WEEK #17: LUMPY & BUMPY

I've been slacking on my product reviews recently...and just keeping up with my blog and skincare regime in general. It's a busy time of year and also a horrible time of year for my skin, so dry, so red, SO ITCHY! Red's a festive colour though I suppose :/. Next year I definitely need to learn to become more organised instead of letting work rule my life. My scalp is awful at the moment. I've been flaking everywhere, I can't so much as touch my head without creating a mini snow storm. I hate running my fingers through my hair and feeling all the lumps & bumps of piled up skin. Oh well, on with the review.

OILATUM BATH FORMULA 300ML: 4/10
Very similar to E45 bath, it didn't dry out my skin but it didn't provide as much moisture as I would have wanted. I tried it in both the bath and shower but still wasn't really satisfied with it's effectiveness. I wasn't a huge fan of how it left my skin feeling, it seemed to have a strange texture but I can't really think of any words to describe what I mean. Also expensive. 
(http://www.boots.com/en/Oilatum-Bath-Formula-for-Dry-Skin-300-ml_7514/, £9.35)

OILATUM CREAM 150G: 5/10
My main issue with this cream is that the bottle only lasted for two days so it would end up being rather expensive to use on a daily basis. I didn't like the texture of the cream, although my normal skin felt ok, my psoriasis spots ended up feeling really raised. My experience with Oilatum hasn't been an overly positive one so far!
(http://www.boots.com/en/Oilatum-Cream-150g_981663/, £3.99)

T/GEL THERAPEUTIC SHAMPOO 250ML: 4/10
So this is something that always ends up being recommended to me by people who know someone who has psoriasis so thought I'd try it out. Neutrogena have a range of T/Gel shampoos but it was specifically the therapeutic coal tar treatment that's for psoriasis. I was happily surprised with the smell of this product which isn't something that can often be said of coal tar shampoos. It wasn't too pricey compared with other products either. Unfortunately though my head was so so itchy. It did alleviate the flaking but I was still waking up in the middle of the night itching my scalp like mad and waking up to find blood spots on my pillow case which hasn't happened before. I hate to say it because I really wanted to like this product but it won't be something that I'll continue to use. 
(http://www.boots.com/en/Neutrogena-T-Gel-Therapeutic-Shampoo-250ml_1056/, £6.99)

EUMOVATE OINTMENT: 5/10
I've used this product before with great success on my face and ears. I was amazed how quickly it cleared up the patches on my face and it worked a miracle on the psoriasis in my ears but I'd never tried it on other areas of my body before. This time around my experience with eumovate wasn't so successful which was annoying. It doesn't seem to have done much at all apart from provide a little extra moisture (I do love the thick protective texture of ointments). Even on my face I still have some patches that it hasn't improved. Maybe I've just become immune to it now or something, I don't understand why it wouldn't work this time around. Therefore, this is a hit and miss product for me but I'd most definitely recommend giving it a go for yourself if you can get it on prescription. 

DITCHING THE ITCH PART III: BOOTS PHARMACEUTICALS DERMA CARE ITCH RELIF CREAM

BOOTS PHARMACEUTICALS DERMA CARE ITCH RELIF CREAM 30G: 3/10
I've been trying out this cream as a budget option to try and get some much needed relief from my very itchy skin recently & I have to say I'm not overly impressed. I mainly get my itchy fits in the middle of the night so I want to find a product that can kick in quickly. Most of the time I've probably already been scratching cause I've been avoiding having to wake up and do something to stop the itching, in which case my skin is probably half shredded with the odd bleeding lesion. When I applied this it stung like hell! That was probably the first hint that this cream wasn't made for psoriasis sufferers. The second was that it seemed to dry out my skin and the third was that on some occasions it encouraged my itching rather than provided relief. On the other hand, once or twice it did succeed in soothing my skin just enough so that I could get back to sleep but I would expect more from an itch relief product so it looks like the search continues. 
(http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Derma-Care-Itch-Relief-Cream-30g_1129367/, £2.99)

WEEK #16: RED REVIVAL

My E45 experience has improved from last week but I still don't have much hope of any of their products making the short list. Less than one month until my dermatologist appointment and I just can't wait! I'm spending a small fortune on skin stuff at the moment so I'm going to be cutting back. I'm also going to make a start on diet changes, I'm not eliminating anything from my diet at first but I'm going to try adding recommended stuff and I'll be starting with probiotics. If you're interested i'l be posting an article on my instagram which prompted me to give the cultured way of life a go and I'll be sure to post about my progress. I'll just be trying it out for a month at first and then I'll probably move on to something else! This weeks review won't include the TGel and Eumovate, I'll be saving them for next week but you can read about the E45 stuff below. Sending you all lots of good vibes and best wishes.

-E45 Emollient bath oil 500ml: 4/10
I remember using this ages ago and thinking it was brilliant, this time around though my skin didn't seem to like it so much. I tried it both as a bath additive and as an in shower product (it advises on the packaging you can use in shower too). It didn't make my hair as greasy as I expected like some bath oils do but it also didn't provide as much moisture as I expected either. Using it as a shower product I found that I had to put quite a lot on the sponge to see any of the product transferring to my skin. It's quite expensive for what it is and although it would probably last quite a while I'd rather spend my money on something more effective. My overall impression of E45 has been that they provide good surface moisture but it doesn't really deeply penetrate the skin if that makes any sense haha.
(http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/e45-bath-500ml-4071938-p-44) £6.50

-E45 Cream 350g: 6/10
So this is probably my favourite E45 product so far but it's still not good enough for the price. It's quite a bit thicker than their normal moisturisers and it is labelled as for psoriasis suffered. It can be a tad messy to apply but it is misty odourless (there is only a slight medicinal smell). This tiny tub got used up so quick so it's not value for money and I didn't feel particularly comfortable after applying it, sometimes my skin felt a bit tingly (not the nice type of tingly) but would calm down relatively quickly. Although I didn't wake up in the night itching (this may purely be because I've had an exhausting week anyway) I woke up itchy and felt I immediately needed to apply more cream. I've tried better, I've tried worse, but I won't be using again unfortunately apart from in case of emergency. 
(http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/body-care/e45-cream-350g) £6.65

WEEK #15: ITCHY & SCRATCHY

I'm sure everyone in the UK has heard of E45, it must be the most popular 'dry skin' product. Not specifically tailored to psoriasis sufferers but thought I would give it a go nonetheless. Can't say this weeks experiences have been particularly successful but there are quite a lot of E45 products left to try. I've had a bit of a crappy week, I've been so so tired so I've skipped washing my hair twice which means flakemania in the morning to deal with. I've also got into the habit of not applying my creams regularly enough out of laziness but ah well onwards and hopefully upwards... read on for my reviews!

