My (Tried & Tested) Tips For Dealing With Psoriasis

I never thought the day would come where I would be writing a post on how to deal with psoriasis. I've had the disease for about a year now but it's been dormant for the last 6 months or so. I know I'm not a serious case but I know how uncomfortable and irritable the disease can be. When I first got diagnosed with psoriasis I was living in South Korea, so doctors couldn't give me an exact cause nor could they give me an exact remedy. At first I thought it was because of the language barrier, but then after thorough research I realized that it was just one of those diseases that doctors couldn't quite put their fingers on. 

Some of the major symptoms that I experienced:

- Dry and flaky skin. 

- Large ringworm-like lesions on my skin. 

- Excessive itch. 

The itch was the biggest thing for me. With the lesions and the bad skin I could always just cover up or try to conceal them, but with the itch there was hardly anything I could do. I did a lot of research on the disease but more specifically on how to combat the itch. Summer was fast approaching so I also wanted to know how to get rid of the horrid red patches all over my skin. 

After a lot of trial and error I found a few products which worked great for me and I still use them everyday religiously. That's what happens when you have a disease like this, it affects your life so much that you are desperately seeking a solution no matter what it takes. 

Here's what helped me:

1. UV Light Treatment 

I went for UV light treatment for a few months while living in Korea. I made a weekly trip to my dermatologist who assisted me with the treatment. My medical insurance covered half of my bills so all I had to pay was the balance of about W8,000 ($8 or R70) for every weekly visit. This is recommended as the number 1 treatment for psoriasis. However, when I returned to South Africa it wasn't very easy for me to find a dermatologist  who could provide me with such treatment. Also, I heard that it was quite expensive, so I had to find alternate solutions/ treatments. However, the few months of UV treatment really helped. 

2. Good Moisturizer 

This is another product which helped me a lot. Ideally, you want to go for a moisturizer that targets dry or very dry skin. That should be your number 1 focus. I don't have 'normal' skin so I ignored products for normal skin. I have dry skin and I needed to get my dry skin nourished. 

I used a few moisturizers in Korea, some containing essential oils and all that. At one point I was actually moisturizing twice with two different body lotions. The key is to keep your skin moisturized so that it is less likely to itch. Skin itches when it's dry so you want to keep it as nourished as possible. Of course the vitamins contained in some moisturizers assist in the general well-being of your skin. 

On my return to South Africa I tried creams and lotions containing cocoa butter and rich in vitamin E but none of them really helped. Eventually I found a great moisturizer by Dove which I've been using for the past couple of months. Again, you just want your skin to have life and to be alive. Moisture is key!!! 

3. A Good Petroleum Jelly (like Vaseline)

This has also been an amazing product which was initially prescribed to be my dermatologist. I don't use it as much because my skin has cleared up. I would apply this to the affected area and the petroleum jelly would absorb nicely into my skin- nourishing and moisturizing. 

4. Glycerine (Yep, that's right!) 

First impressions of glycerine? "Yuck!"  "I'm going to be sticky!" Well contrary to that, glycerine is sweet but not necessarily sticky. In fact, it's not sticky at all. I had a few itchy spots all over my body, mainly my joints which makes sense because psoriasis usually occurs around the joints. I would apply glycerine twice a day after my shower and it would keep the itch away. The key here again is moisturizing. Glycerine is obviously rich in moisture and so when you apply it to your skin it keeps your skin nourished for longer. 

5. Bee Natural Beeswax And Honey

This product is part of a range. It's all natural, consisting of honey, pollen, beeswax and some other things. The variation that I bought was specifically for eczema and skin ailments so try to find that one if you can. Alternatively, you can also just buy the general balm I'm sure it will also help. If you don't find this brand I'm sure you can find other brands which do the same thing. Beeswax and honey in general are great for psoriasis. 

Bee Natural  Body & Healing Balm. This is the 'general' balm but try to find the
specific balm for psoriasis and eczema. 

6. Avoid Heat (Like Hot Showers)

When your skin comes into contact with hot water it gets aggravated and can cause the psoriasis to get worse. So ideally, you want to keep as cool as possible. You want to prevent inflaming the lesions which will cause them to spread and to become itchy. Of course hot water will also cause your skin to become sensitive and when it's sensitive the psoriasis gets worse.

