Newsletter #6: I'm A Big Man
After a truly terrible two weeks, I'm focusing on the positives
As you may know if you’ve seen my previous Substack posts, the past few weeks have been an absolute bin fire. Trolls, shady businesses, and anxiety - oh my. This is the first day so far this month that I’ve felt the doom lifting, so what better way to celebrate than to write my first newsletter here on Substack?
What can you expect from this edition of my newsletter? A fantastic song recommendation; an article about the hidden side of living with a skin condition; something to consider if you struggle with self-image; a research study you can help with, as well as a survey to give insight into rosacea experiences; a recommendation for an alcohol-free spirit; the UPF umbrella of dreams; and some information about intolerance testing (trigger warning: if you don’t want to read about food restriction/food in general, I’ve put that article right at the end of my newsletter so feel free to skip it!)
Links in this newsletter may be affiliate - this means that I get a small commission if you order through my links. It’s a great way to support my work at no extra cost to you and I appreciate it!
Let’s jump in!
I’m A Big Man: The title of this newsletter is in reference to my current favourite song, this banger by Self Esteem and Moonchild Sanelly. It’s been on repeat for weeks and my brain is showing no sign of getting bored.
The Hidden Cost Of Skin Conditions Needs To Be Addressed: I love Tori Crowther’s writing - she has both rosacea and endometriosis, like me, and often writes about these topics with fresh perspectives. This article really spoke to me because it’s something I think others won’t fully understand until they experience it.
Do you hate the way you look in photos? My husband shared the below video with me, because I’m the biggest critic when I see photos of myself. It’s a really useful way of reframing those negative feelings.
Would you like to help with some rosacea research? The incredible researchers at the Centre of Appearance Research (CAR) are currently recruiting for a study into visible differences, intimacy, and romantic relationships. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, you can read more information HERE.
Exercise And Rosacea: Talking of helping with rosacea research, the National Rosacea Society (NRS) are currently conducting a survey about rosacea and exercise. If you would like to share your experiences, you can do so HERE.
A Cocktail, Madam? If you find that alcohol triggers your rosacea, or you just want a soft drink that isn’t boring, there are so many good alcohol-free spirit options out there. My current go-to is Captain Morgan’s 0% Spiced Gold ‘Rum’. It’s lovely with cola and lime, or with pineapple juice and soda. It’s quite strong tasting so you don’t need a lot and it is so great if you fancy a cocktail but want to skip the booze.
Apparently it’s summer in the UK, which is hard to believe as it’s been raining non-stop and I’ve had to get my jumpers back out of storage (side note, are any other rosaceans secretly rejoicing that we’re not getting the usual heatwave that makes leaving the house impossible…?) However, if you want to be prepared for the two days of unexpected blistering heat we’ll inevitably get, this is the UPF umbrella that I used almost constantly in Japan this year and Turkey last year. As well as blocking UV rays, it also works well as a regular umbrella, which is very handy in this damp ‘summer’ season!
Food Intolerance Testing: Yay or Nay? I think this one is going to be controversial as I know a lot of people with skin conditions have been told that these tests are the only way to find out their intolerances and therefore ‘heal their gut health issues’ in order to help their skin. Unfortunately, as this article points out, the only way to truly find out if you have an intolerance to a food type - and whether removing/restricting it will have a meaningful impact on your skin - is to keep a diary, look for patterns, remove suspected culprits, and the reintroduce to confirm the theory. I share some further reading in this post of mine where you can also access a free digitial download to help you identify triggers.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Rosacea Club newsletter. If you did, please do let me know by liking, commenting, or sharing it with a friend who you think would also enjoy it. It’s lovely to have feedback!
Lex
P.S. Here’s a photo of me and Douglas dancing at a garden party we went to a few weeks ago - he is pure joy in a tiny little chunky body. Look at his grumpy little face!
Thank you for my new fav driving to work hype me up song!!
Loved the photo of you and Doug dancing at the end ❤️ can’t wait for the next newsletter!