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)
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)
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)
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)
