When it comes to thriving with CVID, caring for the outside of my body has become nearly as important as treating the condition within. One product that has become a major weapon in my body care arsenal is the Dove Targeted Serum Concentrate ($19.99).
But first, what is CVID? The initials stand for common variable immunodeficiency, a disorder in which low levels of serum antibodies cause an increased susceptibility to infection, according to the Immune Deficiency Fund. Simply put and as I understand CVID, my body doesn’t make the antibodies necessary for my immune system to function normally. This condition puts me at risk of a multitude of infections, from the common cold, to measles (despite MMR vaccination), to COVID-19.
Although it’s unsure what variable actually causes this immune deficiency, physicians fortunately have a way of treating it. Every month, I infuse immunoglobulins into the subcutaneous fat of my abdomen to strengthen my immune system. But I have a tiny issue with this treatment, especially as a woman in my mid-40s whose body doesn’t rebound like it used to. Infusing 20 to 25 grams of fluid into the fat of my belly stretches out the skin for days, until my body absorbs the medicine. Just to give you a mental visual, I look like a pregnant woman late in her first trimester.
After being diagnosed in 2022 and infusing for a year, I noticed that the skin of my abs was beginning to look like a balloon that had been inflated and deflated repeatedly. This took a bit of a mental toll on me because it felt as if my body was betraying me once again. The treatment that was keeping me healthy was also affecting my self-esteem.
Enter the Dove Targeted Serum Concentrate, an affordable body care serum that visibly improved my skin’s elasticity, as well as the dark appearance of a surgical scar on my abdomen. This science-backed formula is lightweight, non-greasy, and fast-absorbing. Yet, it penetrates to the skin’s cellular level to deliver niacinamide, collagen peptides, natural moisturizing factors, and Dove’s proprietary Tone Balance Complex. These ingredients boost the skin’s natural repair processes, just like immunoglobulins boost my immune system.
I’ve used the Dove Targeted Serum Concentrate for more than two years and will continue to use it. Not only does it soothe the itch that comes with my skin stretching rapidly over the course of an hour-plus, it also lessens the risk I’ll develop stretch marks as a result of the infusion process. In addition, the improvement of my abdomen skin’s elasticity can’t be beat. Along with infusing every month, I’ve also lost and gained and lost a little weight over the years, but there’s no evidence across my abs. And for this slim-thicc auntie, that’s always a win!
If you’re concerned about your skin’s elasticity, dark spots, stretch marks, or even tone – whether you’re thriving through a health condition, aging, or pregnancy – then the Dove Targeted Serum Concentrate is a must for your beauty regimen.