E45 INTENSE RECOVERY LOTION FOR VERY DRY SKIN 250ML: 4/10
Firstly, I like my daily moisturiser to be thick, from personal experience the thicker the moisturiser the more moisture and comfort it provides, this is definitely not thick and generally speaking I'm not a fan of 'lotions'. The name enticed me more than anything, however I didn't experience any recovering unfortunately. Although it absorbed quite quickly (still not as quickly as I'd expect for a lotion though) and it did leave my skin feeling soft before the itching started, it didn't provide me with the moisture my scales were left craving for. I managed to get through the whole bottle within the week, probably because I was lathering it on though to make up for its texture. I had a few bad nights where I woke up itchy and re-applying this moisturiser didn't help.
(http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=272489212, £4.50)


E45 EMOLIENT WASH 100ML: 5/10
Like the moisturiser, the body wash was of thin consistency so I would have preferred it to be a bit thicker but apart from that I don't really have strong feelings about it. I didn't mind having it on display in my bathroom as the packaging isn't too offensive like many of the products I've tried in the past. Also reasonably priced. Could take it or leave it really, I'd use it if there was nothing else on the supermarket shelves. 
(http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/body-care/e45-facewash-250ml, £4)

E45 DRY SCALP SHAMPOO 200ML: 2/10
I HATE THIS PRODUCT SO MUCH!!!!! Makes me angry just thinking about how much of a flake I've been this week thanks to this shampoo. I was so excited to try it but no, it's messed up my scalp quite badly. I've been enduring the worst scalp itching I've had for a long time. Safe to say I will most definitely not be using this again.
(http://www.boots.com/en/E45-Shampoo-for-Dry-Scalp-200ml_867585/, £5.99)

DERMOVATE OINTMENT 50G: 4/10
After two weeks of use I'd be expecting to see more of an improvement from a steroid that I thought was supposed to be quite strong. I've been applying it usually about twice a day. I like the consistency and it's thickness. One of my faithful psoriasis buddies told me it can take a while to kick in but it's had it's chance with me. It worked quite well in calming down my inner ear psoriasis which had been a nightmare and although you can see that my psoriasis is less pronounced in the areas I've been using it compared to where I haven't used it but not a strong enough improvement to warrant using it daily. 
(PRESCRIPTION)

WEEK #14: HYDRATION HEAVEN

What a difference a good moisturiser makes! From rough and reddy to smooth and mostly itchless. My scalp's not on point at the moment but I have plenty more shampoos to try so never fear. Still feeling so inspired after world psoriasis day, so many beautiful, brave people raising awareness. This week has been hell for me, I've been working really long hours trying to get some extra dollar for christmas so I've been very quite on social media lately which makes me sad. I also hate that I can't apply my skin stuff as regularly as I normally do. So I won't be reviewing Dermovate this week but read below for my opinion on everything else in tha pic.

HYDROMOL OINTMENT 500G: 9/10
Eeeee this has to be my favourite so far. First of all, TUB!!! Being the stingy person that I am I like to scrape out every last bit so tubs are the best for that. As far as ointments go, this has to be the least greasy one that I've tried. I'm not saying that you won't completely eliminate the shininess and stickiness problem that accompanies most ointments (which is why its not a ten out of ten) but this one absorbs relatively quickly. It also made my skin feel comfortable after applying it if that makes any sense. I didn't like it to use a washing product though. It was a bit of a faf having to melt it before pouring into the bath and although it was nice to have a bubble bath (most psoriasis bathing products still leave the water clear and plain) it wasn't as moisturising as I was expecting considering the effects of it as a moisturiser. Also rather expensive to use considering one pot only lasted a week on the basis of applying three times a day. But that was also using it in the bath and I won't be doing that again if this makes it to my shortlist. 
(TESCO PHARMACY, £8)

DEAD SEA SPA MAGIK MINERAL SHAMPOO 330ML: 4/10 
Didn't help with my flaking at all= nightmare at work where I love wearing black cardigans and blazers. It didn't inflame the itching but it didn't completely soothe it either. The price seems excessive for this product and apart from the fact that it is odourless and doesn't make my scalp any worse than it already is 
(http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dead-sea-spa-magik-mineral-shampoo-60031076, £8.99)


DEAD SEA SPA MAGIK CONDITIONING SCALP MUD 150ML: 2/10
I love getting down and dirty with mud it's such fun, even the word itself is a fun word to say and this product looks like nourishing mineral mud that would be great for the scalp. Unfortunately it proved to be of absolutely no benefit to me. For the price I was hoping it might at the very least make my hair look extra special but nahh. It was also quite difficult to apply. Defo won't be using this again. 
(http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dead-sea-spa-magik-conditioning-scalp-mud-60024069, £10.29)

WEEK #13: PSORIASIS, BE GONE!

Well my skin has certainly been angry this week, so very very itchy and red and raised. I can't lie, I'm rather happy to be ditching these products, definitely not going to be making it on to my psoriasis dream cream list. I'm really happy to have started to make some wonderful psoriasis friends over instagram and I hope to get to speak to some more people, it really is so reassuring to know your not alone in your struggles and get to make some new friends in the process. This week is my last week off work, I'll be back to the daily grind on monday which means more chance of me not being able to stick to a skin routine, not being able to use certain products (due to smell, messiness, time etc), more stress, more self-consciousness. Ah well I'm gonna boss it out. I hope your skin isn't causing you too much trouble dear reader and if you're interested in a more detailed review of the products read on, if you're not I basically don't have it in me to recommend any of these products...although I won't be reviewing the shampoo & conditioner till next week.

