Life - Sebaceous Cysts - Read at your own risk!!

*source - Google Images.

Recently I had Sebaceous Cysts removed, now I'm not going to go into detail with it, if you have one you will know it, if you don't your lucky!!  They are basically little lumps under the skin...they can become infected and irritated.......this is what happened to me! I had four, so one day when it was particularly sore and uncomfortable I decided to go to a Private Hospital and get them removed once and for all!!  So I made the appointment (on a referral letter from my GP) and waited for the day to arrive!!

I was given local anaesthetic to the four areas (this was quite painful but don't let that put you off) but it only lasted about 30 seconds and the areas were totally numb.  The operation was over and done within 15 minutes and I was stitched up and sent home...told to keep them covered and visit my GP in ten days for the stitches to be removed!  That was it. 

Once the local anaesthetic wore off I thought I would be in alot of pain, but I wasn't, I was very uncomfortable but otherwise I was fine.  Over the next ten days, I couldn't work or drive too far but now that the stitches are out I am delighted that its done!! 

Just thought I would do this little post to let you know that it is possible to have them removed, you don't have to suffer in silence!!

Do any of the rest of you suffer from these? I also suffer from skin tags as I have told you before - I don't know if they are connected or not!! How about the rest of you??

Life - Skin Tags (read at your own risk)

This post comes with a WARNING!!

If you have skin tags you will know what they are and you will be delighted to hear I found a solution.....If you don't - this post may put you off your food!!  I was trying to decide whether or not to post about this as I don't want to gross people out...but I spent a lot of time researching this topic when I needed relief so I decided that it would only be fair...!!

Firstly if you would like to see a picture of skin tags you can click HERE.  A skin tag is basically a little additional bit of skin...it looks similar to a rice krispie and usually never causes anyone any bother.  For as long as I can remember I had a few skin tags on my inner thighs, they were always there and never gave me too much trouble, that is until recent years.  I think what changed was that my fashion changed and I wore a lot of tights and leggings and the problem was that the tights and legging were rubbing against the skin tags and really aggravated them and sometimes caused them to bleed!

So this brought me on many trips to my local GP where I was placed on a waiting list for removal in my local HSE hospital.....(I'm still waiting!!).  Eventually a friend recommended a different GP in my locality with an interest in skincare.....so I made an appointment with him to see what he could do!

On meeting him, he told me that he would sort them out there and then! He got a solution (Liquid Nitrogen I think) and applied it with a cotton bud to the skin tags...I felt a slight tingle and heard a little "sizzle" and that was it....€40 later I left in the confidence that they would drop off a week or two later...which they did!

This was over one year ago and I am so happy with the results....I need not have suffered so long.

Do any of you suffer from these?....
What did you find worked for you??...

My absolute essentials......last ones standing.

As you know I have been busy moving the last while and I am now left with the bare minimum here...so I thought I would show you what I couldn't live without in my final few nights!!

I couldn't live a night without my Coconut Oil which I blogged about on my second ever post.....HERE.

Then my Revlon Equave Two Phase Spray Conditioner....Love this, its great for my blonde hair!

A back up hand cream, I usually have Clarins in my bag but its handy to have a back up...just in case, I love the Neutrogena Hand cream for this.

Next is my trusty...Batiste Dry Shampoo  - couldn't be caught short without this!

Then you will see a little tub of vaseline and a tub of cotton buds, I love cleaning my ears after a shower! Don't ask me why!

An last but not least my famous La Roche Posay Moisturisers!

Make-up is gone as I brought all that home the other day.....I was so afraid I would damage my lovely make up storage in the move but I didn't - it survived!! TG.

I forgot to take a  pic of my shampoo, conditioner and shower gel......but they aren't overly exciting!!

The fight against SPOTS!

I know I have told you before that I was on Roaccutane last year for acne (which was very mild and localised to the chin) which cleared it up perfectly (a post is to come on this) but in the past month or two I have noticed little tiny lumpy bumps under the skin on my forehead, I have no idea what caused them as my skincare has been the same.  They do not develop into spots, they are just sitting under the skin and in certain lights they are very noticeable. 

So off I headed to my local chemist to see if I could get sometime to bring the lumps up to the top of the skin - Of course I wanted La Roche Posay as I grew to love their products while I was on the Roaccutane and I really believe in them!

So I was given samples of two products Effaclar K and Effaclar Duo to try out! 

So I tried the Effaclar K one first, they advised that I try this first and see how it goes.  Basically it is supposed to improve the skins appearance by unclogging pores.  I used it for a few nights and didn't notice much of an effect!  Perhaps it was a little too gentle for my clogged up skin!

So on Saturday I decided to try the Effaclar Duo - it is described as being Corrective and Unclogging Anti-Imperfection Care.  It is the stronger product. 

Today is Tuesday so I have been using for four days and I really notice the difference.  I know this is a little disgusting but the lumps on my forehead are now starting to come to the top - I can see the pores opening up, they seem to be slightly water filled and not black/white heads.    I am amazed at how quickly this worked bearing in mind that I have only been using a sample size and have not bought the actual product yet! 

Have any of you used this product?
Or have you suffered the lovely little spots I'm trying to explain??

Most reached for....

One of my most reached for products are MUSLIN CLOTHS! A saviour for skin, I normally buy mine in Boots - they are No7 ones, they are about €8 and from time to time Boots give out vouchers with €7.50 off No7 products and that's when I stock up as a pack of three only costs about 50cent!!!

Thats the size of one opened out, its smaller than an A4 page (its square not rectangle).  I use them to cleanse and to take off my make up etc.  I just rub on my cleaner with my fingers as usual and work it in to my skin, then I dampen the muslin cloth with warm water and rub it on my face in circular motions and then rinse and repeat.  It gently exfoliates while you cleanse which leaves lovely clean skin!!!

For that price, you can't go wrong!

Skincare routine - part one

My skin is something that I have spent alot of money, time and effort on over the last few years - the skin on my body is perfect, it never gave me bother however the skin on my face always caused bother - that is up until last year! 

I took a course of Roaccutane (very strong acne tablets) which I will post about shortly and that cleared it all up.  Since last year I have been using La Roche Posay products.  I began using them while I was on the tablets - my skin dried out soooo much that no moisturiser worked.  However I discovered a moisturiser that La Roche Posay do specifically for people who are taking Roaccutane.  Its not on the shelf and you have to ask for it as the Pharmacist will have to give it to you.  Anyway that product made me fall in love with their range -

I use their facewash - it is brilliant - I think it was about €15 or so and it lasts forever.  A small amount will go a long long way! I would highly recommend it. 

I also use one of their moisturisers the Hydraphase Light - its lovely and light and non-comedogenic.  Its also lovely under makeup.  I think it is about €18.  There is a heavier version which is similar but it is a bit stronger its also called Hydraphase something (not light obviously)

Then I just spritz on a little of the Rosewater which I previously posted about and I'm good to go :)