2024 Update: diet and oils

 I have been experimenting a lot…

Not only do I center DWD (Dariers White Disorder) in my diet and lifestyle, I also try to make room for alleviating migraines and my allergies.

This has led to new experiments in my diet as I am now 41.

I am taking 200 mg CoQ10 daily, plus 5g of powdered collagen in my mourning tea with oat milk. This is to help the elasticity of my skin and the strength of my nails. Some with DWD experience horribly brittle nails and I have found with proper diet I have avoided this. But things start to decline for skin repair and need a bump once we start aging into our 40’s.

I’m also starting to take Chaga mushroom powder in my drinks or sprinkled on my peanut butter and toast. The less stress my body experiences either through dehydration, improper food nourishment or mental health the better - it all causes flares, migraines, and anxiety for me.

And last but not least I have started using castor oil for deep moisturizing: it’s very thick so I find spot treatment is best like on my neck and face when I’m flaring. But spreading it on body flares on my back or torso is… unpleasant. But it’s hydrating, odourless, and doesn’t sting. What does irritate my flare is the thickness and me spreading it and pushing it into my skin. So I just use it as a dab here and there and it’s great! Love it as an evening hydration. (Any castor oil will do as long as it’s became free and in a uv protected glass bottle and organic).

Good luck out there! 

End of May update: Summer is coming

 Update: May 27 2022

Life being on fire is part of life, right? We can't control the fact that we are living through an apocalypse, nor can I control the weather, or how other people will react to my actions. all of these things play a part in our mental AND physical health. I think that's something that many people don't realize: you can't just take a pill and think it will cure everything. 

I have found that having Darier's or Keratosis Follicularis is something that you have to look at the WHOLE picture that is your life. What are you eating? What are your stressors? What are the products that you use on your skin and hair... 

The anti histamine diet reminded me that food is a huge contributor, at least for me, when it comes to flare ups and overall skin health. My skin is looking pretty great post diet, but also I reintroduced many triggers from that list (namely gluten, peanuts, and shellfish) with little reaction (thank goddess) but I did stay off of soy milk as my go-to grab, I am now on oat milk and almond milk for coffee and tea and when cooking. 

My face with no makeup, just moisturizer (and not enough sleep!) is very clear, I think the OMEGA and Primrose have been helping my mask wearing irritations as well. Less red overall. 

Notice the Keratosis is minimal and is light pink, not really raised or bumpy, not irritated,

I really like the body wash they suggested: CeraVe has a whole line of products I just might need to get into after using this:

I was also given this advice on follow up: 

For skin:

Ground flaxseed: please consume 2 tbsp freshly ground flaxseeds each day. Add to meals or mix and drink in water. You may divide the dose to 1 tbsp twice per day if needed. Ensure you are drinking enough water throughout the day as increased fibre consumption from flax may cause constipation.

If purchasing flaxseeds whole; grind 1/2 to 1 cup in coffee grinder or blender. Freeze remaining amount to be used throughout the week. If purchasing flaxseed powder, ensure it is freeze-dried and stored in fridge/freezer. Flaxseeds are susceptible to oxidation from light and heat.

We recommend that you discontinue taking ground flaxseed should you experience any adverse effects.

Can be found at grocery stores such as Walmart, healthy planet, & or whole foods.

Sunscreen: unfortunately the Supergoop sunscreen we discussed is not sold in Canada. Please see this other great alternative:

La Roche Posay SPF 50 - found at Shoppers: https://shop.shoppersdrugmart.ca/Luxury/La-Roche-Posay/Anthelios-Mist-Spf-50/p/BB_3337872420030

I have yet to introduce these but am happy with the recommendations my naturopathic doctor has given so far. now I just need to find the flaxseed and spray. 

What's working for you?

Ending Antihistamine Diet

 Day 28: ending two weeks of the antihistamine diet

It's been about two weeks since I started the anti histamine diet and I am so ready to come off of it. As I predicted, it didn't make much of an impact because I was ALREADY eating really low in triggers. I knew going into this that alcohol and sugar are the WORST for my skin. Stress and dry air (winter in particular) also don't help. Here is my skin at the two week mark: this is my usual "resting" state. 

