P.S.-First I must note that I do NOT like the Twilight series better than the Harry Potter series. In my mind, very few books compare to those genius works of fiction.
ATTENTION: If you don't like to read about zits and cherry angiomas, skip this post. If you don't care about zit-talk and want to know what a cherry angioma is, read on.
Alright. So today I went to a dermatologist. Not to have botulism injected into my 25-year-old crow's feet (oh, please...) or have collagen squirted into my lips, but because my skin has been VERY unhappy since about September 2005--which I remember that clearly only because I had Jaxon the month before. In fact, I fully expected the benefit of beautiful glowy skin that is usually mine to enjoy in pregnancy when I found out Savvy would be coming along (September 2006). Lo and behold, my skin actually got worse. Now, I KNOW that my skin is not THAT bad. But when it is bad, it usually responds to the various things I do to help it. However, it has maintained a stubborn unhappy stance for the last three years, no matter what, and I figured it was time to go see what a dermatologist would tell me. Plus my insurance covers it to a limited extent.
Well, after giving me a sample face wash and moisturizer, and some little prescription ointments for really bad areas, he inspected a couple of moles, expounded on the various causes of a pimple (I had no idea there were so many ways to get one of those pesky things), and handed me a mirror so I could show him something on my face that was concerning me. (Turns out it was an extremely tiny cherry angioma, completely harmless but I'll spare you an extended dialogue and you can just click on the link if you're curious) Well, when you are at a dermatologist's office not wearing makeup, sitting under headache-bright flourescent lights--why? Why would they use that horrible light in a dermatologist office where you go to feel better about your skin?!--talking about the various skin problems you're having, being handed a mirror isn't so pleasant. I about fell over. It was like the cartoons where they put a magnifying glass up to a seemingly normal person's face and you see green warts with hairs growing from them and mountainous red spots and little bacteria setting up lemonade stands. Okay, my skin wasn't THAT scary, but I was unpleasantly surprised and quickly handed back the mirror, which made the doctor and his assistant laugh. (Oh, shut up. Just because you have doctor-of-dermatology skin.) So I hope what they gave me will work and I can quit feeling like nothing I'm doing is working.
And what have I been doing? Oh, several things. I drink more water, I try to eat less yeast-ee things, I try to eat less sugar, I eat yogurt which has helpful bacteria in it, I don't touch my face a lot, I wash with an oil-free non-comedogenic cleanser, I change my pillowcase often, I keep my hair out of my face when I can even though I feel like it weighs three pounds, I drink loads of water, I run away from antibiotics and hormones, and I exercise. So you would think that all those things combined would help. Usually three of them together do the trick. But not so in the last three years, which explains my considerable frustration. I guess. Oh, and with regard to pictures of myself posted on this blog, note that while I don't have such great skin, I do have Photoshop. I use it. So....don't think I'm being crazy and making a mountain out of a mole hill. (Hee hee...mole hill.) Maybe if I get extra brave I'll post a picture of my skin AS IS! Or maybe I never will. Yeah, that's more likely.
While I was in the office, something occurred to me. Do dermatologists become dermatologists because they have great skin and want to help others have great skin? Or are more dermatologists formerly acne-plagued and want to help others have great skin?
And the last little tidbit from my surprisingly thought-provoking appointment. While I waited for my appointment, reading posters like "Ask about Botox. It's all about freedom of expression!" and "Juvederm. Parentheses have a place, but not on your face!" a woman walked out of a room looking, oh, "well-rested" and smooth. :) On her way out of the waiting room, she glanced over at another woman (whose face I couldn't see) and nearly shouted, "OH...MY....GOSH!! I HARDLY RECOGNIZED YOU! YOU LOOK SO GOOD!!"
5 comments:
So did he give you something for the angioma? Or is here to stay? You should email me a picture. :)
Interesting about the angiomas (angiome, angiomi, angiomae?). I have several of them on my chest, some since elementary school, and I've always wondered what the heck they were!
I had skin like you are describing from the time I had Chloe until she was around 2 years old. I found a skin masque that made a huge difference, but it's Arbonne, and you'd have to find a person that sells it.
Good luck. I hope the stuff they give you will work. I think you look great but we always see ourselves differently than other people do.
oh Roy! i know, i still get jealous of girls with perfect skin. sometimes it seems like something i will never have in this life. but i use proactiv and it works well enough for me that im happy enough, most days. i regret to inform you, tho, that it gets worse around my period time. (oh periods. such a bloody mess as a brit would say, with the pun very much intended) well i think you're beautiful just so you know and i thought you had great skin, i didn't know it was photoshop! haha well... at least make up helps, right?
I see you Write too. I am up north for a week. I will call you when I get back.
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