MONDAY MEMOIRS - Scars

I've been thinking about SCARS today (this happens every once in a while).  It started when I got out of the shower this morning, and looked in the mirror.  I could totally dress up as the Bride of Frankenstein for Halloween - all I need to complete the "costume" is 2 white streaks in my hair, and a bikini, so people could actually see the scars!  In fact, it looks like my torso has been cut completely in half and sewn back together in 2 different places!

I know it's kind of morbid, but I couldn't help myself... I started counting.  I have 23 scars from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet.  23.  (And countless others that I can't see, but still know are there.)

Several of those scars resulted in amazing blessings coming into my life - four blessings, to be exact... my kids (stretch marks and episiotomy scars).

There are scars that are the result of parts of my body just not working right anymore (gall bladder, hysterectomy, heel spur);  scars that are the result of parts of my body that tried to kill me (mastectomies, moles);  and, of course, scars that are the result of fears that I have of cancer recurrence (tummy tuck to get rid of lethal belly fat, liposuction, oophorectomy).   Then, there are the "helpful" scars - those where my port was located, and those in the locations of drains from surgeries.

Most of my scars were expected - I knew they would be there when I had things removed, or made the choice to have different surgeries.  Some were unexpected, like the scar on my arm where I burned myself.  Whether expected or not, let's just say that my body is NOT perfect.  And sometimes, I get annoyed by that - I really hate the way my body looks.  It makes me angry.

Upon further reflection, though, I realize that each of these scars tells a story.  Every single one of them is there for a reason.  If scars could talk...!  And upon even further reflection, I know that each one of these scars is proof that I've lived - a full, complicated, sometimes hard, life.  But, they also show that my life has been full of joy, too.

I call them my battle scars.  They signify my battles with fear, pain, death, and life.  And once I've thought it through... I realize that they really don't bother me much at all.  Things happen.  We live life. We love. We cry. We experience both sadness and joy.  We scar.

TUESDAY TIPS: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil

I recently had a major surgery, and my scar is about 15 inches long - running from one hip to the other. One thing my surgeon told me to do was to put Vitamin E oil on my scar. I took the advice of someone who had the same surgery as me, and got Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil with Vitamin E. It is the most wonderful stuff on the planet!



This oil is formulated to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, dry and damaged skin, uneven skin tone, and aging skin, and fine lines and wrinkles. It has Cetesomate-E Complex. This helps improve the skin penetration and absorption characteristics of the formula in to the epidermal layer of the skin.

Ingredients and their benefits:

For scars - Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Cetesomate-E, and Rosehip Oil
Results: Helps diminish scar's appearance

For stretch marks - Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Cetesomate-E, and Rosehip Oil
Results: Helps improve the appearance of stretch marks

For dry, damaged skin - Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Sesame Oil, Canola Oil, Cetesomate-E, and Rosehip Oil
Results: Deeply moisturizing ingredients absorb quickly while improving skin's moisture levels. Skin looks hydrated, firmer and more plump.

For uneven skin tone - Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E, Canola Oil, Cetesomate-E, and Rosehip Oil
Results: Targets marks and spots due to breakouts and pregnancy. Helps even skin tone for a more perfect complexion.

For fine lines and wrinkles - Cocoa Butter Vitamin E, Canola Oil, Cetesomate-E, and Rosehip Oil
Results: Keeps skin conditioned, forming a protective barrier while allowing skin to breathe.

This oil is dermatologically tested. It's a fast-drying formula that penetrates deeply without greasiness, and is non-staining. It allows you to dress immediately after you put in on. This oil can also be used as a bath oil - just add it to your bath for hydration.

I really love this oil. I've been using it for a few weeks. I obviously haven't been using it long enough to be able to see a huge difference, but I do believe it will make a difference in my scar. I'll continue to use it, and in about 6 months, I'll review it again. I didn't use this with my mastectomy scars, so I'll compare the two scars to see if this oil made a difference. I haven't used it for any of the other things it claims to help, so I can't say it works on skin problems, or lines and wrinkles, but if it does a great job on this scar, I am SO putting it on my face!

One last thing - it smells heavenly. Yum!

I got this at Target, in the area with all of the lotions. You can ask the pharmacist, too. I'm sure you could find it near almost any pharmacy. And a little goes a LONG way.

Go out and get some, and then let me know if you like it. I'd love to hear from anyone who has used this oil.