GARNIER INTENSIVE 7 DAYS DAILY BODY LOTION WITH SHEA BUTTER FOR VERY DRY SKIN (250ML): 3/10
How this product can be advertised as for very dry skin I really don't know. Since using this I've seen other reviews also stating that it really should be labelled for normal skin. The moisturiser absorbs quickly and after application skin was soft but after an hour I was back to being itchy. I tried it on my face just for a laugh (I try all the moisturisers on my face even if they're no supposed to be for the face just to see how it works). It was especially irritating at night, I haven't bled much for a while but this week has left me a bit scabby. On the other hand I like the bottles and it's a very economical product, you get a lot for what you pay for...oh and it smells ok too I suppose.
(QUALITY SAVE, £1.99)

PSORIDERM 225ML: 2/10
After two weeks of use this really didn't appear to do much to my skin. I applied it topically only to my lower legs and lower arms and although it probably counteracted some of the extra redness caused by the moisturiser there was only the teeniest amount of difference between the areas. And the smell, I've used coal tar products before but WOW, this is by far the strongest smelling coal tar product I've used, the smell even lingered in the room for about 15 minutes after I'd shut the bottle never mind the stench that followed me around. I did like the bottle though which of course is an essential factor when choosing your skin products (I joke). There are other psoriderm products that have higher percentages of coal tar and lecithin so I might give them a go at some point in the future, I also didn't realise that this could be used on the scalp and in the bath but I'll probably try save trying that until I have a bit of time off work (cough, cough the smell...and I literally mean cough cough I almost choked on the smell). This particular product is not a high scorer for me I'm afraid. 
(AVAILABLE ON PRESCRIPTION)

CAREX MOISTURE PLUS SHOWER CREAM (500ML): 4/10
I wasn't overly keen on the smell of this product although it does beat coal tar. The cream itself felt like it would provide moisture for my skin (if that makes sense...like the texture of it?) Anyway it didn't harm or irritate my skin but as soon as I left the shower I was itchy and very much in need of immediate moisture which isn't something I often feel from products that claim to be moisture intense. For the price I can't really complain but not something I would use out of choice, thought it might be worth a shot when I saw it in the shop.
(QUALITY SAVE, £1)

WEEK #12: NO MAGIC HERE

Dead sea spa magic my arse! Not happy my spots are coming back all red and angry after I was on a roll. They were starting to fade on my lower arms and hands but this weeks products haven't helped. I'm currently looking for a new job so I'm in interview hell at the moment which equals stress which equals bad skin so it is possible that the stress is causing this red resurgence. AND MY POOR EARS! My ear psoriasis is so bad at the moment, I'm constantly picking and trying to itch the inside but I  just end up bleeding and in more pain. I also apologise for the late post, this can also be blamed on job hunting.  I won't be reviewing the hair stuff as it's not ran out yet and I'm going to be nice and give it a little longer to kick in. I also won't be reviewing the Psoriaderm until next week.

DEAD SEA SPA MAGIK SILKY SMOOTH BODY LOTION 350ML: 3/10
I think this is the culprit for my sudden flare up. This moisturiser would be an absolute dream if you didn't have psoriasis. My normal skin was, as advertised, silky smooth, however the majority of my body is covered in psoriasis. Therefore the majority of my body was left feeling itchy and uncomfortable. Definite no no on the price & effectiveness. Will possibly try some of their other moisturisers in the future but they are all quite pricey... fingers crossed I get a job offer soon!
(http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dead-sea-spa-magik-body-lotion-60031043, £7.99)

DEAD SEA SPA MAGIK BATH SALTS 1000G: 5/10
It may be that the moisturiser ruined the effectiveness of the bath salts but I was very disappointed that it didn't make much of a difference (sorry all you dead sea salt loving people). I was itchy during the bath as it's not a product designed to provide moisture. On the other hand I loved the texture of the salts...always look on the bright side and all that! Maybe I should give them more of a chance to work i.e. longer than a week but I'm an impatient bugger. I'm most likely going to try out another brand of dead sea salt stuff in the future so I haven't given up hope yet, I just wouldn't particularly recommend them as a skin fixer.
(http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dead-sea-spa-magik-body-lotion-60031043, £5.99)

WEEK #11: OIL ME UP BABY

Reduced redness & smoother skin can only be a good thing. The star of the show this week goes to  the small but mighty bottle of dermav10 Rescue oil, half of which managed to spill in my bag thanks to the split plastic bottle covering everything in my bag in an orangey slickness. The box it came in should be white not orange. All products here reviewed this week, simply read on.....................


-ALPHOSYL 2 IN 1 MEDICATED SHAMPOO 250ML: 6/10
I had very high hopes for this initially but gradually those hopes dwindled. It did reverse some of the damage caused by my anti-dandruff shampoo venture (lest we forget) & so my plaque build up was reduced. This unfortunately wasn't accompanied by a reduction in itching. SO SO ITCHY!! Packaging isn't very attractive or discrete. The smell is even less attractive & discrete, although my boyfriend liked the smell so it is entirely subjective (not that I trust his opinion in the slightest). Also quite pricey although it does last a while since I've been washing my hair with this twice a day for about three weeks. Personally, I prefer Capasal.
(http://www.boots.com/en/Alphosyl-2-in-1-Medicated-Shampoo-250ml_5041/, £6.69)


-NIVEA IN SHOWER MOISTURISER NOURISHING COCOA 250ML: 5/10
I got this tip from psoriasissecrets.tumblr.com and thought it kinda makes sense. Obviously still applied my body oil (which I was using as my moisturiser) even though it says just shower and go. So it did feel like it was full of moisture however it didn't really moisturise my lesions, just my normal skin. It wash't irritating, it smelt nice and my skin felt smooth whilst applying but after I washed it off my lesions felt raised. This is another product that I could take or leave. 
(http://www.boots.com/en/Nivea-In-Shower-Body-Moisturiser-Nourishing-Cocoa-Skin-Conditioner-250ml_1427529/, £3.69)

-DOVOBET GEL 60G: 4/10
As soon as you say you have psoriasis doctors immediately prescribe this for you. When I'm using topical treatments I just apply it to my lower arms and lower legs otherwise it will take ages and it minimises the risk of negative side effects whilst testing if it works. It didn't work that brilliantly for me but a lots of people say it works a treat for them, even if it didn't clear me it reduced the redness a teeny bit and the fact that it's a gel means it adds a lil bit of moisture. But Steroids :(
(PRESCRIPTION)

-DERMAV10 RESCUE OIL 150ML: 7/10
Like most oils this was messy to apply and one bottle lasted two days so ended up costing me more than I planned (didn't help that one of the bottles split and I had to get a new one). It claims to alleviate dry skin conditions, I think it's basically a cheaper and more orange version of bio oil but maybe not that much cheaper in the long run. Skin was smooth and less red. In my worst affected area (my bum and back) my skin became flaky and it didn't completely stop the itching. I'd like to compare this to bio oil and maybe try it for a bit longer. They also have a cream that I'd like to try after my positive results. The packaging isn't great considering my mishap and don't apply it whilst your standing on a light coloured carpet or you'll get little droplets of red everywhere (I speak from experience). 
(QUALITY SAVE £1.99)

WEEK #10: LIFE'S AN ITCH

Again, I shan't be reviewing the Alphosyl & Dovobet this week as I haven't finished my period of trialling it. All in all it hasn't been a bad skin week,  there was still quite a bit of itching but there was also a reduction in redness, read on if you would like to read my reviews of the products pictured:

