When Flesh Flares

My Mustache Comb
~~~
My Scarlet S

I am the devil’s chosen one: his puppet, pawn, his pet. Sometimes I find him in the smallest things: a brush, a comb, a rubber band; and other times, the largest: the couch, the bed, the place I rest my head.

Believe me, I should know ever since he cursed me with a sea of Scorn—to keep me in the shadows. To him, it’s all a game of tug of war where everything I touch, he laughs and takes away.

But of everything he’s taken, I’ll never understand why he had to steal my brush. And now every brush I try burns my skin with rashes—each stroke a jagged thorn, each sweep a lasting curse.

Then one day I found a tiny mustache comb in a man’s shaving kit. And though it doesn’t burn my skin, it demands tiny strokes that snap my tangled web. And with each stroke, the devil still plays tug‑of‑war, only this time with my hair.

Dear Friend,

It started out with rashes, first from simple hand weights, then from my yoga mat. Soon it was the clothes I wore, the bed I slept in, the pillow for my head.

Then came the long, dull hours of fatigue, triggered from a pill taken from my medicine cabinet or a carton or can from my kitchen shelf.

It’s all part of chemical sensitivity—and what led me to build a home called Darwin’s Mistress. And it’s from this place of refuge, I learned to rise up from the ashes.

If you suffer from sensitivities, I hope you find the following tools helpful.
Yours Truly,
Darwin’s Mistress

Or feel free to jump to the next story in
Hearts Mend.

Understanding the Flare

This section is for anyone whose body reacts to common, ordinary things. You may find yourself here if:

1. Your skin is prone to rashes, welts, or irritation from everyday objects or fabrics
2. You feel sick, off, or unwell after eating a meal
3. You react poorly to medications, eyedrops, or supplements
4. Your body flares from everyday items like shampoo, rubber gloves, and household cleaners
5. You’ve had reactions you can’t easily explain, but you know they’re real

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. Here, you’ll find tools, materials, and strategies that have helped me reduce flares and navigate daily life more safely.

Continue below with technology tools or see:
Compounded Medicines‍ ‍
Cotton Essentials
Tips
Community of Friends

Everyday Tools

SkinSAFE

If you have chemical sensitivities—or simply prefer products with fewer additives—let me introduce you to your new best friend: SkinSAFE, a free app created in collaboration with Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic describes SkinSAFE as a tool for people with skin allergies, contact dermatitis, or sensitivities who want to avoid common allergens in everyday products. The app can even generate personalized “Safe for Me” lists when used with patch‑test results.

SkinSAFE covers categories like Skin Care, Household, Hair, and Personal Care, and it lets you evaluate product safety with clarity and ease—whether or not you use a personalized SFM™ code.

As someone with confirmed chemical allergies, I can tell you this app has saved me hours of research and prevented more than a few messy patch tests on my skin.

Decoding Food Labels

If you were to run into me at the grocery store, you’d find me talking to my phone on every isle. I use the same AI helper at the grocery (and other stores) that I use at home to decode the contents of food and other products.

Basically, my tool evaluates the contents of not just the food item but—just as important—the packaging. And in most cases, it’s the packaging that contains additives, like anti-browning agents and preservatives, that are harmful for me.

I simply speak the name and maker of the product into my device and get a complete breakdown of the contents and a Yes or No answer whether it’s safe for me. No more guesswork, no more reading labels, no more taking home the wrong items.

Continue with Compounding Medicines below or see:
Cotton Essentials
Tips
Community of Friends

Compounded Medicines

The dangers of preservatives and other additives aren’t limited to the grocery store. They’re what led to countless days chained to my bed from pills, everyday eyedrops, and even natural supplements.

They’re also what led to debilitating depression and other psychological effects from antihypertensive drugs described below in
My Hollow Self.

And the good news is, it was that total sense of hopelessness that led me to discover compounding medicines. These are formulated by hand by licensed pharmacists specifically for you. They are free of additives, such as dyes and preservatives, and eliminate all harmful side effects for me.

Continue reading below or see
Everyday Tools
Tips
Community of Friends

My Hollow Self
~~~
My Scarlet S

Every morning when I wake, his voice is first to greet me with these words.
“How’s your mental health?” he jests.

