Ch-ch-changes.....

Hello again. Changes have yet again set me back in my progress, and has gotten to the point that my skin feels like it's on fire :(. Even something so slight as brushing against furniture or harsh clothes are making it unbearable lately.

I'm not entirely sure what has brought it on...change in washing powder? Possibly, change in weather? Could be, it has been up and down lately. Stress? I have had my fair share of it again lately. Sickness? It was only last week I yet again came down with a headcold. I've even been thinking the water supply...strange as it sounds but I have been thinking of investing in a filter for the shower head. I simply can't pinpoint it unfortunately. 

I woke up with a headcold last Thursday, the same morning I had a check up appointment with my rheum. He was shocked at how bad my skin on my legs had gotten when I showed him. Even though Stelara seem to be helping my joints, same couldn't be said for my skin. it was time to try yet another different medication.

I was shown two options, one being a tablet, the other being another biologic, Cosentyx. I had asked about this new biologic back in November having heard so much good about it, but it was not available in Ireland. Thankfully, now it is! I couldn't choose anything else, This seems like the dream biologic. 

I was given my patient pack and sent on my way. Due to being on the tail end of a headcold, I haven't been able to start it just yet. I'm looking forward to starting, worried about the pen injection given that I didn't like the Enbrel one, but none the less, if it is to help me it's a case of get over it and just do it! 

Starting course will be two 150mg injections per week (at the same time) for four weeks and all going well after a checkup with my rheum after that time, it would be two injections together every month. I hope to update once I have started, and I'm hoping for good results as most research I've done on it has come up so positive! 

Have you tried Cosentyx? Let me know what your thoughts on it are.

Until next time.....

Sarah x

Winter handbag essentials.....

Welcome back to my blog! Today's post is going to be about my handbag essentials for the cold winter weather. Lately here has been the coldest it has been this winter as it had been very mild up to now. We've had lots of rain, bringing with it, ice in the mornings. So here are my necessities for this harsh weather....

 

Unfortunately with the cold weather, skin can become dry and cracked so I do tend to carry a few bits in my handbag to avoid irritation and the possibility of my psoriasis becoming worse.

Gloves are a great way to keep your hands protected from the cold air. Theses are a pay from Penneys (Primark) which was €1.50 for a pack of two pairs. They are small enough to roll up and store in your handbag or pocket for whenever you may needed. They can also be a great fashion accessory if you want to dress up an outfit. An additional set of hand warmers could also be placed inside of the gloves to make it toasty :)

A recent addition to my handbag is the LOccitane hand cream for dry skin. I was never one for wearing hand cream, as I don't like strong scents on my hands, and while this does have a slight scent it is very much a pleasant one! It was gifted to me in a gift set of mini samples by my brothers girlfriend, who very thoughtfully took my skin into consideration. I have using this quite a bit on my knuckles as I have experienced cracking of my skin in this area. It is a lovely creamy white texture that really rubs into the skin nicely.

  This time of year when along of colds and flus develope, I find it always good to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer. The bottle picture is from Aldi and costs between €1 and €2. I can be a bit of a germaphobe sometimes as I know myself that with an autoimmune condition that it can be very easy to come down with a cold or flu. Especially when it's the time of year that people are on fitness kicks, no one wants to be sick! Along with hand sanitizer, I also carry a pack of tissue cos you never know when you might need them. 

A longtime favourite of mine is the Blistex relief cream. I find this is fantastic when you're lips are cracked and dry, which unfortunately has been the case lately. I always have a backup of this just I case I might need it. I do like lip balms but nothing seems to be a moisturising as this! You do feel a slight tingle on the lips which I know some people hate, but it's something that doesn't bother me. It is a white cream so does have to be rubbed into the lips well.

Highly recommended by my mother after suffering from a sore throat lately, .  I used to use these when I got strep throats in the past but had since forgotten about them. I was using different cough sweets and cough syrup lately which were not helping, but these were a godsend. I find that after the sweet has gone, that my throat still feel coated with the taste and numbing effect of the sweet. Glad to have these close when my throat is starting to feel sore, and they only cost around €1 to €2.

What items can you not live without in your handbag/ bag to survive the winter? Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time....

Sarah x

New Year, new chapter.....

Greeting from my sick bed....well, couch with a fuzzy blanket and warm fire :) Thankfully I'm over the worst of my cold and feeling better each day. A trip to the doctor this morning, it was decided I didn't need antibiotics and to continue my recovery on paracetamol. Funnily enough my facebook memories today showed me moaning about being sick this day, on two different years...seems to be a pattern. I know that this is going around and I know people who suffered from it recently. Probably from going from bad habits over Christmas to trying to do better again in the new year getting back into routine. On that note also, Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed however you chose to celebrate. I did so with family and my boyfriend having a quiet night in, going outside at midnight to see the fireworks over the nearby town.