PALMERS COCOA BUTTER FORMULA BODY LOTION 250ML: 7/10
I was very angry upon learning that this was available in a tub! It would have saved me a lot of inconvenience because there was still loads of lotion in the bottle even after I couldn't squeeze any out hence why I had to remove the top and try and cut into the plastic (waste not want not!) but I still got through two bottles of the stuff in a week so not cheap. Loved the thick texture however it isn't that quick at absorbing into the skin. The smell didn't bother me, as a chocoholic I did in fact quite like it but maybe not suitable for work-there's a guy in my office who always comes in smelling like cocoa butter and is therefore the subject of a few running jokes. My skin did feel very soft the main problem is that it didn't sooth my itching much and I was sometimes scratching after only just applying it. I would strongly recommend as an indulgence product if your lucky enough to have psoriasis without the itching. 
(http://www.boots.com/en/Palmers-Cocoa-Butter-Formula-Body-Lotion-1-x-250ml_2327/, £4.19)

WESTLAB HIMALAYAN SALT 1KG: 7/10
I think I might be starting a love affair with Westlab's bath salts. I loved the fact that they were pretty and pink (not a big selling point I know but makes a change from the usual ugly stuff I get prescribed) however not all of the salts dissolved and clung to the bath so I had to wash the bath after which was a bit annoying. Apparently the bath salts contain over 80 different minerals to nourish your skin. This is most definitely not a moisturising product, I did still get a bit itchy in the bath, the packet states that you should use the whole 1kg of it in the bath but there's no way I'll be spending £21 a week on my baths. I've noticed a slight reduction in redness and raised patches which I'm attributing to these bath salts. 
(£2.99, QUALITY SAVE)

WEEK #9: ITCHING FOR NEW SKIN

Again, I'm not going to review the Alphosyl shampoo just yet as it's not as easy to determine it's effectiveness as quickly as it is with moisturisers & shower/bath products. The products on review this week didn't particularly help my psoriasis & were mainly chosen on a budget basis as I'm spending a significant amount of money on skin stuff now.  I do realise that a lot of people have already given Aqueous cream a no-no but thought I would try it out anyway as I've not used it before and it was cheap and I would like to exhaust all product options before choosing the ones I'm going to use on a regular basis. 

AQUEOUS CREAM 500G : 4/10

So I think it should be compulsory for all moisturisers to come in these tubs. I LOVE being able to completely smoother my skin in moisturiser and tubs allow that to happen easily. The first night I used this I thought I had found the one, I felt so comfortable after applying it & slept right through...and the the night after I was back to having my midnight itchfests. My skin generally felt softer and my psoriasis patches smoother but I've also read that aqueous cream merely seals in the moisture already in your skin rather than applying any moisture for your skin to drink up. Also the smell was very medical and clung to all my clothes. Definitely not one you'd want to be applying at work. It's also not that cheap despite what I said earlier, considering that one tub lasted just under a week if you apply moisturiser at least three times a day like myself. 

(£4, BOOTS)

SANEX SENSITIVE SHOWER GEL 500ML: 5/10

Not a product I have strong feelings about. It wasn't moisturising but it wasn't irritating & didn't dry my skin out. It smelt nice and for value for money I can't fault it. I'd definitely use it if I was in a position where I had to get something readily available in a supermarket. I was initially enticed by their dry skin adverts so I'll probably have a try of some of there other products. 

(£1.59, BOOTS)

DIPROSALIC OINTMENT: 6/10

I'm fully aware of the aversion to steroids and I completely understand why. When your psoriasis is widespread like mine it's entirely impractical to cover each dot in steroid cream whilst avoiding your normal skin so I just stick to using it on my lower arms & lower legs when I'm trying stuff out. Diprosalic (I think) is quite a potent steroid and I was applying twice a day. It's probably no surprise then that I did notice a tiny improvement. My spots reduced in redness but this was usually accompanied by new little red dots appearing. I also don't like to use the same steroid ointment for more than two weeks due to side effects. Judging by my use of it I think it would be ok for short term use intermittently (i.e. use for two weeks then have a break for a week or so then resume using it). For most people though steroids really are not a solution but an emergency fix, and even then they're not that effective unless your psoriasis is severe. 

(PRESCRIPTION)

DITCHING THE ITCH PART II: LORATADINE TABLETS

LORATADINE 10MG ANTI-HISTAMINE TABLETS (30 TABLETS): 3/10

So after the failure of the last product I tried to get rid of my night time itching hell I asked the doctor what she would recommend. I specifically needed something that was non-drowsy, I had tried a really powerful anti-histamine from my dermatologist once & it worked a treat, probably because it knocked me so far out that there was no way I'd be itchin' in such deep sleep. However that was in my student days... Unfortunately I am now (considered by society) a responsible adult who only gets an opportunity for a lie-in once a week so I need something that's not going to make me sleep through my alarm clock and be dozy for the rest of the day. 

She told me that this worked really well for her severe hay fever. 

Not so good for my psoriasis I'm afraid doc.

Ok so I'm not too sure how long you're supposed to give these tablets to kick in but I've had a few experiences where I've suddenly & randomly woken up (usually around 4am) by a bout of itchiness. I've then taken a tablet which I keep by my bedside table, moisturise whilst still in bed cause I'm too tired to move and then attempt to go to sleep. Instead, however, my itchiness more often than not continued and it would usually take a good hour or so to get back to sleep. And even then I probably only got back to sleep out of pure exhaustion rather than comfortableness.

I must admit there were a few nights where I took this before I went to bed & before I got all itchy and I slept through- but it's hard to tell if that was thanks to the anti-histamine or whether I just wasn't itchy that night. 

To conclude, solely using this as an anti-itching agent didn't work for me and if your dr. says anything about prescribing this for you I would recommend asking for something stronger. It also scored less than the Eurax because as it is a tablet there is nothing to slightly soothe your skin even if it doesn't work to completely take the itch away. 

WEEK #8: ALOE ALOE!

UGH! There's a major lack of sleep in my life at the moment & I'm exhausted right now so this will be a rather short & sweet review of the products I've been using. I've started back on the diprosalic ointment but I'm gonna wait till next week to assess it's full effects. I've also started using Alphosyl shampoo which I'm going to give a bit more time before reviewing as it seems to be working quite well & I'm interested to see if it will continue to clear up my scalp with prolonged use. 