I remained at 142 pounds, and I felt more bloated overall thanks to the evening primrose/OMEGA pills I had to start taking. I played with when I took them and I think they are best taken with dinner, as taken with lunch I rarely felt hungry for dinner 4-5 hours later. 

Cutting out gluten was the WORST. I have a few friends that are gluten free and I have to say I'm so sorry, the impact gluten has on my routine for quick satisfying foods is really incompatible. Granted, a lot of people pity me my lack of dairy but that I never seem to miss. 

I think I will carry forward less soy milk products; not a huge difference in my blemishes and redness, but enough to continue to minimize it and not drink it in my coffee/tea/cereal/as a milk substitute. I like having both almond and oatmilk options in my fridge as it depends on what I want to do with it IE cook with oatmilk, drink almond milk.

I did have a two drink night with dinner after a stressful day of finding out my grandparents are not doing well and I have to make an emergency trip out east - and that night I had a hard time staying asleep with a 4 am panic attack. For me it seems one drink is fine, as long as it's not red wine. But if I have red wine or more than one = 4 AM wide awake sore stomach and panic. *sigh the joys of sipping red wine with my fiancé are pretty much gone :(

And on that note - I am flying off to the Maritimes to be with my Grandparents for a time and I won't be able to keep this up so the ending will be abrupt and I'm sure to get a scolding from the doctors when I return for my visit in two weeks time. Oh well. Life, rather, death, happens. 

Day 18: on the anti-histamine diet

 Day 18: on the anti-histamine diet

I hate it. Not being able to have peanut butter and kombucha, who knew that I was so attached to certain foods. So far I am eating like a horse, as my best friend Val pointed out: oatmeal, oat milk, apples, apple butter, fresh salads... Ya. I don't like this horse diet. So I decided to check pinterest for anti-histamine recipes...

I tried this one and even my fiancé ate it with me, and we laughed that it was very thanksgiving in flavour: https://drbeckycampbell.com/anti-histamine-turkey-kale-sweet-potato-skillet/ (I added rosemary and mushrooms though...)

After taking the omega and primrose with lunch, I feel bloated around 3 pm and not so hungry for dinner.

I found sweet treats to eat on this diet! ShaSha Spelt Ginger Snaps 

(all the other flavours don't pass the test)

And a check in: light pink dots, not itchy, this is the best I can hope for on the regular. But I'm daring to dream CLEAR skin so here's hoping this diet and these new supplements can do that (and be ready in time for my wedding and the low back dress I have for October 2022!

Day 14: Check in and starting new antihistamine diet

 

Day 14: The Check Up

After logging my diet for two weeks and being mindful of the way I eat, now I get to do the antihistamine diet. It looks a lot like the elimination diet I did 13 years ago...

Here is my list for the next two weeks. I'm avoiding high histamine foods such as:

And I have these as "prescriptions"

Supplement prescription #1

Used for: Supporting skin health

Name: High EPA Omega-3

Brand: Aqua Omega

Dose: 2 capsules

Route: Orally

Frequency: Twice daily

Additional Instructions: Start by taking 2 capsules once per day with your meals. After 3 days, if well-tolerated, increase to 2 capsules twice per day. Take for minimum of 3 months. Discontinue prior to any surgery as omega-3 increase blood thinning. Discontinue if you experience any adverse effects.

Available here: https://well.ca/products/aquaomega-high-epa-omega-3-fish-oil_153476.html

Supplement Prescription #2

Used for: Essential fatty acid that supports skin health

Name: EPO SAP

Brand: NFH

Dose: 1 capsule

Route: by mouth

Frequency: once daily

Additional Instructions: Can be found at healthy planet. Some side effects include upset stomach, stomach pain, headaches, & soft stools.