So these are my top 6 things. As I said before, this is what helped me. The disease may not be cured completely but for now it's amazing having clear non-itchy skin.

Feel free to comment or ask anything!! 

"It's not a Man Purse, It's called a satchel. Indiana Jones has one."

I love this quote from the Hangover. 

I'd like to start with Urban Dictionary's multi definition of 'man-bag.' It's rather funny.

* A bag with one strap worn by metrosexual or homosexual males, especially prevalent in cities and on college campuses. 

* A purse or large duffel bag or any type of bag carried by a man. NOT ALWAYS gay. 

* A stylish small pouch with one strap or a large messenger bag, simply carried by men.The men who wear these aren't all necessarily gay. They are just metrosexual or have a really good sense of style. Just because a man dresses decently doesn't mean he's homesexual. 

I love Urban Dictionary. I find it both strange and funny that reference is made to 'gay' or 'homosexual' in every one of those definitions. I mean, nobody finds men with pierced ears gay or men who spend hours in front of a mirror doing their hair.

Man bag jokes are as old as the hills. Wearing a man bag does not make you gay. Traditionally men would stuff their wallet, cellphone, car keys, condoms, pictures of kids, pens and notebooks all into their front and back pockets of their jeans causing an unsightly bulge. Stuffing your back pocket with your wallet also drew unwanted attention to your ass. Not classy.


I've always used man bags at varsity just out of necessity but when I moved to South Korea 2 years ago I was amazed at how popular man bags are. In fact, they are so popular it may be a fashion crime to be seen without one. Man bags are popular enough to rival females' purses. And with good reason- man bags are extremely convenient and practical.

It's also very common for a man to rock a man bag even when his girlfriend doesn't although in the picture below it's probable that the guy is carrying his girlfriend's purse. We'd hope that that's not his Chanel purse he's sporting.

This brings me to my next point. There's nothing wrong with wearing a Chanel purse IF it was made and designed for men. I'm all for liberation and freedom of expression but there are limits as to what is allowed and what isn't. Usually man bags are quite simple yet very stylish without the feminine frills and trims. But this doesn't stop some men from carrying their girlfriends'.

I can't emphasis enough how practical these bags are.

Here are some types of man bags, hopefully this will help you make a better, more informed decision when buying your bag, especially if you're a first time man bag buyer:

1. Study 

Usually something trendy and fun to carry books, stationery and other study material.

2. Work 

Likely to be sophisticated and in dark 'business' colours like black, brown, grey etc. Work man bags are also more 'box-ey'  Leather is a popular choice. These days, most bags are designed to fit a laptop which makes it even more practical. This is kind of a modern version of the briefcase.

3. Play 

A 'going 'out' bag.  Day trips, night trips, just a really convenient bag for keeping your wallet, phone, keys and other necessities. The modern man may also want to store his iPad and some other personal items. The reporter bag or messenger bag best fits this profile as it's small, sexy and can contain everything you want it to. Reporter bags usually have the same characteristics - rectangular in shape with one big fold over flap in the front and a zip at the back. And of course the signature single strap.

A sexy little Polo reporter bag. 

4. Sport / Sleepovers 

Gym bags, which essentially are duffel bags, are getting more and more stylish.

While a traditional gym bag looks like this...

...your more modern gym bag looks like this.

There isn't much of a major difference between duffel and gym bags. It's a really versatile bag especially for weekend and overnight trips. Obviously you wouldn't use this to the office.

***

It's a fashion, it's a style, it's a trend. And it's convenient. But if you still prefer to carry your phone, wallet and car keys in your hand everywhere you go or if you prefer to stuff everything into your pockets then go right ahead.

"Beauty is about symmetry", says Robert Verdi, host of E! and the Style Networks's Fashion Police. "Unless you're carrying two wallets, you're going to look lopsided (with only one stuffed pocket). Even when you have a vented jacket on, you've still got a bump on your ass. Why would you want a bump on your ass?"

Wearing a man bag takes confidence and of course security. A man needs to be secure enough to know that he is wearing a great bag, highly practical and wearing it does not make him gay.


Here are some celebs proudly rocking their man bags

David Beckham. I'm not sure if the bag works with his look
but great bag nevertheless. 

Jay-Z, Usher and Kanye West rocking their man bags. 

Man bag or Murse? 

