Favourite Products....

A bit later than planned due to being sick all week, but better late than never :)

As well as having psoriasis, I also have very sentitive skin which gets easily irritated (really bad combo!) so this is a review of my favourite products that I am currently using and find help my skin.

Cocowel Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Upon recommendation from fellow psoriasis sufferers on a facebook group, i picked up a tub of Virgin Coconut Oil. I was told it was soothing for the scalp, and seeing at this is my current most affected area, I decided to try it, and have found it to be great. Before this, I had been using Dovobet oinment, which I think isn't very good and I'd rather be using a more natural product having used steroid creams and the like in the past and seen their effects. 

  The coconut oil can be a bit messy, as it is quite oily when you rub it in your hands. I massage it into my scalp and wash it out the next day. I have been told about using it in the bath also, adding a few spoonfuls to warm water and that skin is left feeling smooth. Have yet to try that one myself. People do say that you can get rid of badness from the body by working from the inside, so have head good reviews of this being used for cooking also, certainly a more healthier option. Virgin Coconut Oil is currently available in the cooking oil/olive oil sections in both Dunnes and Supervalu, priced at €5.99.

Inecto Coconut Shampoo

It may seem like a theme with this post so far, but after hearing such good things about coconut oil, I am always on the lookout for other products which may be beneficial. So on a recent trip to one of my local chemists I discovered Inecto Coconut Shampoo and decided to try it out. It was €2.99 for a 500ml bottle so seemed like a good price for its size. I have only used this product twice, but I definitely feel a difference on my scalp. I find that with some shampoos, it feels like residue is left behind, no matter how much I rinse and rinse, which can leave my scalp feeling worse for wear. This shampoo is really soothing, and has the added bonus of leaving my hair feeling super soft! The shampoo is also paraben free, which was also nice to see. The scent is very much like vanilla, which I was very happy with as it is one of my favourite scents. I have seen that they have a big range of coconut body and hair products on their website. I am hoping to try out more of their products if I can find them in store, or possibly online   

E45 Moisturising Lotion
This lotion is perfume-free, dermatologically-tested and allergy-screened, so it pretty much is ideal for anyone with sensitive skin. I tend to use this on after a shower when my skin is still wet, to lock in more moisture. I also focus on my dryer areas, such as my elbows, knees and hips. I have gone through many body lotions, including the likes of Aveeno, and find E45 currently helps to keep my skin more moisturised, which an important part of a routine when you have psoriasis, to stop your skin from drying out.

Palmolive Soap Bar
I have been using Palmolive for as long as I can remember! I have gone through phases of trying out different shower gels and just end up with itchy, irritated skin...even before I developed psoriasis. Palmolive seems to be the only product that does not cause my skin to have a break-out. Definitely an essential product for me.

Boots Simply Sensitive Foaming Cleansing Wash 
The only facewash I have found that (so far!) does not irritate my face. The foaming action makes it easy to massage into wet skin, without the mess of creams, the easy to use pump is also a plus for this also. Leaves my skin feeling so soft and refreshed. It is fragrance and colour free and also contains soothing aloe vera. I get small patches of psoriasis in my eyebrows but I find this does not irritate it at all. Even after I use protopic to try and clear those areas.

They are all the products I am currently using in my skincare routine.  Feel free to comment with any products you find help to soothe your skin, always on the lookout for other products to try :)

~Sarah~

Lets give this another go....

So after months of neglecting this blog, I thought I'd try and get back into the swing of things and do things properly this time.

I know I don't get many readers but hoping to change that and share more info. Info about what is available in Ireland, information evening, products etc. Starting off this weekend with products I have found to ease my psoriasis.

Check back for the list/pics/info.

Thanks for reading, feedback is greatly appreciated and also any recommendations as to what you'd like to see here! :D


Sarah :)

My First Time....

As the title goes, today was my first time...getting inked :). Certainly was not a spur of the moment thing. I was always interested in tattoos through my teenage years, went to one or two tattoo conventions where I witnessed people being tattooed, including some relatives.

