I went to the dermatologist yesterday. It all started several years ago when I developed an itching that wouldn’t quit and left me with some spots that left me with some questions. Not the “is this cancer?” type of question, but what exactly is it that is causing me to suddenly itch like this? I had some pretty good spots on my back as a result. A trip to a dermatologist showed the spots were not cancer but were actually dermatitis. Contact dermatitis to be exact. That simply means that I was suddenly allergic to certain chemicals used in detergents, cleaning agents, paper products (like toilet paper), and the biggest one of all: body wash. I had been using body wash for years and suddenly it was the culprit. There was a certain ingredient almost all body washes contain that was particularly deadly to me…get ready for it… Cocamidopropyl Betaine. Yeah…I know. I can’t even say it let alone spell it. All I know is that I had to start looking at every body wash on the planet and if it had that ingredient in it, I had to avoid it. Guess it is back to bar soap. 🙂 Fortunately, I found some soap by companies (Everyman Jack, Dr. Squatch, and others) that smell good. In fact, I like them a lot. But I had to watch what products I used. But here is something funny. It is a good thing I am planning on being cremated. Why you ask? Because I am allergic to Formaldehyde. Is that not hilarious?  Anyway, there are tons of chemicals I cannot even begin to pronounce in that list. Yay me! 🙂

All that to say is that it actually turned out for my good. I had to change dermatologist due to the other moving away, and this one I have been going to for the past 3-4 years or so has been treating me for spots on my head and face which were suspicious. She has also told me I need to wear a hat in the sun. I hate wearing hats except when I played or umpired baseball!!! I know there are some oddballs whom I think sleep in their hats, but whose judging? 🙂  I got a good report yesterday. She said, “I looked good.” I wanted to be snarky and say, “I know” but I knew she was referring to my head and face. In fact, she did a full-body check and except for a small dermatitis rash, she said I looked good. Again… 🙂  🙂

Proverbs 3:11-13 says, “My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” (NLT) Dr. Chen is obviously not my father, but I’m glad she takes her job seriously. Skin cancer is not something I want to experience. Sometimes you take the pain and inconvenience for the future look.