Ronaldo - man bag or murse? 

I have nothing against a murse (male purse) but you really have to have the swag to pull it off otherwise it will just look like you're using your girlfriends purse.


There are many benefits and advantages of wearing such an accessory. And it's cool. Use it, don't use it.

Until next time...

9 Fashion Faux Pas That People Are STILL Committing

1. Crocs 

Crocs have no self-respect so therefore they fly right to the top of the list. The company was formed in 2002 and more than 10 years later they have passed their sell-by date. And they are ugly. However, they are perfectly 'usable' for doing work around the house (or yard) or for fetching the paper. Or washing the car.

2. Sandals And Socks

This apparently  is the 'gangster way' of wearing sandals (Urban Dictionary). Not really sure what the logic is behind this (I personally don't think there is any) but the socks have gotta go. Enjoy summer with some great sandals and let your feet get some fresh air. Otherwise, trek back to Iceland where socks and sandals are cool.

3. Camouflouge CLOTHING  

This was huge at some point in the previous decade. Let's leave this to the army guys.

4. Cargo Pants/ Shorts 

We live in the 21st century. A century thriving with new and innovative fashion. Lets leave the 8 pocket shorts in the past where they belong, specifically the over-sized shorts that hang below your knees. Instead, opt for something a little form fitting... it doesn't have to be skinny just form fitting. There are many options available for the modern man ranging from regular and bootleg to skinny and slim (I don't condone bootleg pants but I guess they work for some people). It's time to find your silhouette this century (thanks askmen.com).

Camouflouge, cargo and with draw strings!?? Definite no-no. 

5. Trotting Barefoot At The Mall

Unless you're a one with nature/ tree-hugging/ deadlocked hippy from Kathmandu, I suggest NOT walking around public places barefoot. It's not only bad for your feet, but it's also bad for the public and for the environment.

6. White Pants 

White Pants should be limited to:-
* Beach weddings or beach parties.
* Baptisms
* Doctors or other medical staff
* People who are none of the above but can pull off white pants beautifully.

Doin' it right. 

7. Floral Shirts (For Men)

These are still lurking somewhere out there. Big in 1997, it's time to move on. Let's leave these over-size 'happy' shirts to the those residing or visiting Hawaii or Luau. 

8. Over-Accessorising (For Women)

More and more women are still wearing every single piece of bling they own. WOMEN - you are NOT a Christmas tree. Less is definitely more. Keep it simple and classy with just one piece (maybe two) complimenting your look. 

9. Men With Diamonds In Their Ears

As society deems man-bags (satchels) more gay, men with pierced ears escalate in popularity as more and more people think that this is a cool trend. Of course, the practicality of a man-bag totally outweighs the 'coolness' of a piercing. It also turns out that a right-ear piercing denotes you're gay and a left-ear piercing denotes you're straight. If you have both pierced then you're normal. Like, WHAT??? That doesn't even make sense. Having two pierced ears is as good as having no pierced ears. Oh well, pierced ears for me have gots to go. 

Those are my top 9 for now. I will definitely update when I think of others!!!

Dove's Intensive Nourishment Body Lotion (For Extra Dry Skin)

Another one of my favourite products at the moment is Dove's Intensive Nourishment body lotion for extra dry skin. It's part of Dove's DeepCare COMPLEX body lotion range. .

The DeepCare COMPLEX range. 

I started using this product because of my dry skin which was caused by psoriasis. I've been using it for a few months and thoroughly enjoying it. All I can say is that it really does provide intensive nourishment. It leaves my skin feeling nourished and moisturized without the 'oily' feeling. If you find the 'extra dry' variation too intense then you can try the other dry skin varieties.

One of the main symptoms of psoriasis is dry and itchy skin so this product provided me with the moisture that I needed and also helped alleviate the itch and the dryness.

Moisturizing twice a day helps to keep your skin smooth and moisturized for longer!!

Golden Globe Greats 2013

Some of the best dressed at the 2013 Golden Globes... 

Daniel Craig looking like a boss while Rachel Weisz looks
like she's en-route to a funeral. She has people staring for all the wrong 
reasons.

The gorgeous Halle Berry taking a beautiful risk. But the dress is a bit
'out there'. 

Nicole Kidman looking dreary in black. 

Jodie Foster who is now also lesbian. 

