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)
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)
