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