Then once I take my daily pill, Depression is next to greet the dawn and fade my world to black and gray. On the outside, the world is flat and dull; on the inside, there’s nothing but an empty shell. And so begins my descent each day, searching for my hollow self.

It’s like searching for yourself in the House of Mirrors. I look in one mirror, and no, that vacant face doesn’t resemble me. I try another and see someone else who doesn’t look like me. 

And as I struggle through the day, my head spins in circles with self-doubt. I try to stop this roller coaster ride, but it keeps on roaring down the tracks.

And when I visit the House of Horrors late at night, I recall all the hurtful words I heard throughout the day. I go from one room to the next, replaying every line. But the basest part of me insists I sling them back. “Surely you aren’t going to let them get away with that!” And so, I say nasty words and push away the ones I love.
~~~
To learn how I was able to step off the roller coaster and regain my true self, see Compounded Medicines.

Continue below with more tools for sensitivity. Or see Hearts Mend.

Cotton Essentials

Welcome to Cotton Essentials—a space for sensitive skin and sustainable living. Here, you'll find the fibers that soothe and the merchants I trust to carry them. Let's begin with why cotton matters—and what to watch out for.

Why Cotton

If your skin is sensitive, let me caution you about embracing natural fibers other than cotton. From personal experience and research, I’ve learned that harsh chemicals can be used in creating fabrics from fibers such as these and in manufacturing them into clothing or bed linens.
Caution:
• Bamboo  
• Silk  
• Linen  

If you love linen but have sensitive skin, look for items that meet these standards:
• 100% organic linen  
• No added chemicals
• No anti-wrinkle and other finishes
No harsh dyes

The Fine Print

Not all 100% cotton essentials are created equal. If you have sensitive skin, these notes are critical to your safe selection and care of cotton items:

Harsh dyes
• These can irritate sensitive skin.
• My trusted retailers don’t use them.

Synthetic linings
• Watch out for hidden synthetics in clothing.
• My trusted retailers avoid them, except occasionally in coat linings.

Synthetic thread
• It undermines the benefits of cotton fabric.
• Important: Thick fabric or trim may require more sturdy, synthetic thread.
• My trusted retailers use cotton thread exclusively, unless the fabric or trim is too thick.

Alterations
• Bring your own 100% cotton thread (Amazon).
• Do not use the seamstress’s thread—it will compromise your cotton clothing.

Tip: Start building a supply of cotton thread in your essentials kit.

My Trusted Cotton Retailers

Clothing

• Peruvian Connection
• Cottonique
• Pact
• J. Jill
• Jockey

Bedding and Home

• Boll and Branch
• Company Store
• Garnet Hill

Note: I have Garnet Hill throws on my upholstered furniture to protect my skin from synthetic fabrics.

Continue with Tips below or see:
Everyday Tools
Compounded Medicines‍ ‍
Community of Friends

Tips

Terms to Avoid

If you have chemical sensitivities, here are some common terms to avoid and reasons why.

Anti-
• Indicates treated surfaces.
• Examples include antifungal, antimicrobial, antistatic, antiwrinkle.

De-
• Implies extraction or conversion.
• Examples include de-ice and deodorize.

Non-
• Suggests engineered alteration.
• Examples include non-slip, non-stick.

Resistant
• Often implies chemical or synthetic treatment.
• Examples include stain-resistant, water-resistant.

Retardant
• Signals flame retardants or barrier chemicals.

Other Tips

Below are various products I use and recommend for sensitivity.

Cottonique Face Masks
• 100% cotton
• Contain no elastic

Cottonique Neck Guards
• 100% cotton
• Protect the neck from irritants

MediGuard Vinyl Uncoated Gloves
• If you have trouble with medical gloves, I recommend this brand and type.
• I take these to doctors and dentists and avoid irritating my skin.

Please join the Community of Friends
or jump to the next story in Hearts Mend.