So today, giving how I'm feeling I thought I'd go through a routine of how I recharge my batteries when I am sick...

Comfort:

It is important to make sure you are comfortable! Whether its being in bed or on the couch, its nice to have comfy pillows or cushions to ease and aches of pains you may have. I found myself suffering from terrible lower back pain which my doctor put down to the virus targeting a weak area of your body. I found myself layer up cushions on the couch and while in bed using my trusty hot water bottle to heat the area. Just be sure not to have the hot water bottle touching your skin, so as not to burn the skin, instead wrap it in a towel or tshirt.

My lovely fuzzy blanket from trusty Penneys has been attached to me most of the week. It warm but also light material if I get too warm. Who can forget warm, cosy slippers!  My pair of choice being sheep ones I received as a present at Christmas.

Sleep

Sometimes coming down with something like a cold is a way of your body saying you need to slow down and recharge. Depending on your age and lifestyle it is usually recommended that we get 8 to 9 hours sleep a night. A good night sleep can help to focus more during the day at work/school. Lately unfortunately my sleeping pattern has been all over the place (a bad habit from Christmas) which may have been part of the reason I became sick. Relaxation plays a big part, even little things like lighting candles or your favourite scent,going for a short walk to get to fresh air into your lungs (love the chill of late cold nights), listening to your favourite music, watching your favourite show or if like myself lately, watching your favourite youtubers.

Medicine

Whether you believe in herbal medicine or the chemist kind, use whichever you find works for you! I found myself using Strepsils sore throat and blocked nose lozenges due to a bad cough I had and later found Fisherman Friend were more beneficially. As a child I always suffered from very sore throats and bad coughs but since I had my tonsils out (10 years this month!) I thankfully haven't suffered as badly, as well as improving my skin when it was at its worst at that time. I had started out using a cough syrup but found it only seemed to make me cough more. Voltarol has been a godsend for using on my lower back! The pain was so bad when it came to getting up from sitting down and standing back up again but this gel really has helped relieve it as it targets the area.

Fluids

This is sooo important! Be sure and keep your body hydrated with plenty of fluids. Water, 7-Up and Tea have been my fluids of choice. One of my goals for the New year is to drink more water. I had a good routine of drinking water daily but fell into bad habits over Christmas.

If needed, seek medical advice

If you feel like nothing is helping, maybe seeing your doctor is the next step. Your doctor can then recommend a course of action, whether it be antibiotics, or even just more rest. It is best to follow the instructions of your doctor and if that doesn't work, don't hesitate to let them know, they are there to help you after all.

I have found myself using the downtime to also make goals for myself for the new year. I'm not one for making New Years Resolutions, simply because I never keep them! So I have written out ideas and steps to go about achieving them, in the form of progression and it has really made me motivate myself to getting better and try to improve my lifestyle as of late.

Anything you would add to the above list? Leave it in the comments below. I hope it has been a better start to the new year for you. Have you made resolutions or plans? I may share mine in a post, I'm planning to keep track of progress in all areas so hopefully a few changes in motion.

Until next time....

Sarah x

 

Double the fun.....

I must apologise for the lack of posts lately, there has been a few bits going on in my personal life that I have had to deal with, so I chose to take a break from blogging for a while.

While one issue I was dealing with is something I hope to deal with in a future post, it's not exactly psoriasis related, but stress related....so in a way I guess it is psoriasis related.

To update on my ongoing treatment, I took my 45mg Stelara as usual in August and had a return visit to my Rheum in September. He was happy with my progress, but unfortunately my arthritis was active, in my knee, elbow (which doesn't straightened properly these days) and now my ankle. My ankle had been giving me trouble for a while, and I found an ankle support did help when at work. When I bought new runners to replace my old, falling apart Golas, I found my ankle to be better supported.

With my PsA being active, but my skin coming along well, my rheum decided to up the dosage from 45mg (1 injection) to 90mg (2 injections). I was prescribed one injection to boost me up to 90mg from my old dosage a month earlier. I have been feeling great, my joints feel a lot better in that I have been doing more things that I couldn't do as well in about a year or so. My skin has had its ups and downs, mostly on my right leg but still nowhere near my worst flares.

I am due back to my rheum in November, to see how I'm finding the higher dose. I am due to take my next 90mg on Nov. 21st, all going well. In the mean time I hope to post a bit more often as I have had a few ideas during my blog break.

If you have an suggestions on any topics or issues you would like to see covered, leave it in the comments below :)

Until next time.....

Sarah x

My experience with Cimzia.....

Continuing on the series from my previous experience, which was a negative one with Enbrel.