I had said to myself that I would get my first tattoo once I turned 18, nearly 8 years later, I've only now took the plunge. Reason being, I wanted to pick something I knew I wouldn't regret, something that had meaning attached to it. Having gone through a number of ideas, one always stood out...a paw print. It seemed to make sence, I have been around dogs all my life, studied and worked in animal related environments. The original idea was to get an exact copy of my own dogs paw print, but unfortunetly she was put down last year and I never got the chance. Instead I found a print online from the same breed and tweaked it to my liking. 

Of course, in all that time, I've had to factor in my psoriasis. Over the years I have researched online and conversed with those who have had psoriasis and gotten tattoos and those who had tattoos prior to developing psoriasis. It is different for everyone, something to take into account, only way I would know what will happen was to just do it...you only live once after all (a line I seem to use to make many decisions!)

I've researched everything possible; designs, aftercare, artists, studios, anything I had to take into account when going ahead with it. I choose the local studio, many friends had gone there, the place has a great reputation and the artists work was perfect. After months of walking past, I picked up the courage to walk inside last Thursday and got booked in for today.

After a weekend of thinking about it and getting extremely nervous, building myself up for a world of pain, 5pm came and before I knew it I was in the chair and my foot was getting inked. The pain, really wasn't as bad as I was expecting and it was all over about 30 minutes later. The artist was great, kept asking if I was alright. Some areas of my foot were fairly sore but it didn't last long.

My foot was wrapped up and I was on my way after having the aftercare (and a sheet with details) explained to me. I couldn't be happier with the tattoo, and plan to take good care of it during the healing period. Right now, its been cleaned and unwrapped before I have to cover it again for bed, to prevent bedsheets/clothes sticking to it.

Will try and get a decent picture of it up once it is all healed up. I guess now I play the waiting game as to whether the psoriasis will affect the area. As said previously, my skin is surprisingly clear, with a few small spots here and there. Hoping that it does stay that way!

Its been a loooong one, so until next time....

Sarah

A year on....

Hey folks, I figured it was finally about time I added an update. I'm always interested to hear if treatment has helped keep the Psoriasis at bay, to see if it is something worth doing.

So, this time last year I was still doing the UVB treatment, not far off the end, after which, my skin completely cleared up. I couldn't have been happier. Given that I live in Ireland, you might know that we don't have the best of weather and I can't say I saw much sun last summer but exposed my skin (and safely added sun cream after a short amount of time) in order to keep my skin clear when it did show itself.
It even improved more-so from the pictures I had posted, with the redness disappearing. It was the first time since I was 17 (now 24) that I was comfortable in my own skin again.

It wasn't until the winter that a patch developed on my right upper hip. It was an area I tried to keep well moisturised. I later noticed small itchy bumps on my inner arms and around my fingers. I thought it may have been a reaction to soap (Sometimes I think I have the most sensitive skin ever!). After a visit to my doctor, I was told it was ezcema and given a cream to use, which seemed to do the trick and I continued to use it when it would reoccur. 

I have found my scalp to be irritated on and off and have used dovobet gel every now and then when needed. The last few months I have found the back of my thighs to be itchy and small bumps appearing, which have since appeared sparingly on the rest of my legs in small doses as well as my arms and back.

Decided tonight that I am going to try the same cream I was given for the bumps on my arms last year and see if it improves it. I am really hoping it isn't my psoriasis reappearing, especially hearing that after UVB, that it sometimes comes back worse.

Although my psoriasis last year was by far the least it had been, I still dread the thought of having to deal with it again. I tend to be a stressful person, anyone could tell you that compared to other peoples lives, I don't have a lot to worry about (currently unemployed, no kids, no mortgage etc.) but I think its always been the case that I have stressed myself out over the smallest thing, maybe it has something to do with being a shy person, i'm not really sure.

But getting back on track, if anyone has experience with UVB and psoriasis reoccuring, please feel free to share your story or contact me privately if preferred.


Will try and update this more from now on, psoriasis related, or maybe even stress rants (lol). Until next time, take care....Sarah