or votes provided, no formal opposition or amendment disputes can be identified from the record.