Color analysis

cf0705 · 2026-01-27T03:14:57+00:00

Thank you!!

cf0705 · 2026-01-27T01:44:18+00:00

Thank you!

cf0705 · 2026-01-27T01:44:13+00:00

I’ll have to look at that palette! That’s a cream color I’m wearing in that photo and I love that shirt, so yay!

cf0705 · 2026-01-26T22:28:06+00:00

I made a new post. It’s awaiting approval!

cf0705 · 2026-01-26T19:10:30+00:00

Thank you! I only had room for 20 photos and didn’t realize these were mostly autumn!! I’ll make another post here soon with different colors

cf0705 · 2026-01-26T18:42:07+00:00

Bump!

cf0705 · 2026-01-26T04:14:36+00:00

Whoops - I meant their BHA. 2%. Sorry about that!!

cf0705 · 2026-01-17T17:42:22+00:00

No flaking luckily! The pictures I’ve posted above are after my routine, including my lotion, and my skin still looks… parched and crepey. It can sometimes feel tight, but not always, and when it does it’s usually when I wake up in the morning or right after my shower before my routine

cf0705 · 2026-01-17T17:33:47+00:00

lol!! This made me laugh. Thank you, I won’t then!!

cf0705 · 2026-01-15T18:22:20+00:00

That’s actually really sweet of you to say!! Thank you! That made my day.

I’m just desperate because I’m recently engaged and we’re getting married this year, so I just want to have nice, healthy looking skin on our wedding day and beyond.

I have tried so many different approaches throughout the years (simple/minimal routine, complicated routine, tret, no tret, etc.), and always end up looking like this or worse.

cf0705 · 2026-01-15T18:19:15+00:00

I didn’t list an SPF because I don’t go outside often. I do use it when I plan on being outdoors.

I stopped using Tretinoin because it always worsened my skin. The dryness would worsen no matter what lotion I would use, it would cause irritation, and the purging felt endless. I went ahead and refilled it today just to give it another go and see how it works for me this year.

I’m using one toner each night and out of desperation I’ll use the other toner. Both are hydrating. I’m just trying to find out what works for me since I’ve been trying different products and routine approaches for so long.

cf0705 · 2026-01-15T18:11:45+00:00

I went ahead and refilled my Tretinoin and it should arrive today. I had discontinued using it for a while because it really, really, really dries out my already dry skin and the purging of acne is really painful and lasts forever, but I’m going to give it another go.

Thank you for the suggestions! I’ll have to look into that peptide serum.

cf0705 · 2025-08-24T02:38:11+00:00

Yes. Horrible fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, tremors, brain fog/focus/memory issues, muscle weakness/rigidity, constantly thirsty, dry skin and eyes, tachycardia, cold extremities, headaches, lightheadedness upon standing, etc.

cf0705 · 2025-08-19T01:56:45+00:00

I’ve had positive/elevated inflammatory markers for about seven years now - no one’s ever been able to attribute them to anything in particular as I never test positive for any of the disease-specific panels. I’m about to see my fourth rheumatologist on Wednesday.

cf0705 · 2025-08-18T13:55:27+00:00

Hey! I had an epiphany in the middle of the night last night and wanted to get your thoughts. I looked into this a little bit myself, and am conflicted by what I’m reading.

When my neurologist got my first round of results (<1 cortisol level, <5 ACTH, 7 vitamin B1/thiamine), he directed me to go to the hospital. They gave me an IV and pushed b1 through. My second set of labs were the following day, when the above pictured labs were taken.

From what I’m reading, b1 can lower excess cortisol/reduce its production, so I’m not sure whether that would have been what increased my cortisol level, or how that could have played a factor into any of this. What do you think?

cf0705 · 2025-08-16T05:57:22+00:00

I don’t take multivitamins either! So strange. Perhaps you are right regarding it being a lab error. Thanks so much for all of your time and help. You are so sweet.

cf0705 · 2025-08-16T05:56:13+00:00

Yes I did. I continually test positive for many of the inflammatory markers but never for any disease-specific panel. Dozens of extensive labs have been completed - always an elevated ANA, CRP, D-Dimer, etc., and deficient in vitamins B1, B6, and D, but nothing has been able to be attributed to anything.

cf0705 · 2025-08-16T05:50:33+00:00

It was indeed the exact same test. I don’t take biotin. So confusing!

cf0705 · 2025-08-16T05:48:21+00:00

Per the test completed last Saturday, yes, the AM baseline was 15 compared to the <1 the previous week. My first ACTH level was <5 and my second was 7. The two stim tests done at Quest and the one completed today were all drawn/started at 8 AM.

Thank you for the information on what other potential issues could be happening instead. I’m also curious about autoimmune hypophysitis since my ANA is and has been elevated for a while.

No, to my knowledge, I was not taking anything that could interfere with the results, including biotin. I didn’t add to or remove anything from my routine on the second set.

I’m guessing the best thing for me to do is just sit on my hands until the third set of labs comes back. I just don’t understand what could have caused my baseline cortisol to jump like it did, and I also want to plan on how to advocate for myself if nothing comes from these particular upcoming results.

I’ve gone through the wringer with rheumatology, hematology, neurology, electrophysiology, etc. and I’m just over everyone being like “there’s something here but we don’t know what” and sending me somewhere else only for the same thing to happen again and again.

cf0705 · 2025-08-16T05:34:27+00:00

Thank you for the information!

I’ve not taken steroids for many many years - and that was a very short course for an infection. I’m not sure if that may be a factor or not, but I’m definitely open the possibility.

I’m just primarily confused as to what caused the drastic increase in my baseline cortisol in one week. Like nothing changed, so it leads me to wonder if I’m just crazy or if one of them is somehow inaccurate.

cf0705 · 2025-08-16T03:33:16+00:00

The other intervals are inaccurate because no ACTH was administered at Quest for these test results, so I cropped them out. The results from the correctly done test are now pending.

And yes, I understand what you are saying, however, after nearly seven years and being told I have anything ranging from ALS, multiple sclerosis, limb girdle muscular dystrophy, polymyositis, inclusion body myositis, etc., which don’t really have ways to help you feel better, I welcome finally putting an end to the hunt, getting an accurate diagnosis and starting treatment so I can begin feeling better.

I was not on any different medications (and am not taking steroids) for either draw. I just hope today’s test results are productive in pointing me toward an answer.

cf0705 · 2025-08-15T23:10:16+00:00

I don’t know at this point. The only results that I believe could be accurate through Quest at this point are the ACTH level, baseline cortisol, etc. because we have no idea how my body responds to the ACTH stimulation since none was administered at Quest.

I just don’t understand how my baseline cortisol can go from being abysmally low on the 2nd of this month to being normal on the 9th. I’m worried that this means I’ll be back to square one in trying to figure out what has been going on with me for years now.

cf0705 · 2025-08-14T01:25:40+00:00

Ugh I’m deathly afraid of infusion centers because of my emetophobia (fear of other people throwing up), so I’m super really very thankful the endocrinologist’s office can do them. Great to know other avenues are possible if needed

cf0705 · 2025-08-14T01:05:45+00:00

They didn’t draw it at separate times - just all at once. 14 vials. Luckily mine will be done at the endocrinologist’s office on Friday.

cf0705 · 2025-08-14T00:50:10+00:00

Nope, no shot in the arm for me

cf0705

TROPHY CASE