I've been on Tamoxifen for 15 months. I only have 45 months to go. Oh my goodness that looks daunting. How am I going to survive 45 more months? I know I have to take Tamoxifen and I know I will survive it, but it's tough.
Today I'm complaining about my skin. Tamoxifen is changing my skin into "old lady" skin. My skin is becoming so dry. It's becoming like tissue paper. My skin is becoming thin and crinkly on my arms and legs. It's horrible. I never used to have to put lotion on my skin. I've always had the loveliest, most supple skin. It's always been soft and smooth. It's been taut and youthful. Now it is just the opposite of all this.
The skin on my arms is becoming so thin and dry that it can be scratched open with a very minor bump or scratch. I need to take better care of my skin. Skin is the largest organ of the body. It's job is to protect the body, regulate the temperature of the body, store lipids and water, allow the body to feel sensations, and act as a water resistant barrier. My skin is beginning to fail at many of these functions.
I'm guessing my skin is no longer great at storing the lipids and the water. I'm guessing lipids and water make skin plump and smooth. My skin has become crepe-like and, well, not as smooth as it used to be. I don't have alligator scales yet, but I may be on my way. My skin has become quite thin. I remember being a little girl and sitting next to my grandma and holding her hand. I was fascinated by them. I could see the veins right through her skin. And the coolest thing yet, I could move them around under her skin. I thought this was WONDERFUL. My hands are turning into my grandma's hands. Hell, they are turning into my mother's hands. The view of my veins through the skin on the back of my hands it getting clearer and clearer every day. AWESOME, not.
My skin is still doing a wonderful job of keeping water out of my body. I'm pretty sure I'm not absorbing water like a sponge. After all, as I mentioned before, I'm dry. Sometimes I wish I could soak some of the wet stuff into my skin. I'm trying to find the bright side. So on the plus side, my skin is still acting as a water barrier. :)
On the subject of regulating my body temp. Let's just say this, this is probably the reason my skin has become so thin and warn out. I have so many temperature fluctuations during the day my skin is most likely exhausted. Hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold... it's never ending. I wake up soaked in sweat. (on the positive side, sweat glands are working GREAT) Then I immediately begin to freeze as the sweat starts to evaporate from my body. (another positive, goosebumps still work) Get in the car and drive to work, hot flash. (begin sweating) Turn on AC to ice cold. (commence shivering) Repeat throughout the day, as needed. Fun.
I can still feel sensations with my skin. Let's put this in the positive column, as well. (seriously, this is the beauty of blogging. if you would have asked me if there was anything positive to say about my skin, the answer would have been, NO!)
I'm guessing the answer to my dry skin problem is lotion, lotion, lotion. I'm not used to using a lot of body lotion, but I think this is going to change. Another thing that's going to change is the love of the hot shower. I believe I'm going to be leaving this behind, as well. I've heard of people who quit showering and do a thing called "dry brushing." I don't know if I can give up showering, altogether, but this may be a solution. The one thing I know is certain is that I need to stop taking my skin for granted and start taking better care of it. I'm not sure, but I think drinking more water may help with dry skin. I'm open to any and all suggestions. What's blogging for if not free advice. Thanks guys. :)
96. Peppermint scented body lotion
97. Surprise lunch outing with my husband and son
98. Trader Joe's portabello stuffed ravioli
99. A chilled drinking fountain just outside my office door
100. Being reminded of a weekend getaway I forgot all about
101. The opportunity to vote for the candidate of my choice
102. Tamoxifen
Today I'm complaining about my skin. Tamoxifen is changing my skin into "old lady" skin. My skin is becoming so dry. It's becoming like tissue paper. My skin is becoming thin and crinkly on my arms and legs. It's horrible. I never used to have to put lotion on my skin. I've always had the loveliest, most supple skin. It's always been soft and smooth. It's been taut and youthful. Now it is just the opposite of all this.
The skin on my arms is becoming so thin and dry that it can be scratched open with a very minor bump or scratch. I need to take better care of my skin. Skin is the largest organ of the body. It's job is to protect the body, regulate the temperature of the body, store lipids and water, allow the body to feel sensations, and act as a water resistant barrier. My skin is beginning to fail at many of these functions.
I'm guessing my skin is no longer great at storing the lipids and the water. I'm guessing lipids and water make skin plump and smooth. My skin has become crepe-like and, well, not as smooth as it used to be. I don't have alligator scales yet, but I may be on my way. My skin has become quite thin. I remember being a little girl and sitting next to my grandma and holding her hand. I was fascinated by them. I could see the veins right through her skin. And the coolest thing yet, I could move them around under her skin. I thought this was WONDERFUL. My hands are turning into my grandma's hands. Hell, they are turning into my mother's hands. The view of my veins through the skin on the back of my hands it getting clearer and clearer every day. AWESOME, not.
My skin is still doing a wonderful job of keeping water out of my body. I'm pretty sure I'm not absorbing water like a sponge. After all, as I mentioned before, I'm dry. Sometimes I wish I could soak some of the wet stuff into my skin. I'm trying to find the bright side. So on the plus side, my skin is still acting as a water barrier. :)
On the subject of regulating my body temp. Let's just say this, this is probably the reason my skin has become so thin and warn out. I have so many temperature fluctuations during the day my skin is most likely exhausted. Hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold... it's never ending. I wake up soaked in sweat. (on the positive side, sweat glands are working GREAT) Then I immediately begin to freeze as the sweat starts to evaporate from my body. (another positive, goosebumps still work) Get in the car and drive to work, hot flash. (begin sweating) Turn on AC to ice cold. (commence shivering) Repeat throughout the day, as needed. Fun.
I can still feel sensations with my skin. Let's put this in the positive column, as well. (seriously, this is the beauty of blogging. if you would have asked me if there was anything positive to say about my skin, the answer would have been, NO!)
I'm guessing the answer to my dry skin problem is lotion, lotion, lotion. I'm not used to using a lot of body lotion, but I think this is going to change. Another thing that's going to change is the love of the hot shower. I believe I'm going to be leaving this behind, as well. I've heard of people who quit showering and do a thing called "dry brushing." I don't know if I can give up showering, altogether, but this may be a solution. The one thing I know is certain is that I need to stop taking my skin for granted and start taking better care of it. I'm not sure, but I think drinking more water may help with dry skin. I'm open to any and all suggestions. What's blogging for if not free advice. Thanks guys. :)
96. Peppermint scented body lotion
97. Surprise lunch outing with my husband and son
98. Trader Joe's portabello stuffed ravioli
99. A chilled drinking fountain just outside my office door
100. Being reminded of a weekend getaway I forgot all about
101. The opportunity to vote for the candidate of my choice
102. Tamoxifen
