This is the worst.

Seriously. This is the worst my Darier's has been since back in my 20s when I didn't know what it was. It is sore, weepy, itchy, and this is better than last week - granted I needed to let my skin calm down after me trying to put everything on it (TL;DR Bio Oil will mess you UP!)

The pictures can't really capture how red/scaly/irritated/ it is (thanks iphone camera and my lame photography skills) and it's spreading past my usual areas to upper neck and my back... I haven't been this concerned in a while. Yes, I know it's only been 2 months since I went on the IUD and I hear that changing your hormones can affect your Darier's and I have always believed that - I mean, come once a month my "lady time" makes my skin flare up to the point of tears. Now it's at that as base level and it's driving me crazy....

So I'm doubling up on Vitamin A topically and orally in pill form. I'm even splitting the gel cap of the 10000 IU and putting it on the saddest part on my right shoulder/neck. Not applying cover up and letting it breath, lots of scarves and turtlenecks... I am going to talk to my doctor about hormone therapy to see if I can settle this down with more estrogen or progestin, as the low dose from switching t an IUD is the ONLY thing that has changed - I still eat the same, drink the same, and my supplements haven't changed. So that's gotta be it. 

I don't know if I can ride out my natural body chemistry - my friend said it took her body about 6 months to adjust to the IUD after doing pills for most of her life and that's the same boat as me. But, she didn't have her skin reflect her inner chemical circus! 

Gah. This is the worst. 

What Works vs What Doesn't

What Works vs. What Doesn't  (...for me anyways)

So I saw Bio Oil on sale at Shoppers Drugmart and decided this was the say I try it. It was hyped a few years ago as "the thing" for skin ailments such as scars, stretch marks and dark spots and some skin issues.

BAD IDEA

I have never felt my skin on fire or itchy as much as I have on Bio Oil

I took pictures of how it got worse and worse but instead of posting that, which isn't helpful, I decided to do a round up of what IS WORKING for me..



I also have fallen in love with my oil diffuser and essential oil therapy... I have been chatting with a friend who does oil mixology and the top skin soothers are frankincense and lavender. I have those oils 7 drops each in coconut oil applied by a roller vial like this:

So far it's not making it worse nor making it better but I like the way it makes me smell and feel so I will keep on trying it on my pulse points and behind my ears instead of perfumes.

So there's my overview, combine the above with low sugar intake, no dairy, low red meat, low/no cured meats. I do eat gluten and I do like wine and cider every now and then, but no beer, when considering my diet with all the above.

And I have to mention that I am on a low hormone IUD for the first time in my life and it is making my skin FREAK OUT so that is why I am trying all these things because I'm impatient and want a fix NOW instead of waiting out the hormonal flux that is happening now that I am off birth control and with that the regular hormones that came with it from the pill...

I also joined a group on facebook!  Maybe it's for you too? They talk a lot about the medical side of Darier's which I soon might have to look into as I age and deal with a loss of supplementary hormones.

Tell me what is working for you!