-HOLLAND & BARRETT 99.9% ALOE VERA GEL 200ML 6/10
This another product that people generally seem to rave about in assisting psoriasis but it didn't work that fantastically for me. It's quite cool so when you apply it there is an initial soothing effect but after a few minutes that wears off & I was sometimes quite itchy again not long after applying it. The texture & smell reminded me of that alcohol hand sanitiser gel stuff. You also don't get much use out of this particular tube for the price. I'd rather just use a moisturiser. 

(http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-aloe-vera-gel-60002672, £6.99)


-DR ORGANIC ALOE VERA SOAP 100g 3/10
I liked the smell of this & that's about it. I was ideally looking for a pure aloe vera soap but I had to settle for this. My skin ended up getting quite dry very quickly after use & I was left itching whilst still in the shower. Bit of a rip off considering how ineffective it is. 

(http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dr-organic-aloe-vera-soap-60083619, £2.99)

WEEK #7: THREE DOWN FIVE TO GO {AVEENO}

Some of the views I express in this weeks review may prove to be a little controversial in the world of dermatology. A lot of people say that oatmeal baths really help them (that's what the blob in the picture represents, it's actually a muslin filled with porridge oats) & same goes with the Aveeno lotion, unfortunately it wasn't the case for me so please don't shout at me for my low ratings, I've simply assessed them based on the effectiveness I've experienced. 
I also apologise for my tardiness in completing my review this week, a combination of loss of internet and extreme tiredness (I'm only slightly exaggerating when I say extreme) have slowed me down- But, alas! I'm not defeated!
P.S. -you can find my review of dermalex updated on week 6 should you be interested
-The fish oil supplement I've been using (green bottle in picture) hasn't been helping much...I'll give it one last chance before I report my final verdict to you. 
-I also think brand of supplements may make a difference?? The effects of Evening Primrose Oil (yellow bottle in picture) seems to have either plateaued or the morrisons one isn't as good as 

AVEENO LOTION 500ML: 6/10
Everyone describes Aveeno as 'nice', my doctor, my pharmacist, other people who've used it. Jennifer Aniston seems to like it to.  
It is very soothing but it is also expensive and it also doesn't last very long. The 500ml bottle got a bit annoying to use towards the end of the supply as well. This is another one that worked great on my face. It's not one I'd want to use on a regular basis though. It provided moisture but not quite enough for my spotty areas. I got itchy pretty quickly after using it. I think this is the best moisturiser out there to bring to work. It's easily transportable, it doesn't have ugly medical packaging, it doesn't smell, it absorbs quickly, it doesn't leave your skin shiny and it's easy to apply. If I was at home though I'd want to use something more intensive. 
 (I GOT THIS ON PRESCRIPTION ALTHOUGH IT'S VERY READILY AVAILABLE THESE DAYS WITH MY LOCAL PHARMACY GIVING OUT FREE SAMPLES)


OATMEAL WRAPPED IN MUSLIN: 3/10
...or my oatmeal bath bomb as I liked to call it. As Aveeno is oatmealy I decided to pair it with this I used average porridge oats you just get from your local supermarket so maybe I used the wrong stuff. I tried to give it a google but it didn't help me find a difference between oatmeal and porridge. 
Anywayyyyy, I'm really really sorry if you disagree but I don't get what all the fuss is about. I mean soooo many websites etc. recommend it. It became very smelly cause I only had one muslin to last me the week & there were also porridge remnants in my bath. I didn't find it particularly soothing, It wasn't irritating, but none of it's effects warrant it's popularity. It was quite nice squeezing it directly over my skin but bathing in it did nothing for me. 


-HEAD & SHOULDERS APPLE FRESH 250ML: 2/10
Ok so I know this was ridiculous to even try I just wanted  to try it for a week as I thought it might be something that people newly diagnosed with psoriasis might think of trying (i.e. me four years ago). I mean it seems logical that a shampoo to help with the flakiness of dandruff might help with the flakiness of psoriasis...right? (you can just humour me & agree, I've never been great with logic). Yep maybe not, especially given that it's probably going to more chemically due to the apple scent, I'm not sure why I didn't just try the original if I was going to try it at all (I told you my logic isn't great). I basically was hoping to find a nice smelling shampoo which I haven't had for a very long time that might reduce flaking. In fact the apple smell wasn't that great & my flaking greatly increased (surprisingly). Some of my lumps got bigger, I hope you get what I mean by lumps, and most importantly I got very itchy. It's a no from me head & shoulders (even though I'm not your target audience)
(OCADO ONLINE £2.99)

WEEK#6: TWO DOWN SIX TO GO {AVEENO}

Not quite such a successful week compared with last week's products. Last weeks products seemed to have faded a lot of my lesions and reduced itchiness massively. This week I haven't been so lucky and I seem to have new dots appearing accompanied by a resurgence in my itching :( 
Oh well that's the point of experimenting with different products, finding out what works and what doesn't. And I must remind you that what doesn't work for me might just work for you...Unfortunately I just have that incredibly stubborn kind of guttate psoriasis.
So here's the weekly review...
P.S. The reason for the title is that Aveeno products have been recommended to me by a few different doctors so thought I'd try out there whole product range. There are eight different products shown on their website and I've used two now...just thought I should explain. 

AVEENO SKIN RELIEF BODY LOTION WITH SHEA BUTTER 200ML: 7/10
Advertised as for 'extra dry, irritable and sensitive skin' to 'moisturise the skin for 24 hours'. 
I think this would work fantastically if your skin was just dry & you didn't have any kind of skin condition. Not so fantastic if you have psoriasis however. It does provide long lasting moisture for the skin...all day... and I often felt like I didn't need to moisturise as much as I normally do (3 times a day) but my lesions would get itchy and irritable so I did still end up moisturising 3 times a day. I feel like this lotion was the responsible for my new spots flaring up  & existing spots getting bumpy. I also used 4 bottles in a week!!! So based on price alone I wouldn't use this on a regular basis. I'd highly recommend for people with just regular dry skin, it would be a lifesaver. 
For those of you like me with severe psoriasis though I'd say don't waste your money.
(QUALITY SAVE £3.99----I've since seen this on offer @ co-op pharmacy for £3.49 if you're in the uk & fancy trying it)

AVEENO BATH & SHOWER OIL 250ML: 6/10
It's such a nice change to have a nice smelling, nicely packaged shower gel! Based on it's use as a shower gel it's not a product I have strong feelings about. It didn't feel as though it was that nourishing to my skin but it certainly didn't do any harm, although it did dry out my skin a little. This product would last quite a while, I still have loads left, but it wasn't effective enough to justify the price. I'll probably review it again as used in the bath some time in the future but not that impressed with it. 
(OCADO ONLINE, £7.99)