When I went back to my rheumatologist on March 2nd to review my progress with 25mg Enbrel with 10mg MTX, it was decided I would try Cimzia. Now, I had not heard about Cimzia, and thought the next step would be Stelara. I was to start the following Monday, March 9th. At this stage I was already after two weeks of light treatment in order to relieve my skin of the damage Enbrel had done.

Cimzia consists of two 200mg prefilled syringes (400mg in total) to be injected into each thigh, on the same day as each other. This was the starting dose, And I was still on MTX to help make the injection more effective. As it is such a high dosage, it is to be done every two weeks, 400mg for the first 6 weeks and then 1 thereafter.

 

 (Cimzia starter pack - 2 x 200mg prefilled syringes)

A week and a half after the initial injections, I started to notice pink dots around the injection sites on both thighs. The following day, they appeared as large, red, raised patches and felt hot and itchy. Concerned, I talked to my nurse at light treatment the following day and she reduced the UVB due to the reaction and said to ask my doctor about skipping the next session. This was a Friday morning and unfortunately meant it was proving quite difficult to get my rheumatologist on the phone and I gave up when I didn't get a call back. To my surprise, Saturday morning, I get a call from my rheum to see how I was doing. He heard my concerns and advised me to cancel Monday's session to let the reaction fade, and to not take Cimzia any further.

I continued with my light treatment and revisited my rheum where we decided to give my system a break before starting any different, and to think about starting Stelara in a months time as my next option, which is the next and final topic of this series to discuss.

Have you any experience with Cimzia or any biologics mentioned above?

Until next time....

Sarah x

Review: Bioderma

Firstly, I apologise for the lack of posts, life has been a bit busy/ stressful. Unfortunately this has also resulted in my psoriasis flaring up a bit.. But back to blogging....So you may have seen my recent Bioderma haul, well I feel like I've finally had a chance to put them through their paces and to be honest, none have failed to impress me...

(Bioderma BB Cream)

When I first tried out the Bioderma BB Cream, I wasn't too happy after spending the money on it. I applied it with a foundation brush, and it just seem to cake on my cheeks. I had given up on it but decided to give it another try, this time using my Blank Canvas blending sponge. It applied like a dream, covered my redness which tends to be around my nose and cheek areas, it really gave a flawless, even coverage to my skin. I didn't feel the need to set it with powder.

                                           (Before)                                             (After)

As you can see from the above photos, I am a bit tanned on my face but suffer from quite a bit of redness. The photo on the right is using the BB Cream, which as I previously said, really evens out my skintone and hides all the redness on my face. I'm looking forward to using it further and testing its lasting power. It does only come in one shade 'Light' which can be too dark for paler complexions.

The Bioderma miceller water has been leaving my skin so soft, especially when it comes to removing makeup using the product. Due to work I tend to be outside most of the day and exposed to all kinds of weather (which unfortunetly has been mostly rain lately!) as well as sea air so I like to try and use this to cleanse my fair from any harsh condition my skin endures. I hope to invest in a bigger bottle once I'm done with the smaller option, well worth a try!

Until next time.....

Sarah x

My experience with Enbrel....

It is that time again, another installment. If you have missed my previous posts, I have gone into detail about my experience with topical ointments, tonsilectomy, methotrexate and phototheraphy. Today I talk about my most negative experience to date, which happened at the start of 2015...

In my other post regarding Methotrexate, I ended up feeling very ill while taking a higher dosage in December 2014, while also developing psoriatic arthritis in my elbow earlier that year also. At this time, I also found my skin to be bumpy around the back of my thighs leading me to think maybe my Psoriasis was becoming active again but it wasn't happening at a rapid rate, thankfully. I was always given the options of changing to biologics, but was put off at the thought of having to inject myself. To reference Psoriasis.org, Biologics :- "target specific parts of the immune system. The biologics used to treat psoriatic disease block the action of a specific type of immune cell called a T cell, or block proteins in the immune system, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 17-A, or interleukins 12 and 23. These cells and proteins all play a major role in developing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis."

Enbrel (etanercept) was prescribed to me in January 2015. With Enbrel, you have a nurse assigned to you who comes to your house and helps to teach you how to inject it yourself. Thursday January 8th was going to be the start date and I was to try 50mg, which comes in pen form (myclic pen pictured above). The injection areas to choose from are either the thighs or stomach, I found the thighs to be the area of choice, alternating between left and right each week. To use the pen, the cap is taken off, and the pen is place on the top of the thigh, pushing down so the guard is pushed back and once you're ready the button is pushed releasing the needle. The first time I did it, I did it wrong as the nurse had confused me saying to count to 10, but I was supposed to wait for the second click (which they say is 10 seconds, sounding that it is been dispensed). Due to my mistake, I didn't get a full dose, but I'd know better for next time, being a weeks time. 

