Side effects, just one of many.

Just a little background on me, I used to wear makeup and get dressed up. Except for hair, I’m horrible at doing my hair. I like it long just so I can pull it back and make it easy. My family knows, I’m not doing my hair. Before I had my boys I was good with doing makeup, but wasn’t the best at cleaning my face at night. My version of cleaning my face was soap that I used in my shower. Now, I didn’t ever have bad skin I thought, I wouldn’t break out, a pimple here and there.

I was at my drs office one day to get spots removed from my face, joys of being a lifeguard and growing up in the 80’s. He said it was time for me to get ahold of his wife, she was a esthetician and some of my spots were close to my eyes and he knew I wasn’t one to care for my skin as I should have. The rest is history, we have now been friends going on 6 years of Annette telling me what to do, lol. No, she helped me a lot with my skin, we even talked about growing up and using baby oil and iodine to get the perfect tan, not to give away her age, y’all know mine, but yes that was a thing to get a great tan. DO NOT do that now. I have been very good since Annette came into my life. I clean my face and I get facials. She has shown me the importance of skincare. I’ve used amazing products that work great for me, so what has changed.

Here I am four in a half months post HA and my skin is all messed up, remember my spots on my legs, I do, now my face is burning.

These photos are within 4 days of each other. Everything that is red will burn if I get hot/warm and is also chapped. I go back to the dr on Thursday to see what we can do for it. It gets very noticeable, then people get worried I’m flushed, wanting me to sit and relax. Doing some research a couple of my meds can cause this. I haven’t had this issue before with my skin. Statins can cause spots and my water pill will cause my skin to chap from dehydration. Its important to not retain fluid, heart issues or not, but especially with heart disease. I didn’t retain fluid before or after, but now it’s time to adjust. I’m becoming dehydrated which is not good in itself and it’s now effecting my skin. I do use a couple of product, one from Beauty Counter called lotus glow cleansing balm that I leave on overnight.

I love it, my face feels so much better the next morning, but I’m still in a constant repetition of dry and hydration with my skin. Kristine has definitely helped me out with the lotus balm. Get in touch with her, she’s been with Beauty Counter for years and really knows the products. If you’re local there are some great ladies, Sonja Lowe, Nancy Winfrey or Laurie Bennett will be happy to help with Beauty Counter. I also go see Kelly Blattel for hydrojelly facials at Bodyworks in Lebanon. Kelly will also do microdermabrasion, but I can not have those at this time with my skin like this. I keep telling her I’m jealous of how pretty she is and on point with her makeup, lol. Here I am in the below photo with Kelly. Hydrojelly mask and after with my skin feeling refreshed. The hydrojelly mask feels great and cooling to my skin. It will stay on for 20-30 minutes I think. I’m so relaxed I’m not sure of the time, but that’s a good thing to be relaxed and rejuvenate your spirit in this short time. It will cover your eyes and mouth, at first I didn’t think I would like that, but it is soothing. When it is peeled off it’s so refreshing, Kelly uses the lavender mask on me. No chemicals for my skin right now.

I may also be jealous of Kelly’s dark hair, mine is no longer dark, but white sparkles throughout, aging and a HA has influenced my hair also. Medications have caused so many changes in my life since my HA, I figured my weight would be all over the place until I adjusted, but my skin was a surprise and to be honest, I do not like it. My skin on my face feels rough and the burning hurts. Thursday we will hopefully get something figured out. I will do what it takes over the next year to get off of these medications. Not only do I need my body and health back I want it. It’s easier and cheaper even to be healthy than unhealthy.

Listen to your body, do not ignore symptoms. I’m still fighting the what if’s. IF I would have been honest with my drs. IF I would have pushed more cardio. IF I would have been vigilant on my greens. There are so many what IF’s in life, I’m not one to look at life that way, but I have recently, I need to move forward positively and proactive with my health.

If you need help contacting anyone I have mentioned please let me know, I know how to reach them.

What have you done today to make healthier choices?