Flare Ups and crying.

Sometimes I just want to cry. Lately my skin has been so bad that it has spread on the chest and upper back to red angry spots that burn consistently, it's like a sunburn: it itches and aches all at the same time. 

These photos do nothing for how red it is and how much it's taking over my upper body. Most of them are sores rather than the hard chapped version, and very big rather than the small pink dots I'm used to. 

Thankfully it is still off my face (phew) but I'm beginning to worry that it's getting worse. 

More of an archive for how my DWD is behaving - I don't really know what to do. I think it may have something to do with the fact I did a gym class and the poor ventilation in the room made me sweat buckets which always triggers my skin into angry mode - and I have been stressed out about an upcoming project. But really? This is the way it is now? I have to wear my stress on my skin so openly and painfully??! Not. Cool.

I also blame the fact that I can't find a Vitamin A cream that has nothing else in it, my go-to Life Brand is getting harder and harder to find. The Jamiesons one has sugar in it and smelly crap that irritate my skin. Do you have something that is working for you?

I will up my water intake and go back to meditations and double my pine bark and Vitamin B but... I don't want to go on an elimination diet again and I don't want to stop drinking alcohol completely again. Ugh. Just ugh. And sadness. 

Natural Face Scrubs

I am sick of buying tiny tubes for a ba-jillion dollars only to have my sensitive skin hate me for doing so in the long run. For a while I was making do with Neutragena Face Scrub for sensitive skin - but it wasn't exactly helping, but it wasn't exactly making me break out so I was okay with using it. Once it ran out last week I made a vow to start trying some of the DIY face scrubs I keep seeing on Pinterest (follow me if you like!)

So I tried the olive oil + sugar (at the bottom of that info-graphic) scrub and it left me very sad... The olive oil is so thick and unforgiving that it was clogging my pores instantly. It's supposed to be nurturing and make you silky smooth! Not for me! I broke out on my nose and cheek bones after that for days! NEVER AGAIN!

Next I wanted to try something without oil in it. I came upon this website: http://voices.yahoo.com/homemade-coffee-face-mask-scrub-8051090.html 

It had just coffee grinds and honey as the ingredients. Well well well - I just happen to have that in my pantry every day! Like it says on the website: if you drink coffee in the morning, you then have the perfect grinds to use for a scrub! I cheated as I only had a bit of grinds in my french press (and the espresso grind was a good bet so its not too big and coarse for your skin) and so I may have cheated a bit on the ratio but the results were still fab...

The scrub on ma face

After the scrub: a lil pink is okay!

     

The coffee grounds and honey
A lil wet but it made no difference and the Vitamin A post-scrub cream (top)

I used 1 tbsp of unpasteurized honey  + left overs from one cup of coffee espresso grind  ----->
(**note - they were German Chocolate Cake Dark Roast and left my skin smelling like CAKE! LOVE!)

I rubbed for a minute or two then left it on for another 5 minutes (the website says leave it up to 15 minutes but I'm always wary of length due to sensitivity...)

Then splash it away, dab the water, and MAN did it feel GLORIOUS! 
Then I added my Vitamin A cream all over my face and neck after.

My face feels so GOOD. It doesn't feel ouchy or burnt or gross (like with the olive oil) 
Now to see if I break out over the next few days...

Anything working for you?

I want to try oatmeal and coconut oil in some sort of scrub - I hear both are very good for our sensitive skin!

**note post-posting this: talking to a friend and she swears by coffee scrubs. She says she can keep her scrub a week (no refrigeration required) if it's kept in an airtight container (ziplock or jar) for about a week. But I like the idea of making it on demand. A lil FYI for your DIY ;)

2018 UPDATE: I have been using JUST used coffee grinds, no honey or oil, just the grinds every time I have a shower (ies easier to get it off my face and not all over the bathroom that way) I found the added oil or honey was just too much for my skin. I keep my used coffee grinds in a tiny mason jar sealed tight on my shower caddy between uses. Works like a charm! And yes, German Chocolate Cake is still my favourite :)

A little (cheap) piece of heaven

I recently got an email from a reader asking how things are going -

The short answer is good!

The long answer is...

My boyfriend started using my face/body cleanse schtuff and I started to get mad. But, in due turn, he "bought the next round" but couldn't find the Vitamin A cream I had bought from the local health food store (from my last post http://fightagainstdariersdisease.blogspot.ca/2012/12/vitamin-creams.html) What he brought home was this:

Life Brand Vitamin A and Life Brand Vitamin E

The Vitamin E stuff is THICK and doesn't really do it for me. - But the Vitamin A cream? I could MARRY IT. No scent. No thickness. Easily my favourite new thing to add to my MUST have list for my skin disorder. After a few days my face cleared of redness. After a week - I didn't wear foundation. Me. NOT WEARING FOUNDATION. Guys. Girls. World. Hear me: this is my new favourite thing! If you don't see it at your local store - inquire. Or buy online?