DERMALEX PSORIASIS CREAM 60G: 4/10
So I was supposed to moving back on to diprosalic ointment this coming week but it's recommend to stick with this for two weeks to notice a difference so I can't provide a review for this yet. It caught my eye in the shops and I thought it might be my miracle cure. Judging by it's effectiveness so far it's probably not going to clear my skin but still it's very appealing that it's cortisone & steroid free. It is rather expensive but a little goes a long way and it probably lasts quite a while. I'll get back to you next week with my findings  

*To get straight to the point, this didn't work for me although I have a feeling it might help on people with mild psoriasis as the middle bit of the spots faded a teeny weeny bit...not enough for me to pay £18 for the tube, I'd rather get steroids which I can get on prescription 
(SUPERDRUG ONLINE £17)

WEEK#5: DISSOLVING THE DOTS

What a happy, happy week!
It's amazing how much more positivity there is when it feels like your getting your skin under control. I'm still not clear in the slightest but just having a reduction in the itching alone is a relief, I've been able to sleep the whole night through! Never mind that the spots are starting to fade! I can only hope this continues although I'm kind of scared of switching up the products I've been using this week but I think it's important to find out what works and what doesn't. If it means risking the progress I've made at least I know I can return to this weeks routine to help calm my psoriasis down again. Anyways on with the reviews....
P.S. If you have instagram you can find me @thecurechronicles, Would love for you to say Hi I really want more people to follow, my feed is rather empty!


WESTLAB EPSOM SALTS 1KG: 8/10
I have absolutely loved my epsom salt baths & I'm going to miss them this week so much :'(
So I would dissolve a small cup full of these in a warm bath & soak all my troubles away for approx. 20 mins (as advised on packet).  Benefit number one was that as I'm normally more of a shower person it was a nice way to make a bit of time to destress at the end of the day & have a bit of time to myself. Benefit number two was that it left my skin smooth, I left the bath with no raised lesions or flakiness & I was itch free. Good value for money as well... Nothing I can complain about really
(QUALITY SAVE) £3.90


PETROLEUM JELLY  368G 7/10
Another product which worked like a dream for me. At first It felt really claustrophobic on my skin & initially I was quite itchy but after the first night it worked perfectly. It kept me well moisturised and made my face look fantastic! I'm not a huge fan of the texture of the product & it does transfer from the skin to anything you touch quite easily...It wouldn't be too fun to apply at work & would leave you with a shiny glean. Glad I went for the cheaper one instead of vaseline as I can't imagine it working much better, although the shape of the pot is probably more convenient as you get towards the bottom. Definitely worth a go if you haven't tried it yet!!
 (QUALITY SAVE ) 69P


DIPROSALIC OINTMENT 60G 
I don't like using steroids...but like I said I do want to try a variety of different things to see what works. I found the skin on my hands starting to thin a bit whilst using this and elsewhere on my body my skin was smoothing out anyway so couldn't see it making much of a difference. I'm going to take a break from it this week & try again next week so watch this space for a more comprehensive review. 
(I was only able to get this on prescription)


FISH OIL 1000MG 30 TABLETS: 0/10
Given the success of my evening primrose oil supplement experience, I thought I'd give fish oil a try as it was recommended to me (although I personally feel it would be more beneficial to just include more oily fish in your diet) I haven't noticed any difference as of yet from using this however I'll give it a bit longer to take hold before I give it a final rating. 

* I've not noticed any difference in my skin since taking this so I'll probably stick to the evening primrose oil for now. 
(MORRISONS, £1.69, can't find on website)

....I've also made a start trying to make lifestyle changes. I'm going to commit myself to a days fasting & I'm trying to be more active as well as eating less crap in general. I'll be starting to make more psoriasis related lifestyle changes in the coming weeks but it would be interesting to see if there's a product that works without diet changes etc as I know there are a lot people who simply can't do this for health reasons. Wishing you all the most fabulous week. XXX

WEEK #4: DOUBLE THE TROUBLE

After my last successful week I was feeling even more positive about my progression but unfortunately this week the Doublebase moisturiser I was using wasn't very effective and I found that my spots were more itchy & raised but luckily no more red than usual. I'm gradually going to be making steps towards changing my lifestyle but I don't feel like a can fully commit to it at the moment so fingers crossed I can stick it out trying a psoriasis diet, if I do I'll be posting more about my progress with that as well instead of just products I'm trying as i know many people would rather not use a lot of this stuff....and on with this weeks reviews:

DOUBLEBASE EMOLLIENT SHOWER GEL 200G: 8/10
I loved using this in the shower! It's odourless, it has very convenient packaging & it provides a lasting comfortable moisture. My only problem is that it doesn't actively help the psoriasis, it simply provides moisture...but sometimes that's good enough & it's better than what could be said for other shower products. 200G provides an adequate amount, I still had some left over after the week but for the price would expect it to stretch a little further.  Would definitely & probably will use again.
(http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/doublebase-emollient-shower-gel/prd-12u) £8.49


DOUBLEBASE GEL 500G: 4/10
Such a shame this couldn't match it's counterpart. Again I loved the packaging, the pump dispenser is soooooo handy (no pun intended) but maybe a little bulky to carry round if you need to travel with it. It has a slightly alcholy smell but only very slight. I loved the jelly like texture and how quickly it absorbed & it did seem to keep my skin soft for quite a while...So what's the problem I hear you ask. Well. Although it left some of my good skin soft, my psoriasis spots would actually become dry quite quickly...and then itchy...and the raised. I was finding that I was coating myself in it around five times a day & again during the night when I would wake up furiously itchy. I wanted to like this so much but unfortunately it didn't work for my sleep deprived self. 
(http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/doublebase-hydrating-gel-pump/prd-hqs) £9.49


*******I'VE UPDATED -WEEK#1 FOR EVENING PRIMROSE OIL REVIEW (8/10)
                                          -WEEK#2 FOR DOVONEX REVIEW (6/10)

