Autumn Dead Sea Trip 2010

[mattellie]

not a saving and I gave up Daniel or Le Meridian quality for a ......so called bargain   ..... NOT a bargain after all.    

Le Meridien & Daniel are not words I would put with quality Believe me, you missed nothing and your 1 or 2 star B&B was probably nicer

There are no airport security nightmares in Jordan, you are warmly welcomed by friendly, hospitable people

Safaga cannot be compared to the Dead Sea area because the suns rays are not filtered and the Dead Seas mineral content is unique.

Glad to hear you cleared

[Munchkin12]

Hi everyone!!!

Just an update!!!!!! We returned from Jordan last night, and had a WONDERFUL and relaxing time. Not sure where to start, as I'm getting used to the miserable and cold weather. Going from 39 to 18 degrees is a bit of a shock!!!! Bloody hell it was HOT out there!!!!!

Psoriasis 
Would say that I cleared around 80-85%, most plaques have smoothed out, still a bit patchy in places (colour), but that was probably due to the fact that I focused on certain areas, ie; arms and legs and should have just exposed my other bits more early on. Not sure whether that's a good clear up rate, for a first-timer but I have returned VERY dark, even the Jordanian passport control guy had to do a double-take at my photo!!!!!!!!  Didn't go into the sea that much, only for a quick dip, and applied mud, about 4 times each. Wasn't sure exactly how much either was beneficial to the skin, and focused on sunbathing, but I have to say, I was bored shitless at times of sunbathing, and just walked about on the beach doing a few exercises. One way to kill time, I suppose!!!!  The 2 days it was overcast, made a nice change, and I found it more manageable, and yes, I am absolutely sick of water!!!!! I did do alot of laying in direct sun very early and late in the day, with tons of oil, and I have to say that I found it very liberating.

Hotel
Absolutely cannot fault the Marriott, the food, staff, efficiency, room, and all the other services were exemplary, and very pleased we stayed there, As for the Kempinski, NOT at all impressed.......all style and NO substance!! I did look over at the sea section at the neighbouring hotels, a few days ago, and some of the comments absolutely cracked me up. I should have brought a bright flag, and waved it to identlify myself!! The views of Israel were stunning. 

All in all, I am very pleased that I made the trip. There are a few things that I would do differently, like pack more sarongs, and sundresses, as I really wasn't expecting it to be THAT hot. Also, maybe go for longer, well why not!!? Maybe soak more in the sea, as can't help but think that may have helped more, but it did sting when I first got in there. I was wondering to what extent would you say that your psoriasis has cleared. Would it be when the plaques have smoothed, and/or when the skin is an even colour? Even though I have gone alot darker, there are a still a few lighter patches. I also noticed that where the psoriasis plaques were, they have gone alot darker, than the tanned skin ie; looks like a bruise on me, as my skin is already tanned. Not sure whether that is normal. but hopefully it will start to fade?

Not sure anyone will see this until they return, but if so how is everyone else doing?? Hope you are all having a wonderful time, and your skin is clearing!!! 

[poncho]

Hi, glad u feel good after that! The dark skin is a problem, I get that always, whether it's dead sea or anywhere else. I'm in Cyprus now, cleared but still the dark shadowing on skin, which is very noticeable, especially elbows etc which is a pain. Does everyone who goes to the ds or elsewhere have the same problem?

[Bucki]

Hello All

I am one of the VITILIGO suffers and do not have psoriasis
even tho' my dad has this stange red-ish thig on his forhead, is quite big.

Anyway, is this trip only for psoriasis or vitiligo as well?!
Wondering if (somebody from this forum) went on this trip this year
who also suffers from vitiligo and seen any results from it ??

Overall, how much do you guys spend in total for those 3 weeks
or whatever the stay is ... just want to have the idea about it.

Seems like to me its going to cost about £3.000 in total!!


Thanks

[stupot]

Bucki

I have both Psoriasis & Vitiligo. Most of my Vitiligo is underneath my Psoriasis.

I went out to the dead sea a couple of years ago.

I found that after my psoriasis had started clearing my Vitiligo started to re-pigment with brown dots round the edges of the patches. I was only out there for 16 days but i still wonder how much more would of re-pigmented if i had stayed out there longer, which at the time some of the group suggested that i did just that.

Unfortunately my budget and work commitments stopped me from doing that.

I am thinking about going again next year so hopefully i will be able to plan for a longer stay and get much better results.

[mattellie]

It is hard work improving Vitiligo at the Dead Sea, I have a friend with Vitiligo who goes regular. Her patches do slowly start to turn red and re pigment but as her 'normal' skin starts to tan and go dark, this actually makes the Vitiligo look worse and stand out more during her time there.

However, on her return home, her tan will start to fade but the Vitiligo affected areas will stay pigmented for longer and look a whole lot less noticeable, but just as with P, the Vitiligo will gradually start to return.

[Bucki]

Thanks for reply guys.
I guess the main downside is the budget / expeneses to be covered
we are talking about £3.000 within 3 weeks.

To be honest, this is all I have hmmmmm
Bearing in mind, while staying under the sun ... the normal skin will get darker
and the white patches will be more noticeable.

I always cover myself from the sun, I do mind it a lot hence not wanting to get tanned.
But whatabout using SunCream 50+ would that not cover from gettin tanned on the rest of te normal skin!?


Just while I am writing maybe it is good to mention this as well:
My cousing *who also has vitiligo for a long time* anyway when I saw him last time, he said that his white patches dissappeared and I asked what he did, so he said "nothing, just went to sea side in monte negro" but of course he been there like every once in one or 2 years.

Not sure what made it improve but I think its "finding the happyness in your life" so starting from that I am assusing since he got married, got kids and he is being happy etc then probably the auto-immune disorder got to a normal ballance and leaded to the skin of pigmentation.  hmmm maybe I am just talking rubish lol anyway


Thanks


ps: Mattellie, had no chance to read your last email and will do so shortly. thanks

[poncho]

Hi Bucki, there's no point in going down there for sun treatment and then using sun cream/barrier, it defeats the object. The p bits are the bits that end up darker than the rest of your skin anyway but this fades after a while.

[Bucki]

What do you mean by P bits??
if you are refering to psoriasis, I do not have p. I only have v. (vitiligo)

What I meant by sunCream is basically to use the cream on the healthy skin
(to not to get darker) and then let the sun treat the de-pigmented skin area.

Surely it would bother me a lot more to darken my skin and making my white patches
more notice-able as they currently are, hence why I do not really stay under sun a lot.

cheers

[poncho]

Sorry, I thought you were talking about psoriasis, I see now I just wasn't reading properly!!