Thursday January 15th, My nurse was unable to attend my home. I remember it the weather had been quite bad around that time, including snowfall in higher areas. I managed to inject myself, after about a half hour of building myself up, it was a case of "F**k it! *click*". I did find the pen to be painful. The nurse had asked if I would prefer to use a syringe which I felt sick at the thought of, but she made a good point that with the syringe you have more control. Once you click the button on the pen, its a case of grin and bare it. That same evening I found the back of my thighs and my scalp to be very itchy. As I've said above, it did have a few bumps on the back of my thighs, which felt more like pimples than anything else and didn't really bother me until then. 

Monday Jan. 19th, and I woke up feeling horrible, I had symptoms of a sore throat, runny nose, feeling cold and headaches at night. These symptoms persisted as the week went on and due to my next injection due on Thursday it was decided I would give it a miss. It should be noted that if you do feel sick while on a biologic and are due to take it around that time, it is best to not take it, as you could become more ill. My throat had worsened by Thursday and I felt congested in my nose.

I was sure to keep track of my symptoms and injections in my Enbrel diary. I also kept track of my psoriasis, which by Saturday 24th had worsened. It was now showing on my scalp, legs, back, stomach and my face. I was also still very congested at this stage. The following week I had noticed red patches on my thighs where I had injected. I contacted my nurse who had said to keep an eye on them. They were slightly red and a small bit raised but I was told nothing to worry about. It was now Thursday the 29th and as I was still sick, I was missing another injection, making it two weeks in a row without Enbrel. 

Monday Feb. 2nd which was a visit to my Rheumatologist who had prescribed Enbrel, for a month review. While in the last month, my joints had felt great, my skin was going the opposite way. He thought maybe the dosage was too much to start on so halved my dose to 25mg every week and to take a low dose of Methotrexate to help make it more effective.

I started my new routine of 25mg of Enbrel the following Monday, the 9th. The nurse had made the visit to help show me how to inject with a pre-filled syringe which is how 25mg comes. She got to see how back my skin had become and had supported my decision to go back to my dermatologist about my worsening skin and the possibility of starting phototherapy again. I took 10mg of MTX the same day, which was followed by 10mg of folic acid two days later.

I did find it strange injected with a syringe, but I managed to do so the second week with no supervision. I managed to get an appointment with my Dermatologist Feb. 17th and he looked over my skin and agreed with my thoughts on light treatment and I signed the appropriate forms and was book in for Feb. 23rd. I had 3 doses of 25mg of Enbrel in total before I was back to my rheumatologist for another review, and it was decided Enbrel was not beneficial to me and so it was stopped.

I was very unfortunate that Enbrel did more harm than good for me as I have heard and seen stories of how it has helped others with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis. My Psoriasis had gotten so bad over my entire body, especially on my face which at times I felt I had to cover with makeup to avoid stares which were quite hurtful. I went on to continue phototherapy until May 8th 2015. I found it to be an expensive year as phototherapy 3 times a week at €30 a time which may not have been necessary had I not been prescribed Enbrel. Add in he cost of doctors visits on top of that and the fact I wasn't working. It probably seems like i'm cursing Enbrel and in a way, it was a negative experience but it did prepare me in other ways, such as injecting as I believe the nurse service is not available with some biologics.

As I always say, what happens to one might not happen to another and I know people whose lives have been made better by Enbrel. Its just a case of finding what works individually.

Did you have a similar experience? or what do you find works for you? let me know below.

Until next time....

Sarah x

Haul: Bioderma....

I decided to do something different today, a haul of recent skincare products. I always want to try and do whats best for my skin, even if I don't succeed in doing so. Recently the French skincare company Bioderma have launched in Ireland and I have been intrigued with all the hype about it lately so I decided to purchase a few products to try it out for myself.

 I was immediately drawn to some products that were developed for sensitive skin as I've said before, its hard to find a good skincare routine for myself especially for my face as I find a lot of things seem to break me out. I hope to do a future post reviewing these items properly but for now, here's what I picked up;

 (Bioderma BB Cream in Light)

I've heard alot about the Bioderma BB Cream, both good and bad. It only comes in one shade - Light, which tend to be too dark for fairer complexions. The product contains SPF 30 and claims to "Even out the complexion. Moisturises and soothes". It is aimed towards sensitive skin which is prone to rosacea. While I don't have rosacea, I do tend to get a lot of redness around my nose and cheeks which can sometimes show through in some BB creams/ foundations. I did give this a quick try when I bought it, i prepped and primed my skin and applied it using a foundation brush. I don't know if my skin was prepped enough or if I should use the method of a makeup sponge but it tend to cake on my cheeks. I'm not writing it off just yet as the colour is quite good with my natural tan right now so I will update when I give it a second try. This retails at €17.50, while it isn't the most expensive, I did splurge a bit on this so I hope it will be worth it.

