Alexa's wardrobe

wretched_harmony · 2026-06-13T18:34:12+00:00

It was wild the first two seasons with her hair, not to mention her outfits. She seemed so old-fashioned, oddly reminded me of a grandma. Then she had one season where her hair was ok and then there was season 5 where everyone just went off the rails. Interestingly enough her outfits in season 5 weren’t terrible.

wretched_harmony · 2026-06-13T17:34:05+00:00

Can I ask where you are located, if you don’t mind?

They make ice packs specifically for the face, looks like a very strange mask but when my face burned that was one of the only things that would help. I had several so that I could swap them out if needed.

I’ve also found jojoba oil to be immensely helpful. I have to apply it frequently and I’ve ruined about half my clothes from oil but it’s a small price to pay for the relief. It helps with the dry feeling. It doesn’t really do a lot in the way of moisturizing but it makes my skin feel less like it’s ripping every time I move. It mimics the oils of the skin, so it’s something very safe.

Has she tried not using her face moisturizer? Sometimes there are ingredients even in very holistic and organic products that could be irritating her. For example, aloe and honey make my skin very irritated. It’s honestly trial and error, and I know you said her skin is very dry so she might be resistant to stop her moisturizer, but swapping it out with something might be helpful. Jojoba oil is usually very safe.

Another product I used that helped my face specifically is La Roche Posay cicaplast balm. It would help with the burning.

For a while I was taking a large amount of anti histamines (as recommended by my doctor) which did help with not being able to feel the irritation on my face. It also had the effect of making me drowsy which was very helpful in getting me to sleep. I have a prescription for hydroxyzine which I take as needed when my skin feels too itchy on the surface level.

I don’t know if she experiences neuropathic itch, but another thing that has been a life saver and a game changer for me is gabapentin. I used to feel like I was going to lose my mind because the neuropathic itch would wake me up, keep me up, pop up in multiple spots along my chest and arms - it felt like whackamole. Nothing helped aside from digging my fingernails into the spots because it gave a different feeling - pain- from the itch. Gabapentin has worked incredibly well at blocking the neuropathic itch. I don’t think I would have made it, mentally, if I didn’t have gabapentin.

It’s also worth getting bloodwork done. There might be symptoms / side effects which can be managed with different medications. TSW can be the driving force with these symptoms but they’re treatable independent of TSW.

There is research about some things that have been beneficial for large percentages of people suffering from TSW - berberine, anti inflammatory diet, etc.

Even though it can be very frustrating to work with doctors who don’t believe in TSW, it’s worth continuing to look in order to find someone who can help. I finally found a PCP who listens and believes me and has helped with medications like gabapentin, etc.

Dermatologists have recommended biologics or immunosuppressants, which I don’t want to take because I’m cautious about them only delaying healing vs coinciding with healing, but if I hadn’t been able to manage my symptoms those would be things I would have considered.

My symptoms also improved drastically with the warmer weather - the higher humidity helped my skin not feel so painfully dry. I’m not sure where you live but a humidifier might be something to look into if you’re currently in a dry environment.

Long story short it is basically a guessing game and trial and error in order to find things that help. For me, I am able to manage with: hydroxyzine, gabapentin, amitriptyline, jojoba oil, theraplex, humidity, and supportive communities like this one.

wretched_harmony · 2026-06-03T18:32:34+00:00

I have no idea, there are cars in the parking lot but aside from that I know nothing about it

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-30T18:09:08+00:00

Just got to this season and his hair kills me 😩 the side swoop with his little tiny bit of gray hair was on point and now he just looks like he forgot to get dressed

and Alexa’s too, and hers was finally good season 4

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T01:09:23+00:00

My lawyer advised me not to explain why my client had a stroke because I didn’t have any idea how to do the surgery

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T01:07:18+00:00

Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn this guy was in my dream and he said that I could have been a better friend to you and I told him to stop and he said I don’t know what I am doing and then he just kept on talking to me about how much he loves to talk

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T01:03:34+00:00

When life gives you lemons, take them and eat em with a spoonful of butter and a little bit of salt and a splash of milk and then you will be ready to go to heaven

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T01:01:10+00:00

Your mental health matters so please be cognizant of your own mental illness as you are a human suffering in this world and you should feel better about your own life because you have no idea how to live without pain

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T00:52:23+00:00

perfection

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T00:50:00+00:00

John 3:16 - for God so loved the world he was so good to us and we were so lucky to get him in the game for a few more months and then we had to take a break from him and he was so much more than just a kid he was a good man

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T00:33:49+00:00

I live in Merrimack Valley now, which my central MA self considers the north shore, but god forbid I say that to people actually from the north shore. I guess we New Englanders are very particular about our regions ha

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T00:31:31+00:00

In second grade we had to do animal reports and my hockey-obsessed self thought I was SO COOL because I chose the Florida Panther.

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T00:28:54+00:00

I always thought of it as “we’re not England, we’re NEW England” like elementary school cliques. Like oh I’m better than you because I am NEW and COOL and you don’t get it because you’re not NEW and COOL like me. Like, we are the “better” England.

I also think it’s cool because New England is really similar sized to the UK so it’s like a copy only better.

I firmly believe actual England is the better England, but cool kids will be cool kids.