I mean LOOK: - this is me with just eye make up and some sunscreen (because that's how I have to roll)

So my neck and face are truly thankful. I hope you have been testing and trying new things too - if so - share please! 

All the best to you and yours,

Adrianna

Vitamin A creams

Having a flare up this month - I think it's because (sorry gentlemen but) I'm starting new birth control pills and my hormones are everywhere. Plus I'm stressing about work, and not watching my sugar intake. Or it could just be that I'm getting older and my skin is not as resilient as it used to be. 

I went to see my useless dermatologist who asked ME what was working. Huh. 

The only thing he said that was useful was about Vitamin A - I forgot it is one of the top vitamins in skin rejuvenation. So I passed on the hundred dollar cream and went and got that cream you see above at the health food store for 9.99$ So far so good. The only thing is, it has "fragrance" - which could mean an irritant. But so far that hasn't been a bother to my skin. It actually smells nice! But it is very light - made for wrinkles apparently - so it absorbs fast and I usually like heavier creams like the Lifebrand vitamin E cream. 

Anything working for you?

Candida?

Well if you have never heard of the word Candida -then nuts to you! No, I'm joking - its just that it may be my second least favourite word ever. It has to do with digestive health and the over growth of bad intestinal flora. Basically sugar becomes the evil overlord of your digestive tract and makes your life terrible.

Everything from itchy eyes, fuzzy brain function, sore throat, yeast infections, smelly feet and breath... the list goes on and on how Candida can harm you. In fact it can cause break outs on your skin and in your mouth! which is why I thought it would be interesting for you all to read.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candida_(fungus) - a fungus that lives in your gut is never a good idea...

Here check out what I'm reading:
http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/intro2.php#s2


This lead me to find this: http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert/266-myths-and-truths-about-soy.html as I cannot live without sushi and soy products I am so sad that it is on the DO NOT EAT list. I think I will have to do it in moderation as I cannot give it up. I can easily say goodbye to pastries but not unagi maki ;)

I have been complaining about a sore throat with no cough. Itchy eyes. Face and thighs breaking out with DD. Bloating and yes - the female bits have gone wayward too. I recently went on a trip to Vienna where all I did was eat pastries and coffee - gee. I wonder why my gut is all out of whack? I am in such pain. And every time I eat I feel like I just ate a turkey dinner.

This is making my Darier's freak out! I am having more and more outbreaks since eating all that sugar. I knew sugar was a trigger and thought with digestive enzymes and only doing it for a short time my body would allow for it. I was SO WRONG.

Things I knew already and are having to learn a second time:

1. milk products are bad
2. sugar is even worse
3. alcohol dehydrates past your fun night out

-basically I can't have nice things.

What am I going to do about it? Well... I may have to go see my doctor for the female bits part as I don't think I can take it much more! But a detox will have to happen and I am SO TICKED OFF about that as all I want to do is eat sushi. I am wondering if there is a way around this eliminate sushi part...

Things I SHOULD EAT

• Lentils- Lentils are so versatile and tasty. When combined with long grain brown rice they become a complete protein and lentils can be used in so many different recipes.
• Quinoa- This grain is a complete protein and can be used in place of rice and pasta.
• Avocado- This fruit is a powerhouse of nutrition and rich in healthy fat.
• Chia seeds- These little dynamos can also be added to many dishes to up their nutritional value.
• Coconut Oil- This healthy fat can be used in place of other oils in recipes and has amazing anti-fungal properties.
• Turmeric- This spice is a must on the Candida diet and is perfect with lentils. Don’t be afraid to cook with it in all kinds of recipes.
• Brown Long Grain Rice
• Garlic- The health properties of fresh garlic are many.
• All natural Greek Yogurt- A great source of protein, calcium and natural probiotics
• Oats
• Unsweetened Taheebo Pau d’Arco tea
• Green Leafy Salads
• Fresh Lemons- They are rich in vitamin C, very low in sugar, and have an alkalizing effect on the body. Lemons make a great marinade and salad dressing option.

If you want to detox along with me for the sake of DD or boosting your immune system (which is always a good idea!) I am trying this list: http://www.wholeapproach.com/downloads/WholeApproach_Food_List.pdf

I'll let you know if there are any secrets like getting sushi back in there ;)

From Chatelaine Magazine

I read this article and I thought "forget ageless beauty! I want to know this technology works for skin disorders!"

http://www.chatelaine.com/en/article/23809--it-s-all-in-the-genes-how-scientists-are-finding-ways-to-make-you-look-younger

Take a look and tell me what you think!

Itchy?

I find that when I'm stressed out my skin just crawls - it gets itchy with no rash. It just IS itchy. This is something that wasn't always so....  I wonder if it is psychosomatic or is actually a warning sign to chill out? Anyone else have this?