DITCHING THE ITCH: EURAX LOTION

-EURAX LOTION 100ML : 4/10
Night time can sometimes be hell for me. I can be absolutely exhausted but my itchiness will often prevent me from getting much needed rest. One of the many cruel ironies of psoriasis: a good sleeping routine is said to be beneficial for the immune system but it's very hard to get one when nightmare itching is actually a reality. 
I normally just reapply my moisturiser over and over and over again but find it to be ineffective if I'm just itching it off again so I'm on a mission to find a product to help...unfortunately my first attempt wasn't too successful, but not a complete disaster.
First, I must say that the lotion form isn't that great to apply when it's 3:00am and you don't want to leave the confines your comfy and warm bed to alleviate the itching fit that has suddenly overcome you. Both the consistency and smell reminded me of camomile lotion meaning it went everywhere when I tried to apply it whilst remaining horizontal...it left me with greasy looking bedsheets.
Also I must point out that psoriasis isn't listed on the front as one of the things it stops itching for but I thought I would give it a go (it was also in the clearance for £2 so why not?).
As I had already started the itching before applying I often had lesions that were bleeding or cut and I was then subject to an EXTREME stinging which was very unpleasant and is one of the main reasons I wouldn't recommend this product. 
On the other hand, for some reasons it's effects were rather arbitrary, some night it worked really well and I would kiss the bottle goodnight before falling into a deep continuous sleep. Some nights though I would still be tossing and turning for a few hours feeling even more uncomfortable with the stinging sensation. 
It's good value for money but it's results aren't consistent and can't be relied upon which isn't ideal for psoriasis sufferers. I think I will try the cream version of this as I think it will be more psoriasis friendly. 
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eurax-493361-100ml-Lotion/dp/B000KU93HQ) £4.40

WEEK #3: MANUKA ME BETTER

I must say that I've had a good week with my skin, some lesions are starting to get lighter in the middle, less raised & I noticed that around some of the spots the skin was white which I believe is a good sign. I'm still very very itchy but hopefully it'll continue to improve as even after a whole five months I've not head anything about an appointment with a dermatologist, very frustrating! Anyways last week I went manuka honey mental on the advice of a lady at Holland & Barrett's...again I've not included a review of the shampoo as that was done in week #1 but read on for my reviews of the other products. 

-DR ORGANIC MANUKA HONEY SOAP: 100G : 5/10
I found this to be neither good nor bad. It didn't sting or overly dry out my skin, it had a nice smell & it's good value for money especially given that it is likely to last a long time. On the other hand I would like it to provide a bit more moisture. I personally think that Johnsons baby soap is better & cheaper as I didn't really benefit from the manuka side of things with the soap.
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dr-organic-manuka-honey-soap-60083594?c=dr%20organic%20manuka%20honey £2.99


-DR ORGANIC MANUKA HONEY SKIN LOTION: 200ML 6/10
Very strong smell, not particularly unpleasant but lingers on all your clothes. I really liked this but would've liked the moisture to last a little longer. I ended up incredibly itchy at night which was a bit annoying. Also it's on the pricey side. I bought two tubes of this (luckily it's buy one get one half price @ Holland & Barrett's but still not cheap) and it didn't see me through a whole week meaning I had to get some more which is annoying. I reckon I can get better for my money to be honest. 
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dr-organic-manuka-honey-skin-lotion-60083591?c=dr%20organic%20manuka%20honey £7.49

-TIPTREE MINI MANUKA 10+ HONEY: 28G: 8/10
Manuka honey is not cheap so I decided to go for the smaller pot since I'm only trialling it at the moment. Manuka honey was recommended to me because of it's healing properties so I thought I may as well as try and apply it on directly in it's raw form. It was a little sticky but you can lick your fingers with this one so it's all good. I still had some left in the pretty little pot after a week of applying topically which made me happy given it's size. The only problem with this is it sticks to your clothes. The white outline of my lesions began to show after I started using this so I would like to try it again for a longer period next time. I also think eating it in addition to applying it would be beneficial.
https://groceries.morrisons.com/webshop/product/Tiptree-Mini-Manuka-10-Honey/289467011?from=search&tags&param=MANUKA+HONEY+&parentContainer=SEARCHMANUKA+HONEY_SHELFVIEW £1.35

WEEK#2: GOING NUTS!

So this week I went with the coconut theme.  And a rather successful theme it was too. My skin seems to be a bit smoother. Unfortunately I don't think this is down to the coconut oil but rather the Dovonex or the evening primrose oil is starting to kick in. I won't review the Capasal shampoo again as my same rating still stands & I'm gonna give the evening primrose oil more time before I review & in that case here's my weekly review. 


-KTC 100% PURE COCONUT OIL 500ML: 5/10
I think I made a fatal error in my choice of coconut oil. As it said 100% pure I guessed it would be good stuff (and I was desperately hoping it to be with it being considerably cheaper than most others) but I have only just found out that it is in fact refined. However it did the job fairly well, completely odourless, easy and quick to apply but again you don't wanna be touching your hair with oily hands. It absorbed fairly quickly but the moisture didn't last as long as I would've liked. I found I was less itchy at night as I had been the previous nights but I still have ended up with bloodstained flaky sheets. Think I'll have to give proper unrefined coconut oil a go before I rule it out completely.
(http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=256412443) £2.25

-ORIGINAL SOURCE COCONUT & SHEA BUTTER SHOWER GEL 250ML: 2/10
I was bought this out of desperation and my inability to locate a soap/shower gel with real coconut in time. Looking at the ingredients they haven't gone all out with the originally sourced ingredients but I have no one to blame but myself. This clearly isn't made for sensitive skin although the name of the product is quite misleading in my incredibly humble opinion. When I try out the unrefined coconut oil I'll try and originally source a proper soap myself. It does smell quite nice though and doesn't irritate my skin at all... but it also doesn't soothe it. 
(I got this from sainsburys for £1 but can't find on their website)

-DOVONEX OINTMENT 30G: 6/10
I could've sworn the last time I used this it was absolutely useless on my psoriasis, yet after this week I have to admit defeat and give a reluctant and still slightly cynical head nod to the large drug corporations. Some of my spots have been subject to the very unusual occurrence of the middle part of them starting to fade! This is good news should it be a result of the dovonex. I can't be sure if it is this or evening primrose oil yet though. Only time will tell. To ensure that I don't build resistance to it though I'm going to take a break from it this week and return to it next week to see if the improvement will continue. I've just been applying to arms & legs at the moment because it would take too long to cover all of my spots. It does absorb quickly though and easy to apply. It's most definitely pricey though so would be best on prescription.
*********UPDATE
Probably wouldn't use bother using this again. I got through the tube so quickly & it didn't make enough of a difference for me to recommend it. If my doctors feeling generous and i can get more then I would like to try it over a longer period of time. 
(https://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com/uk/psoriasis-treatment/dovonex-ointment £33)

WEEK #1: BABY SOFT SKIN

Hello there again!
So I have deleted all my previous posts so I could start again properly, it was annoying me that I wasn't sticking to the regimes in the way I had planned. So this week I have been smothering myself in bum cream after being inspired by seeing a spare tub of sudocrem in the house & seeing that it said eczema on the front I thought maybe it's worth trying out on my psoriasis... along with other baby products since logically they should be kind & gentle to the skin...so here's this weeks review.