 (Bioderma Miceller Water)

This is one of the first Bioderma products I had heard people raving about, the Bioderma Miceller solution. This can be used as a make up remover or a cleanser. I had used the Garnier and Nivea sensitive miceller waters and had found them to leave my face feeling hot as though it was causing a reaction so I stopped using them. I'm looking forward to trying this out, but I will be trying a patch test first to be safe. Its says "Cleanses, removes make-up and soothes sensitive skin. Excellent tolerance. Non-rinse. Paraben free. Hypoallergenic." As I have said before, I don't use make-up daily, only for nights out/ special occasions so I look forward to seeing how well this will remove my make-up. The 100ml bottle pictured retails at €5.50. I decided to the smaller option and if I like it, I'll look into purchase the bigger bottle.

 

(Bioderma Moisturising Stick)

I picked up this lip balm as something extra to try out as I always seem to pick up new lip products to try out. It is for Damaged and dehydrated lips, which I have had a problem with lately and I wanted to see if this might be as good as my trusty Blistex relief cream, and to be honest it is! I have been using it for about a week now and find it so hydrating on the lips and leaves them feeling lovely and soft with no stickiness from the product. Only downside is there is no SPF, but its not a major flaw. It cost €3.50 which seems to be the typical price for lip products these days. Well worth trying.

I will be sure to do more in depth reviews when I have tried these products further. Have you tried their products? Let me know which are your favourite!

Until next time....

Sarah x 

Holiday post: Mallorca....

Hope everyone is well. I thought it would be nice to share some of my holiday stories and pictures here. I certainly took my own advice when it came to suncare and thankfully didn't managed to get burned which seems like a first for me. Two days before the holiday I took my second Stelara injection and didn't feel any side effects bar a scratchy throat, which didn't last too long.

Myself and my boyfriend booked a week away in Mallorca in June as we were invited to a family wedding there and decided we'd make a holiday out of it. We booked back in January and got a good deal on flights and hotel, travel from Palma airport to Santa Ponsa only cost €40 each way which wasn't too bad.

Our flight was 6am on a Monday morning, which was found was the best way to go as we had a full first day of exploring. we found that we were less than a five minute walk from the beach and had plenty of choice nearby with pubs and restaurants. We strolled around and found our bearings. Being the first day and still being self conscious, i wore 3/4 shorts, so as to cover up most of my psoriasis.

We had a small pool at the hotel with sun loungers. We found it to be quiet there the first few days so did spend a bit of time sunning ourselves here. The first day, I sat on the side and dipped my legs in. I haven't been in a swimming pool in about 15 years and so was a little cautious as to how it might affect my skin. On top of that, I should mention I can't swim! Luckily the pool was shallow enough.

 

(Our pool shaded by the neighbouring hotel on the evenings)

From the second day on, it was all about shorts. I forgot about what people could see on my skin and thought about the positives the sun would have on my skin. I even threw on a swimsuit and joyed himself in the pool. It felt good to be out of my comfort zone and since then I've been thinking about getting swimming lessons to conquer my fear.

We spent most evenings eating out, which is cheaper compared to home. It was nice to experience different restaurants, especially in such beautiful settings near the beach.

Everytime I did head out into the sunshine, I used my factor 50, topping it up as the day went on. In the evenings it was a bit cooler so there wasn't a need. Later in the week, I switched to factor 30. After using the pool, I would always shower and use moisturiser especially as the chlorine in the water is quite drying on the skin. I also managed to keep up a usual twice daily moisturising routine while there.

We went to a wedding on the Thursday in beautiful surroundings, all of which was outside bar the disco. It was lovely to catch up with some family I had not seen in years. We all organised to meet up again before the holiday was over.

Overall it was really enjoyable and relaxing, a nice break from the daily routine of work. We are already hoping to go back again next year, hopefully for two weeks. 

 (Only slight pink colouration left on my skin after the week of sun :O)

It was amazing to see my skin go from bad to almost completely clear in the space of a week, i could run my hand over my skin and feel complete smoothness, its a feeling I had missed. It is two weeks since we returned and two days after I had already felt little spots coming back on my skin, I think it is missing the sun! I had a check up with my rheumatologist last week who said it would be a combination of climate change but also being relaxed on holiday and going back into everyday life...after all I did return to work the day after I got back.

I can only hope the sun will make a return to Ireland, it supposed to be good during the week so the shorts will make a return appearance so that I can try and get some natural goodness on my skin.