George Clooney and his lady friend looking suave in black

Jennifer Garner looking sultry and fierce in red! 

Eva looking great but her dress is bordering on a hot mess. 

Really Lovin' Dove's Antiperspirant For Men

To break away from all the fashion posts recently, I decided to make a list of some personal products that I'm really enjoying at the moment. This is the first of the products I'm going to review.

Dove For Men Antiperspirant Aerosal, Clean Comfort - 150ml

The antiperspirant is part of the greater Dove Men + Care range 

I decided a few years ago that roll-on and deodorant sticks don't really work too well on my skin and most times leave stains on my clothes so I've been using antiperspirant sprays ever since. 

What I like about this product is that it not only eliminates sweat and odour, but it also has great skin care ingredients which eliminate dry and itchy skin. Dove is famous for it's skin care and that philosophy has been carried into its deodorants and antiperspirant range. 

I also like the fact that it's not heavily scented. It has a brief, fresh 'manly' scent which disappears after application. I know for sure that at the end of a long day my sweat and odour will be under control. 

Dove really sticks to its promise of 24 hour protection. I know it's gross, but whenever I'm trying to find a new antiperspirant I always conduct a little 'smell test' on myself. In the middle of the day, maybe whenever I get a break, I go to the bathroom and run my fingers over my under arms. As I said, I know it's gross but for me its a great way of finding out whether I'm smelling or not. I must say that this product really does last 24 hours. In fact, even after I have my evening shower, the light scent still lingers on my under arms. I love that. 

And for only R20 from Clicks (I'm not sure what the original price was) this is definitely a keeper!!! 

Colour Blocking Is Rocking

Some A-List celebs rocking their colours.
Source: Frills and Thrills

Fashionistas, I greet you all.

A great new trend this summer - Colour blocking. We've seen the trend around for the past few months and although summer is technically supposed to end next month, we know that the beachy sunny days will be around until March or April. Well, in the southern hemisphere at least. 

Colour blocking is all about choosing distinct colours from completely opposite sides of the spectrum and pairing them up. However, you can also use colours from the same colour family. The look is bright, fresh and perfect for summer. Much like the Aztec look, it may seem like anything goes but this is not true. Colour blocking is not just about throwing bright colours on for the sake of following a trend. Try to choose colours that are distinct from each other. The basic rule is to limit your colour spread to two. Three or four colours are possible if you have experience and know what you're doing.

Two Colours 

The basic rule for two colours is to keep one neutral and the other bright and colourful. Depending on your choices, this should be the safe option.

Source: New York Monthly Mag

For the neutral try black, white, beige, ivory, dark blue etc. For the bright colour  add orange, yellow, pink, blue, green etc. Even with just one pop of colour, this look is designed to stand out and make a statement. Alternatively you can substitute the neutral for a dark such as black, dark blue, brown etc and then pair that up with a bright colour. Black essentially goes with anything.

Three or Four Colours 

To be even more daring, add one or two more colours to your look. This can be done with other pieces of clothing or even accessories. The basic rule here is to have only one neon colour. There's nothing worse than wearing two neons. Another tip is to wear a primary colour and then pair that with two or three secondary colours as demonstrated on this colour wheel.

The primary colours being Blue, Yellow and Red.
Source: StyleParadeSA 

Accessories should also be kept in the same colour family as the picture below demonstrates. It's very easy to become a 'hot mess' so make sure you ooze that confidence and rock those colours. Belts, clutches, shoes etc will all bring your look together so use these to your advantage.

Taking The Easy Way Out 

If you're unsure about what colours to rock or how to rock them, don't despair. Some awesome dresses have been designed to give you the same look but with less effort on your part.

The colours have been selected for you so make sure you choose your accessories wisely.
Source: God Diva

Colour Blocking For Men

As with most fashion trends these days, men can also be part of the fun. Same rules as above although most guys prefer to pair up just two colours while the more adventurous of men go all out.

Bold, bright and out there.
Source: Josie Marie

Colour blocking but more toned down, literally.  Nice use of royal blue.
Source: The X Stylez

Source: Elle 

Fashion, like law has to be decided on a case by case basis. Before leaving the house make sure you give yourself a second and third look in the mirror and note any comments by your family or friends.

Say goodbye to your boring basics and hello to some bright and cheerful additions to your wardrobe!