Yesterday, I made the trek to Elmhurst to my dermatologist. This doctor is so special that Elegante Mother and I followed her when she moved her practice. It's a pleasure to see her, and in return, she takes care of my skin woes.
We visited for my annual body check in February just before I left for Florida. She said there was a precancerous spot on my nose that needed to be treated (one I hadn't even realized was there), but she'd do it when we got back. So, I dutifully made and kept the appointment. When she was done yesterday, I had FOUR treated spots: two on my face and one at each wrist. Unfortunately, they may not be totally healed by the time I give my quilt presentation, but I'm sure the ladies will cope with it.
Dear Husband was referred to a dermatologist for the same kind of treatment on his nose last week. He'd had a spot for about a year, that was so understated that I didn't even think about it. Our poor little noses are not quite twins.
Dermatology is big business with all the missing ozone. I think that more people will be adding a dermatologist to the list of their health providers, just to keep track of all the types of skin cancers that are developing. I wear long sleeves and long pants when I garden, and floppy hats. I try to remember to wear sun-screen, and I try to work early in the day when the sun's rays are not directly overhead. What gets past me, Doc will zap. OUCH!!
Comments (7)
Isn't it amazing what people who know what they're looking for can find on our skin? You are wise to take precautions and to see your dermatologist.
Posted by Cop Car | March 8, 2007 7:38 AM
Posted on March 8, 2007 07:38
I've read that this goes on but I was unaware that this medical specialist is a regular to see. Hope all is well.
Posted by Adele | March 9, 2007 10:40 AM
Posted on March 9, 2007 10:40
Adele--Skin damage/cancer may not be as endemic in Great Britain whose daughters have long been renowned for their beautiful complexions. When I was growing up, sun was thought to be good for us (and, of course, a certain amount is necessary for production of Vitamin D). Our teachers, in June, would extort us to come back to school in the fall, "...brown as a berry." Now we are finding that the one or two severe sunburns that we may have experienced in youth (mine, at age 12) are wreaking a toll on our skin as we age. Not a pretty sight!
Posted by Cop Car | March 10, 2007 4:46 AM
Posted on March 10, 2007 04:46
Adele, I'm very fair-skinned, and was frequently burned when I was in my late teens and early 20s. My parents moved to Southwest Missouri hundreds of miles south of where I was raised, and I wasn't prepared for the toll the lower latitude sun would have on my skin. When we vacationed with them, we eventually began setting the oven timer for 10-15 minutes, and when it went off, I had to get out of the pool, add sunscreen or add clothes, or go inside. I've been VERY cautious about the amount of sun I get these days, and have been for easily 25 years, but the damage was already done.
I'm trying to develop a better moisturizer habit to combat some of that damage.
Posted by buffy | March 11, 2007 5:15 PM
Posted on March 11, 2007 17:15
Adele, I'm very fair-skinned, and was frequently burned when I was in my late teens and early 20s. My parents moved to Southwest Missouri hundreds of miles south of where I was raised, and I wasn't prepared for the toll the lower latitude sun would have on my skin. When we vacationed with them, we eventually began setting the oven timer for 10-15 minutes, and when it went off, I had to get out of the pool, add sunscreen or add clothes, or go inside. I've been VERY cautious about the amount of sun I get these days, and have been for easily 25 years, but the damage was already done.
I'm trying to develop a better moisturizer habit to combat some of that damage.
Posted by buffy | March 11, 2007 5:41 PM
Posted on March 11, 2007 17:41
Buffy, If we continue to have summers as hot and sunny as we have had the last couple of years, and every indication is that this is going to happen, then it sounds as if the warnings on sunscreen/ moisturising/ keeping in the shade during midday will no longer just come from beauty advisors but become basic government policy and we will be nagged about that too. (Can you tell I'm getting fed-up about being nagged by CG about things: the imperative to recycle and save energy is the latest. I am perfectly able to make up my own mind on these, I don't need to be nagged about it all the time.)
Posted by Adele | March 14, 2007 4:46 AM
Posted on March 14, 2007 04:46
Hmmm...in going back through this string, I hasten to correct my glib assertions that our teachers, "...would extort us...." (as we were all very-to-fairly poor, teachers wouldn't have been able to raise much money that way!) They did, however, exhort us!
Posted by Cop Car | March 14, 2007 7:32 AM
Posted on March 14, 2007 07:32