Hope the sun shines wherever you are. Until next time....

Sarah x

Sun Care....

We are coming into that time of year where the sun is making an appearance (...or so we hope anyway!) as well as people jetting off to sunnier climates. I wanted to share a few bits and pieces on how I look after my skin in the sun, a few bits of which I've picked up for my own holidays as well as work.

 Sun care Lotion: 

Something that is very important to remember is that the suns rays (UV rays) tend to be more intense during 10am and 4pm so it is important to use sun factor creams to protect your skin. I tend to use a high factor of 50, which has been recommended by doctors and nurse due to my psoriasis, especially after the effects of light treatment.

-Garnier Ambre Solaire SPF 50 'on the go size' a handy size which I carry around in my bag for work and another in my handbag. I tend to use this a lot at work on a sunny day as there isn't many places to hide in the shade.

-Nivea Sun Protect Lip Balm SPF 30, again another item I use at work to protect from blisters or cold sores. It tends to be quite moisturising on the lips. Only downside is it is a thick white texture so is best rubbed in well to the lips.

-Soltan Sun care lotion SPF 50, this is a recent purchase for my holidays next week, just to upscale from a smaller sized bottle to take along with me. Only €5.50 in Boots so not going to break the bank.

-Garnier Ambre Solaire SPF 30, This is another recent purchase for holidays as I'm hoping to scale down on the SPF as the week progresses. All Sun Protection is currently half price in Sam McCauley's chemists so might be worth popping in to stock up if you live near one.

Cover Ups:

 Its only natural to show a bit of skin once the sun decides to show itself, and covering up doesn't need to be a case of looking mummified to cover your skin, here are a few stylish pieces to help keep your skin protected

-Hats - It can be something as simple as a baseball hat or something bigger and bouncier to keep the suns rays at bay. The Hat picture above is from Penneys (also known as Primark) and cost only €4! Bargain! I have had the misfortune in past years of getting sunburned on my scalp, not pleasent at all! This type also keeps the rays off your face, so added bonus. There are plenty to suit everyone; straw hat, cowboy hat, bucket hat, whatever takes your fancy, just be sure and keep protected.

-Sunglasses - Sometimes they are simply used to look stylish, but if you're like me, and rather not be squinting away while someone is talking to the point your eyes are watering (ok, maybe thats a bit much) then sunglasses are essential. I have bought a few pairs, ranging from €1.50, to €5.00 from Penneys and New Look.

-Scarves - Multifunctional when it comes to the sun, can be used as normal around the neck, to cover shoulder or even as a sarong on the beach. The one pictured above was from Accessorize and was given to me as a present from my brother's girlfriend. I love this one as is quite colourful but also has the images of skull so quite contrasting. Scarves really are cheap as chips when there are some lovely ones in Penneys from as little as €2 (I know this as I was tempted by a few on a recent shopping trip).

-Maxi Dress, perfect for summer, especially if like myself, you don't want your skin on show all the time. I have purchased the above dress for holidays from BooHoo.com back in February. Its simple but adds a bit of colour and is a lovely light material so it handy for the heat on holidays. There are so many varieties of these dresses around, perfect to suit every shape and size.

Other ideas when trying to cover up from the sun are Kimonos, I think these are a lovely addition to your holiday wardrobe especially when something like a cardigan seems to heavy to wear in hotter climates. Also on the plus side, they are super light and not irritating on the skin.

 

What are your summer essentials when it comes to protecting your skin? Leave them in the comments below.

Until next time....

Sarah x

*Disclaimer: All products mentioned above are purchased by myself. I have not been asked to mention stores, I just want to give an insight into where I have purchased these items*

 

Psoriasis Beauty....

Time for something a little different. While we all like to feel comfortable in our own skin, sometime we need a bit of help if we don't want to have everything on show. Don't get me wrong, I'm not embarrassed about my Psoriasis for the most part, sometimes it's nice if you have a special occasion or even just a day to feel better about yourself. Check out these products I use to treat my skin or just pamper myself a little bit;

Moisturisers:

 

 (E45, Elave and Emulsifying Oinment)

As you may know from previous posts, I have been moisturising religiously, more so due to doing light treatment during the first half of the year. E45 is a lighter lotion which I use in the mornings. It can be used all over the body and face. I can be very picky when it comes to anything on my skin, not only because of my Psoriasis, but also due the fact I have sensitive skin also. This in perfume free and dermatologically tested so causes no skin irritation and is even suitable for babies skin. Emulsifying Ointment is a moisturiser I use at night. It has a thicker consistancy and therefore is great to sink into the skin overnight. I find it does help, especially for those tricky thicker patches.