-CAPASAL THERAPEUTIC SHAMPOO 250ml: 7/10
This smell of this shampoo isn't particularly alluring but it doesn't stick to hair for too long (or maybe I've just grown used to the smell, who knows?) & it's also easy to apply to the scalp. It dramatically reduced the itching however I'm still very flaky and lumpy from scale build ups. I've also found from previous use that you have to use it every. single. day. which can be a bit of pain- otherwise I became very very itchy again. My scalp felt quite dry after use.  I think this shampoo is probably designed to be used in accompaniment to some sort of scalp ointment and is probably more effective combined with one. I got this on prescription however I also don't think it's that much more expensive than branded shampoos theses days!
(http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk) £7.69

-JOHNSONS BABY OIL 250ml: 5/10
I found this quite messy to apply, oil spills everywhere! And not ideal if you get it in your hair. On the other hand it's really quick to apply, odourless and absorbs relatively quickly on psoriasis ridden skin. Not one I would recommend taking to work with you. It's cheap, depending where you buy, and readily available- although saying that for some reason some supermarkets seem to have stopped stocking it. This didn't work well at all on my face and although better than most 'normal' moisturisers it still isn't intensive enough for skin conditions. Cue crazy night time itching. All in all therefore I would't recommend. I am interested in trialling other versions of the product though like the one with added aloe vera or the baby oil gel.
(http://www.bmstores.co.uk/search?q=baby+oil) 99p

-SUDOCREM ANTISEPTIC HEALING CREAM 400g: 7/10
I'm in love with sudocrem!!!! The smell is very medical and it isn't much fun to apply. This actually gets everywhere and transfers to everything you touch. It's on my sofa, floor, cooker, wardrobe, anything I handled. This thick white stuff is amazing on the face, my spots haven't disappeared but are greatly improved and as a side note it also helps with pores, blackheads & other spots on the face but it takes longer to absorb on the face so always double check the mirror before you go out if you use this! It also covers up the redness for about 2 hours. As it is antiseptic I have found it brilliant on spots that have been bleeding and are sore but I have to admit that it hasn't changed my psoriasis in any way. It's just very soothing. I for one will always be keeping a jar of this handy anyhow. Not that cheap though :/
(http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=255221561) £5.80

-JOHNSONS BABY SOAP WITH HONEY 100G: 8/10
This is lovely to use on the skin when in the shower. It's very gentle and I usually get very stingy in the shower. It doesn't dry out the skiing, very easy, cheap, soothing & smells nice. It isn't particularly moisturising but easy to get hold of and I always apply moisturiser after a shower anyway. Love it!
(http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=257387136) £1.00

-EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 1000mg:
Don't have a rating for this yet as it as a long term one. A lady @ Holland & Barrett told me she knew someone whose redness dramatically reduced using this so will keep monitoring it & update if I see any change.
********UPDATE 
Giving evening primrose oil a solid 8/10
my redness has really been noticeably reduced, even in areas where I've not been applying any topical treatments. I've got so much love for this at the moment and would definitely recommend giving it a try. I've been using 1000mg tablets & taking one every day. It's something that's readily available and cheap too :)

THE SEARCH FOR SKIN SERENITY

Hello. My name is Laura, I'm 22 years old and have suffered from psoriasis for five years.
My psoriasis covers the whole of my body. Wherever there is skin there are flaky red spots of itchiness: my scalp, my face, my ears, my arms, my hands, my tummy, my back, my private parts, my legs and my feet... you get the picture... and in case you don't I thought I'd post a picture. As you can see one of the photos is of my back/bum (a little bit cheeky, I know- see what i did there), I apologise if this offends anyone, this is probably my my most extensively affected area where you can see the millions of spots most clearly but if you would like me to take it down you can let me know on here or email me at thecurechronicles@gmail.com.

I'm not too certain of what type of psoriasis I have actually got. I think it is plaque psoriasis due to the fact that it's not disappeared yet and the amount of coverage although the spots themselves look like guttate psoriasis. Despite all the different gp's and dermatologists I have seen I have never actually found out...although I haven't asked to be fair.  Anyhow I've got some sort of psoriasis and I'm currently going through the incredibly frustrating and long process of trying to get a referral to a dermatologist to start treatment, I'm sure any sufferer can empathise with how stressful this process is (I've been trying to get this referral sorted since february and it is now june and my condition continues to worsen). In the mean time I thought I'd be more proactive instead of simply being a moaning myrtle and do a bit of further research into the various different lotions, potions and apparent remedies. I've trialled many in the past but never really properly monitored the effect of different so called solutions and I've only ever really stuck to what the doctor's prescribed. I therefore arrived at the logical modern day conclusion to start a blog where I will try a combination of psoriasis aids for a set period of time (depending on the recommended improvement time for what I am trialling) and review my progress and my assessment of the product/ method used. I'm hoping this will help people filter out all the ineffective products as well as all the rubbish that is available and the producers of money- making gimmicks preying on people desperate for something to alleviate their symptoms. On the other hand i'm also hoping to stumble across some really great products and ideas which I can highlight.

I am fully aware that psoriasis is a complex skin disease, I know it effects everyone differently according to severity and type and that the impact of treatments affect everyone differently. All I know is that mine is incredibly stubborn and somewhat severe. I have tried suff that people have claimed to be that often mentioned miracle cure only to left angry and upset that it hasn't worked for me...and sometimes also left out of pocket. All I can do is try and if it does helps someone else then that will make me very happy. I'm also going to be documenting my daily thoughts and delve more into the psychological and emotional issues and just general stuff related to psoriasis in the section entitled 'dear diary'. I'll be keeping it separate from this main page which will focus on the treatments and their results, as you can probably tell by now I'm a bit of a rambler and I'm sure you have better things to do than try and sift through the thoughts of a crazed young woman. I've included it simply because I really have enjoyed reading how psoriasis has impacted people on other blogs, not in a sadistic way, I just find it inspiring, reassuring, interesting and helpful to know that other people are going through the same thing. Some of the hardest things I've found about the skin disease is how little people know about it, how no one I know has it, and how difficult it is to convey how difficult psoriasis is to live with.

There is a high chance that not a single soul is even reading this however should there be then I would love for you to say hi! Another reason for creating this blog is to meet fellow sufferers- because we really do suffer sometimes- and it would be just brilliant to acquire some new friends.
I also realise that there probably is no cure for this lifelong condition, but writing about new things to try makes me hopeful.
I'm excited to share my search with you!

xxx