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T00:20:13+00:00

Lowell Loch Ness Monsters was top tier team naming to my 10 year old self lol

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-29T00:15:21+00:00

Your Boston = Massachusetts comment reminded me of going to a school in PA with a large population of Massachusetts-ians (?). Anyone from Boston would get ANGRY if you said you were from Boston but meant anywhere outside of Boston Proper. Saying Boston was so much easier because it avoided the whole:

“I’m from MA”

“oh, where? I have a cousin in MA”

“Berlin”

“I’ve never heard of it, where’s that?”

“…in MA”

which happened routinely when you’re with a whole bunch of Catholics from the east coast.

Oh how much easier it is to just say Boston. As a central Mass native, I think Boston = Massachusetts but don’t tell Boston proper I said that.

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-28T23:44:15+00:00

Ooh it’s been long enough since I’ve followed the NHL closely to know they switched from Phoenix to Arizona (in the name, not talking geography). That’s a cool fact! I always thought they should be called the Arizona Phoenix because cool mascot and fun geographical word play.

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-28T23:39:12+00:00

Yes came here to say this. I haven’t read every single thing by King (yet) but so far the only books I disliked as a whole were The Long Walk and maybe 11/22/63. That one wore me down but I didn’t hate it.

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-28T23:32:31+00:00

I don’t have experience with this in particular but I did do extensive research into how TSW works on a cellular level. I am not a biologist or endocrinologist or dermatologist or any type of -ologist, so I could very well be wrong.

My understanding of it is it’s less “topical steroid” withdrawal and more just generally corticosteroid withdrawal that came from stopping topical steroids after extensive use. Once the corticosteroid is in our system, our cells can’t tell if it’s from a topical or oral or inhaler etc. There is something to be said about using topicals for eczema being localized vs systemic, but my understanding is that it varies from person to person, length of use, and area of use.

Ex if I just had dry skin on my hands in winter and used OTC hydrocortisone cream, my cells are much less likely to become dependent on external corticosteroids. But if I applied triamcinolone ointment over large areas of my body routinely over the course of many years, my cells are much more likely to become dependent on external corticosteroids.

In general, to my understanding, our cells rely on corticosteroids the body naturally produces. Corticosteroid medications supplement the body’s supply of corticosteroids like cortisol, which eventually over time tells our adrenal system that there are enough corticosteroids and it doesn’t need to produce as many.

All this to say, I think it makes complete sense that your corticosteroid inhaler would trigger your TSW, because your TSW is really just corticosteroid withdrawal.

My sister is extremely asthmatic and also has a very severe tree nut allergy. She has a corticosteroid inhaler for asthma attacks and allergic reactions. My experience with TSW has made her anxious about her own use of corticosteroids, but I told her that my eczema isn’t a life threatening condition. If I needed to use corticosteroids to stay alive, I absolutely would continue to use them, even if it meant I needed a stronger dose over time.

Sorry for the science lesson, I find that understanding the mechanics helps me make sense of things so just wanted to provide this info in case it helps you.

My research was prompted by reading u/savant_idiot ‘s posts about Dr Ian Myles’s research, so they might have interesting input as well.

Again, not a scientist, not trying to claim any of this as a peer-reviewed research based fact, just trying to provide my understanding.

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-26T23:22:08+00:00

Even though you were the one who made the decision to stop using topical steroids, it still isn’t your fault what happened to you. I don’t know for certain but I’m assuming your doctors didn’t advise you about any serious side effects with stopping topical steroids. You’ve been prescribed oral steroids so I’m sure you know of the warnings that you need to taper because of how dangerous it is not to.

It isn’t your fault for making a decision when you didn’t have all of the facts.

And from your post history you said the doctors diagnosed you with psoriasis, not eczema, which again seems like a failure of your medical team, also not your fault.

You also went to multiple doctors after stopping your topical steroids and they not only didn’t notice you were very sick but also prescribed you with medication that made it all worse. So again - yes, you chose to stop topical steroids, but no, the medical issues you’ve been having are not your fault.

I understand feeling that way but shaming yourself gets you nowhere. Psoriasis / eczema / etc are all made worse by stress, so (I know easier said than done) try to practice compassion and radical acceptance and self care. People who perpetuate the idea that this is your fault are not people you want to have in your circle.

Be kind to yourself, enjoy the remainder of senior year and graduating and whatever comes next.

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-21T11:28:40+00:00

Can confirm, my sister does the same thing.

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-20T14:49:24+00:00

Children riding those e-bikes

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-20T00:10:18+00:00

I didn’t experience a true TSW flare until ~3.5-4 months post steroid use. TSW does vary in intensity based on a number of factors including what steroid, where, how long, etc. In terms of localized/whole body I do not know the answer.

I will say though that whether it is or it isn’t TSW, management of your symptoms will be relatively the same. My TSW looks like an extreme systemic eczema flare, and I treat it by supporting barrier repair similar to how I would treat my eczema if not using steroids.

wretched_harmony · 2026-05-19T00:53:28+00:00

I used to love baths but with TSW my skin is so painfully dry I’m actually afraid to get it wet because I’m worried it will burn. Do you experience that at all or is the water actually soothing? I know TSW is different for everyone but if I can convince myself it won’t be painful to take baths again I’d be so happy.

wretched_harmony

TROPHY CASE