Makeup is not a everyday thing for me, I wear it for nights out, special occasions, if my skin is acting up, or if I just feel like getting a bit dressed up. For such occasions, I start with Elave intensive cream and as the bottle says "clinically proven to be kind and mild to dry sensitive skin"...I was sold! It really does what it says and on top of that, is free from parabens, alcohol and sulfates. It is a bit thicker than some day creams but it sinks into the skin nicely and has a nice soothing and cooling effect.

 Primers and Concealers:

 

(Pictured: Maybelline Concealer and Rimmel Primer)

After moisturing, I find a good primer helps to smooth out my skin especially when I have had bad facial Psoriasis. Rimmel Lasting Finish Primer is my primer of choice, and I have found it does a great job. I tend to apply it on my nose, cheeks and forehead and any areas I find I need evening out. It feels very lightweight and very silky on the skin and creates a lovely base for my foundation.

When it comes to concealing, I never did much of it, bar the bags under my eyes when I've needed it. Earlier in the year when I flared on my face, myself and the boyfriend decided to go on a night out to relax and catch up with some friends. It was then I realised, I didn't have any proper concealer with me, eek! A trip to Boots, which happened to be closed as it was the evening. Tesco it was, for limited choice. I spotted Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Concealer, so I bought it on a whim. I didn't think it would do much, but it is fantastic. It really helped to conceal the blemishes on my forehead and around my nose. A dab of powder over it and I was good to go. Another handy thing about it is it is a 11ml tube, so it takes up no room in the handbag to bring out for any little touch ups.

BB (Beauty Balms) Creams

 (Pictured: Lancome BB and NYC BB)

 When you don't need a heavy duty feel of a foundation, I love the option of a BB cream. The two I use are completely different prices on the scale but both work well. Lancome Hydra Zen Beauty Balm is one I bought when it was used on my face when I got my makeup done professionally for a friends wedding. I liked the look of it so much, I bought it there and then. It comes in 3 shades, thanks to being tanned at the time, I got the darkest shade which is perfect everytime summertime comes around. NYC Creme 5 in 1 is a more recent purchase. It claims to 1. protect skin, 2. pore minimizer, 3. erase skin imperfections, 4. smooths skin, and 5. brighten skin. I can vouch that it does do all of the above. I sometime found I had better coverage with this BB cream when my skin was at its worse and definately one I would reach for when I don't feel my best.

 Foundations:

 (Pictured: Collection, Bourjois and Revlon)

I have 3 different foundations which I rotate between depending on my mood and where I'm going. Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Foundation is my latest purchase of the lot. I have worn this 3 or 4 times out and I am loving the application of this. The colour is really nice, I picked up Ivory which I believe is the second lightest shade. I find some foundations tend to highlight dry patches but this gives me a lovely dewy finish. Another plus, it contains SPF 20! Can protect your skin and look fabulous, all at once :D

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum was my first holy grail foundation when I first started getting into makeup more so. It is very lightweight, not at all drying and a light but buildable application. It does have a strong enough smell, not of chemicals though, which doesn't bother me but it's not for everyone.

Another addition to my collection before Christmas Revlon Colorstay. These foundations come in two different formulations, one for dry skin, one for oily/combination skin which has a plain black cap. Pictured above is the dry skin version, which has a clear outer shell over the black, which are handy indications. I find this to be quite runny, so it does need a good shake before applying. It gives a lovely flawless finish and again as the others above, quite lightweight on the skin.

 Tools:

 

(Pictured: BCC F22 Brush and Real Techniques Sponge)

While its all well and good applying anything on your face with your fingers (after washing of course) its always handy to have the right tools to apply foundation to give a nice finish. I find for dry skin, once its preped with moisturiser and primer, that the Real Techniques Miracle Complextion Sponge really helps to give a flawless finish on the skin when used damp. Another plus is you use less product when it is damp, and once one layer has been applied it is easy to build up your foundation if needed. I've really purchased and started using the Black Canvas Cosmetics F22 Brush which is a nice alternative. I was never a fan of foundation brushes as I have found they can irritate or dry out already sensitive skin so I invested in this from an Irish company. I have found it gives a nice even coverage and the bristles are nice and soft on the skin. I am hoping to purchase from this company, including their eye brushes I've heard so much about.

Extras

When it comes to removing my makeup, I have recently purchased Waterwipes which are great for sensitive skin due to them containing 99.9% purified water! I find some wipes can leave my skin feeling so dried out, even after cleansing and moisturising they can still sometimes leave a sting. These leave my skin feeling so soft and smooth. Again its another Irish product, and is available in Tesco stores.


Those are pretty much my essentials, let me know if you would like to see more of these types of posts and feel free to comment which what products you like to use :)

Until next time....

Sarah x

Endings and beginnings....

