Dealing with Teenage Skin in my Forties

Life is not fair, not fair, not fair!! Okay, I want to know who’s in charge of the awkward appearance department. I believe I have a valid complaint. Just because I didn’t have problem skin when I was 16 or 17 does not give you the right (whoever you are) to cover my face with pimples for TWENTY years.

I’m not kidding. Since the birth of my son, 22 years ago, I have been plagued with chronic, cystic acne–a condition that looks horrible, hurts and costs a ton of money to treat. The expense is mostly due to the fact that there doesn’t seem to be a solution. Literally the only thing I haven’t tried is Acutane (a prescription that requires constant blood work and has a scary list of side effects) or laser therapy.

Monday I’m trying laser therapy. I’ve had enough. Everyone I’ve talked to thinks it’s stress but, since I’m certainly not alone or special when it comes to stress, this answer doesn’t satisfy me. Besides I can’t quit my job and leave my family for clear skin, can I? Well, I’ll give the laser thing a try first.

At today’s consultation the little girl who could have been my daughter told me not to pick at my skin. I told her I can’t help it, it itches and it hurts. She told me to try. I said yes ma’am. Then I bought another $100 worth of products guaranteed to heal the mess on my face right now. I said I wasn’t buying anymore but this little girl’s good. She’s convincing without even trying.

She explained that the initial treatment, called a laser facial, will dry the blemishes and inhibit the oil glands somewhat. It’ll reduce the appearance of crater pores and generally subdue the angry attackers that have been ruining my once healthy glow for years!! I need this to work. The surprising news was the cost–only $90 per treatment and she thinks one or two will do it! I’ve spent more than that on topical medicine that didn’t work in one trip to the drug store– TIMES fifty!!!

The next phase is a more expensive–between $250 and $350–laser peel for scarring and self-induced sun damage. She thinks one or two of those will restore normalcy to my dermis. That doesn’t seem unreasonable at all–if it works. Please let it work.

I know this is a minor affliction but when you’re in sales, especially when you’re 43 in sales, you want to be taken seriously while you try to persuade customers that you possess something they want. Standing in front of them erupting like a kid trying to sell a yearbook ad isn’t going to cut it anymore. If you’ve ever suffered from this you also know what I’m talking about when I say it’s painful.

Because of the pain involved, I think insurance should cover all treatment options. They don’t agree with me.

So, I forked over the money to start treating the problem–again. I couldn’t wait to come home, wash my face, exfoliate and apply the serum. I love the word serum because it implies soothing. I opened the pretty little (and I do mean little) blue and white boxes, followed the “dab’ll do ya” directions and cleansed and scrubbed. Then, I gently lifted the $55 dollar serum out of it’s box and…dropped it on the ceramic tile floor.

When I finished a recitation of every soap-worthy word I know, I salvaged a fingertip ful from the bottom of the fractured container. WHY ISN’T IT PLASTIC???!!!! THE REST OF THEM WERE!!!! Just because it’s “SERUM” it has to be in a DELICATE FINE CHINA CONTAINER????!!!! It did feel soothing.

So I can’t wait to experience the laser on Monday. I’ll describe the procedure and the results in another blog. Maybe it’ll help someone else who’s uncomfortable in her skin.