Trying something new: Saje Restoral Ointment

I'm a bit hooked on Saje what with their amazing smelly stuff - but being so prone to flare ups and finding the more natural I go the more my skin seems to be happy with me... I started trying things other than their lavender pillow mist (which I HIGHLY recommend...) but their skin stuff.

Restoral Healing Skin Ointment's first ingredient is PINE TAR! See a theme here? My Pine Bark Extract pills are something I can't live without - and here I find this pine tar ointment?! I have to try it.

It is like a potted lip balm in texture, it's brown and it leaves a bit of an orangey brown colour on my skin when applied. BUT it is soothing and it doesn't make my DWD itch or flare. I have been using it for about a week now and my neck bumps (for lack of technical term for the bumps that are ALWAYS around) are not chapped or red, they are pink and soft. This bodes well...

I will keep trying it out and add it to the routine - though I am still applying Vit A cream at night this is something I have started to put on when I get home from work or in the morning under my make up. (Yes I sometimes use Cover FX on my neck to cover up the redness...)

I will report back after some time but I do think it might be worth a try for those who want an alternative to anti-itch creams and ointments. I used this on mosquito bites too and it helped as well!

Guest Blog: Emails from a Reader

I think it's important to keep the conversation going about what we are trying and doing to deal with DWD so after asking permission, I have the emails from a reader and myself talking about what to do around a bad flare up. Please share what you are trying and doing, success and fails are welcome - we all need to learn and lean on each other!

I just finished reading your blog.
I am reaching out to anyone who can help me at this point with my DD.
Just like you, I have and have always had it, on my neck.

This is my second worst break out and I am just so scared of another staph infection, last one turned into sepsis and landed me in hospital.

I hope to hear back from you.I have been very lucky in the past week. My roaccutane has kicked in and looks to be working, at least with clearing up weeping scabs and infection. It's still very red on my right side of my neck. Which has always been the side that breaks out and gets infected. Luckily I see my specialist in a weeks time and she can help me out that little bit more. 

What has and hasn't worked for me? Most of the time nothing works for me, I have tried several ointments that lead to a weeping scabbed up mess and often bacterial infections. A few years back when I had my last severe break out I was on several antibiotics and was lucky enough that they actually cleared it up, although I think that had more so to do with the infection rather then my dariers. I am now testing roaccutane, which has cleared up the left side (thank goodness) but cutting out dairy stopped the itch and burning I was getting.

My break out was caused by hair extensions. The hair extensions contained latex and other harsh chemicals which made my skin just break out. I have fortunately cleared my scalp, but am left with an unsightly mess on my neck. I won't lie, I am embarrassed. 

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Ho man, that sounds awful! 

Have you tried a nutritionist or something if the like? Tested for allergies/triggers? I found most of the topical creams and ointments to just soothe the itch but not actually help or deter more breakouts and spreading. 

Again, no Doctor here but... I haven't done it yet but B12 injections are supposed to calm out your whole body and skin, or CoQ enzymes supplements- I haven't gone this hardcore as I'm trying to wait until I get older as I thankfully just have patches here and there and I don't find I need a full blown therapy past my diet, vitamin A cream, vitamins orally, pine park, zinc, and knowing my triggers. Sure I always have red spots but they are rarely itchy, weeping or scaley. 

Plus there's that new therapy mentioned in one of my recent blogs you might want to try with your specialist - it's new so it's likely expensive though :( 

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I have tried a nutritionist and had not so much luck with that either. But I did find that cutting out dairy, sugar and meat went a long way with clearing it up on my scalp.

So far I have found that deep fried food, alcohol, perfumed soaps and lotions, wool, sunscreen and certain spices like chilli trigger my skin and leave it scabby and sore.

I don't mind at all if you post what I have had to say on your blog. ️ I have found that using just QV has helped me, no other brand of body wash or lotion has done much for my skin. 

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So there you have it - diet has been an issue across the board for us so that's a good place to start is with a nutritionist and allergist and family doctor.

Thanks for sharing and if anyone wants to write a guest blog please just let me know!

-Adrianna