I apologise for lack of updates lately, life has been a bit busy again. I wanted to update on how my last session of light treatment went. The usual routine, tshirt on, visor on until the last minute or so. My final time in the box my time was 5 minutes and 4 seconds. My knees did give way towards the end as I wasn't able to lift my legs as high as I usually could.

Later that evening, I found my skin to be sore and very red. I moisturised and got ready to head out with himself to celebrate and go to a work night of his. I made the mistake of wearing skinny jeans! The rubbing of the demin on my skin caused a lot of irritation and towards the middle of the night, it was time to leave. Once we got home, it was straight into my comfy clothes and lashing on of more moisturiser.

I did want to start Stelara on Friday night but my skin was still red and hot, I found it best to leave it off til the next day. Once the morning came, my skin was feeling better and it was time to start Stelara. It was my day off and a lie in was well overdue. My boyfriend took my Stelara out of the fridge for me and kindly brought me breakfast in bed (he really is a star!). I waited about 40 minutes and it was time to build up the courage to take it.

It had been 2 months since I last injected and the nerves did kick in. "What are you waiting for, just do it", I kept thinking and before I knew it, it was all over! It was actually the easiest of all the injection I've had to do and it has a great mechanism that covers the needle once the plunger is down.

It's been 4 days since I injected and in all honesty I've been feeling fine, bit of a sniffly nose, but nothing major. My next injection is around June 7th and a doctor check up after that. I'm hoping it does help my skin, which has become more smooth and I hope that not doing light treatment will not set me back as I feel I still have a while to go yet.

Until next time....

Sarah x

Burn Baby Burn....

No disco inferno to report unfortunately. Just to update on my past 3 session of UVB. As I stated in my last post, I was slightly red on my neck/chest after Wednesday and thought I'd be lowered to a different dose...Nope! 

Fridays session lasted approx. 2 minutes and 47 second, up again another 20%. I was told because it was the first incident of redness that I should be OK. Friday night was agony, it was like I had been sunburned all over, without the blisters or the peeling. My skin was red and hot from head to toe. I moisturised once I got back from the hospital with E45, and again later that evening to try and cool my skin and because it had felt so dry. That night I did my usual routine of Emulsifying Ointment but it was still quite uncomfortable to sleep with the heat (not good with work the next morning!)

The next day I felt like my skin was not as bad, it was still fairly red, but not as hot to touch. I went about my day at work, making sure to top up on SPF 50 on my face during the day as I work outdoors. On Sunday, I felt back to normal and to top it all of my thighs which had still felt a bit grainy, had felt much smoother.

Monday morning, the nurse noted about what I experienced on Friday. She checked over my skin, all seemed well. My face was looking much better so she came to the decision that I'd finally be using the visor to cover my face during light treatment, and I also had a step under me to raise me up to get lower areas better. I went up by 10% to see if my skin would react at a lower dose. That evening, I did have a small bit of redness on my upper arms and lower back but no where near last Friday.

Today I went up another 10% and my session lasted 2 minutes 57 seconds. My knees had felt quite sore last night and this morning, I put it down to not taking any medication for my Psoriatic arthritis since early March. I'm trying to give my system a chance before I start Stelara but if the pain gets worse I will take Methotrexate. Due to this it did feel a bit difficult when doing the movements in the light treatment box. Legs and arms are raised, and any skin folds where Psoriasis is, just to make sure the light gets to it.

I have only 4 more session left to go. While I definitely see and feel improvements in my skin, I still have a bit to go yet. The legs always seem to be the most stubborn but I'm hoping for good weather here to get clear for holidays. Also the introduction to Stelara a week after I finish light treatment, time will tell if or when it works.

Until next time...

Sarah x

Extra time....

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter! I spent mine working, sleeping and eating chocolate, probably in that order :)

So last week I finished on Friday at 1 minute and 42 seconds in the light treatment box. I didn't have a session on Monday due to the bank holiday, which worked out well as I was working. This past Tuesday to my dermatologist who determined I'd be doing a total of 24 session as at that time it would bring me upto when I'm due to start Stelara, which will hopefully clear any psoriasis that may be left.

Wednesday brought me upto 17 sessions. The dosage was uped to 2 minutes and 3 seconds. When I had a shower the same night after treatment, I noticed I was quite red on my chest and it was hot to touch. This will have to be noted for my 18th session tomorrow and my dosage will more than likely be lowered to avoid further redness.

We've been lucky here in Ireland that the weather has been beautiful, but with that comes precautions...namely factor 50 sunscreen! Which I will also be having to load up on when I go on holidays in 2 months time, along with a hat and cover ups. Hope to do a future post on item purchase to avoid the sun flaring my skin :) 

Enjoy the weather wherever you may be

Until next time...

Sarah x