So, I went to the dermatologist. Seems I have Rosacea, Eczema, Livedo Reticularis, Poikiloderma, and prickly heat. What doesnt itch, hurts. I have always known this MCTD affects my skin. The Dr says, "You really have no normal skin left!" Well, that is nothing new.
Mary Ann

I'm sorry you are having such an awful time with the heat. That is quite the list of things they threw at you!! What suggestions did he have to help get you through this?

She suggested Plaquenil for the Livido and the Poikiloderma, but I dont tolerate that well. She did take me off a couple of pills that cause that, but said that once the vessels form, they dont go away. She is just trying to limit the problem now. Also lots of sunscreen for the rosacea as well as a couple of medicinal creams. Steroid cream for the Eczema and cool places for the prickly heat! LOL! It is in the mid 90's here with terrible humidity so the heat index is around 100 degrees! I am staying in a lot now. The yard and my gardens look bad but I think that is beyond me. I am trying to hire some help with that.
Thanks for asking!
Mary Ann

Hmm... can you tolerate Tea Tree oil? My crazy eye doctor was convinced I had too many eyebrow mites and they were causing rosacea, and Tea Tree oil would take care of it.

I told her I thought she was wrong, and also that I had an ethical problem with killing all the eyebrow mites. We've been together a long time, it would be like annihilating a civilization. She took me seriously, so I know she is insane... at least as insane as I am, but...

Well, I do still use the Tea Tree shampoo when the flaky skin gets bad, for dandruff, and it's pretty good for that! I imagine that if I did have eyebrow mites, or as many as she thinks I do, and those were causing the rosacea, it would probably help... but check my work on this. I haven't really done much research on this skin symptoms and treatments at all.

I do feel like I am starting to have some skin symptoms-- red patches, dry scaly areas-- but not too bad. Hope you get some relief from that, be careful!

I have used Tea Tree Oil but havent found a lot of success with that. Maybe it will help prickly heat!
Mary Ann

What about Coconut Oil? I have a big jar of it that I purchased at Costco, it is Kirkland brand and the bottle says Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. I find that it helps with my face rash, it disappears when I use it, just forgetful and don't always remember to put it on. I started using it because my 85 year old neighbour told me that it helps her with dry skin. I just googled it and this is what I found:

Coconut oil has antibacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that can help soothe your skin when it's itchy during a flare-up, and can also help reduce the inflammation. On top of that, it contains lauric acid, a type of fat that is found in mother's breast milk, and of all things, coconut oil.

Also, when my niece was a baby the only thing that helped with her ezcema and cradle cap was Aveeno oatmeal bath powder. I now prepare a bath for my son when he comes in contact with a dog, he's allergic to them and breaks out in hives. As soon as I stick him in the bath tub it stops the itching and the hives go away while he's in there.

You can also try an aloe vera plant, I usually cut a leaf and rub the cut end on my skin.

Wishing you all the very best!