Whole New World of Skin Care


It’s all I’ve been talking about and it finally happened!  On the last gasp of 2015, I had my long-awaited dermatology consultation!  Oh, my dermatologist is the greatest.  Dr. McFabulous listened to me, took a look at my scalp, and sent me on my way with three prescriptions: two for my acne (the regimen she uses herself, so that was really great) and one for psoriasis on the back of my neck!!!  Ew.

I’ve yet to see drastic results, but the change is already huge.  I’ve been forced (by a medical professional) to abandon the myths I’d told myself about my skin:  scrub is good!  The more often you wash your face, the better!  Oil is the enemy!  I laugh at your Clarisonic and reach for the belt sander!  No pain, no gain!  Gotta teach this face who’s in charge!

Apparently, this is all wrong!  According to my doctor, lotion is the key!  After two seconds of talking she decreed:  “You have sensitive skin,” and pulled out a photocopy of a sheet with big title “HOW TO TAKE A PROPER SHOWER” at the top.  Nothing like being 31 and having to be taught how to shower.

But guys, my dermatologist is fabulous.  She’s already tumbled for me in a way Boy George has always promised he would, but has yet to deliver.  Boy George, 0; Doctor McFabulous, 1!  I almost took a point away because she failed to laugh at this exchange:

ME:  …sometimes I get a pimple so big, I have to take an aspirin to stop the throbbing.

Doctor McFabulous, M.D.:  Mmm-hmmm.

ME:  …and sometimes they’re so big, I have trouble talking and moving my jaw!

Dr. McF, MD:  Well, if that happens, there are fast fixes…

ME:  O RLY like what?

Dr. McF, MD:  We could inject it with a steroid…

ME:  tell me more…

Dr. McF, MD:  …but you don’t want to do that.

ME:  Oh no?  Why not?

Dr. McF, MD:  there can sometimes be negative consequences…

ME:  …like after injection, my pimple slaps his girlfriend in a silly argument and turns up later crying in the locker room when he misses JV wrestling practice because he doesn’t understand the monster he has become?

Dr. McF, MD:  No, that doesn’t happen.

ME:  (pause.)  It’s a joke about after-school specials.  In the joke, my pimple has ‘roid rage.

Dr. McF, MD: 
Oh!  That’s funny.  No.  That doesn’t happen.

ME:  No, but I might tell that joke anyway.

Dr. McF, MD:  If you do, give me partial credit.

I’ll make a deal with you, Doctor McFabulous.  If these acne treatments work, I’ll give you FULL credit for my Pimple With ‘Roid Rage joke.  IF they work.

Which brings me to: dun da dun!  The biggest change of all:  letting go and trusting.  Hello, trusting!  I’m putting things on my face that I would have shuddered to do a week ago, moisturizers and gentle cleansers and no scrubs!  You hear that!  No Scrubs, just TLC.  Ugh!  I don’t know how to deal.  It feels all wrong to me, but I have to trust my doctor and take the leap.  Healing and trusting!  Who the hell have I become???

Well, if this treatment works, I can’t wait to find out!


13 responses to “Whole New World of Skin Care”

    • Thanks! I've been trying to drink a lot of water, because I've been sick since before I started this whole regimen. So fluids in general have been my friend – we got a SodaStream for Christmas which has been amazing because I haaaaate drinking water, but love water with bubbles? It's weird. But yeah, I've been drinking more seltzer (and therefore water) lately. Thanks!

  1. Not for anyone but you, take a picture of your face today (are those called selfies? #nomakeup #nofilter) and then take one in a month or six weeks. You will see a difference.
    Medical professionals are taught really hard never to laugh at stuff new patients say. Ever. You could have been dead serious and dumb and her laughter would crush your fragile confidence. You would never come back for another appointment and be dead of malignant melanoma in 18 months.
    It's every dermatologist's fear.
    She was hysterical on the inside.

    • Great idea RE: the no-makeup selfie! I'm glad to know that doctors are trained not to laugh. I make it my personal mission to FORCE JOKES on everyone I meet, and when I don't get laughter, I do feel like a failure… I definitely acted like an amateur comedian at the dermatologist. They're like, "How are you feeling today?" I'm like "Wonderful! It's great to be here!" uhhhh…I mean it really was great to be there! I'm ecstatic to have health care!

    • "No Scrubs" is terrifying! I'm certain I'm going to slip up or like break down and scratch my skin with my fingernails once of these days because I hate the feeling of "residue" on my face. It's been some serious adjustment but I've gotten WAY FEWER PIMPLES *knock wood* than in the past just in the short time I've been sticking to Doctor McFab's orders. Soon the past acne scars will fade and I'll be FREEEEEEE!!!!

  2. This is all soooo true! My skin completely changed when I finally stopped being so tough on it and just gave it moisture and a little bit of cleansing. I hope you keep seeing great results!!

    • I've had people urging me to "try a little tenderness" for years – I never trusted them! It took hearing it from a doctor for me to take a chance on it – things aren't perfect yet (strange reactions like painless peeling?) and little oopsies here and there but it's nothing compared to how it used to be – waking up feeling like the San Andreas Fault under my face is ready to burst at any moment!! Thanks for the sweet comment and I'm sure I'll post more about this as the process happens!

  3. Aha this gave me quite a chuckle! It's so true though I'm really guilty of overdoing my skincare regime at the first sign of redness and really need to take a step back and be more gentle. Hope it's all working out great for you! xx

    Shiona | LifeAfterLdn

    • LOL YES! That's what it's like: an unhealthy relationship with my face! My face bursts out in painful icky zits, I scrub it and scrape it and put harsh chemicals on it! OMG this is like couples therapy for me & my face!!

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