Body wash:

Used for: Supporting healthy skin & restoring skin barrier

Name: SA Body Wash for Rough & Bumpy Skin

Brand:CeraVe

Dose: 1-2 drops

Route: Topically

Frequency: when needed (during baths or showers)

Additional Instructions: Massage body wash into skin during showers/baths & rinse. Can be found at shoppers drug mart or on amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/CeraVe-Salicylic-Cleanse-Exfoliate-Rough/dp/B077TWXCQV/ref=asc_df_B077TWXCQV/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=336235023036&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10326168048758910330&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000908&hvtargid=pla-527480207483&psc=1

Check in:

weight: 142

skin is... pretty clear actually! I went back on CBD 15mg a day as the existential dread won out. And it isn't making my skin crazy but it sure does make my eyes itchy and nose full. So very allergic, but hey, I'd rather itchy eyes than all the fallout of the side effects of an anti-anxiety pill. 

This is as good as my skin usually gets, I just woke up too so after a full night's sleep (thank you valerian in my tea) my skin is as rested as me:

thighs are very clear from 2 weeks ago

left shoulder

right shoulder

Starting Over... Kinda.

Day 3: April 6 2022

So I'm back to the naturopathic doctor that I started with in 2009! He is still practising! And my new intern, as it's a Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) Robert Schad https://www.rsnc.ca/ is nice too.

The onboarding is a deep dive into who I am and what I do and what I eat is time consuming but helpful. My homework over the next two weeks until next check up are a weekly diet diary, an in depth lifestyle profile of environment, exercise, job... so they get a better picture of what stressors and triggers and level of activity I am at. 

Diet Diary

My "reunion" with Dr Hall made me laugh because he suggested the same thing he did to me in 2009: fish oil! Why did I ever stop taking fish oil...? 

An overview of what I am taking currently:

Pine Bark Extract pills 50mg/day

High Potency B Complex pill 100mg/day

D3 1000 IU/day

Magnesium 500 mg/day (for migraine prevention)

*sometimes Zinc 25 mg

*sometimes Valerian in my tea for sleep aid

 

And I just ran out of my CBD 15 mg oil that I used to take daily for the past 2 years that was helping me with my anxiety and insomnia. I'm taking some time off to see if is hindering more than helping as I get congested and itchy from it. Marijuana is legal here in Ontario Canada, and since legalisation I have been enjoying CDB as a way to combat my stress and General Anxiety Disorder, which was pushed into full swing since the pandemic, my friend Roberta Died, and well... the general dystopia that the world is in :P 

Immediately I am reminded of how much sugar has crept into my diet: in my peanut butter, in my soy milk, and elsewhere. I am also reminded that even though I am not gluten intolerant I do consume a lot of wheat products that can also irritate skin. 

Sigh. 

They are talking about a hypoallergenic diet. UGH. I knew this was coming. I remember the elimination diet back in 2009 when I lost 15 pounds from just not being able to eat anything FUN. 

I am asking my GP Doctor for an allergy test too; the one where you get a million needle pricks to see what you react to. I haven't had that since 2009 too. Could I be allergic to more or less over the past 13 years?

I should do a weigh in... I never weigh myself... but I know I lost weight last time and since the pandemic I have been moving less. 141 pounds. Ok. Did that. Hate that.

 

So the next two weeks will just be observation (and me judging myself in the process!) and my "team" at the clinic will be researching my skin disorder to follow up with me soon. 

Turning 40 and the Apocalypse

 So here we are again....

I just got off the phone with the same Natural Path doctor that I used in 2009 when my Darier's was getting be to unmanageable. 

I'm starting the whole process over again because I am finding due to the world on fire/apocalypse/war/pandemic plus me hitting 40 in a few months - my body is just not staying ahead of my flare-ups and over all skin health. I have DWD on my thighs (it hasn't done that in a few decades!) and on my back (upper and lower mostly), and where it usually manifests: on my neck and collar bones. 

So here we go again!

Right away they are starting me on a diet diary to see if there are triggers and thinking about putting me on fish oil (like last time... why did I stop taking fish oil?)and I will report back on what it's like to be a woman approaching 40 with Darier's White Disorder.