The Girl in Gucci Glasses

I spent my Monday morning in my underwear and a backless robe.

No, this isn’t the start of a dirty novel or a caption for my nonexistent Only Fans.

Instead, after nonchalantly telling one of my doctors about a mole that had grown on my back, I was referred to a derm in my local clinic.

As someone with an extensive background in medical marketing (especially aesthetics,) I knew all about what you should do when it came to skincare best practices. And while I was 99% successful, there was one thing I wasn’t a fan of: the full body exam.

Having never done one of my own, I did it since I was already at the appointment. And while I can’t say it is the most fun you’ll have, it’s painless and so informative.

In my case, my mole had grown, but it was benign. It was simply a mole I was born with that changed ever so slightly with age. Two derms examined it, measured it, and then snapped a picture. And that was that. We then moved on to finding a good cream to fade my wax burn.

But not everyone’s skin exams end so easily. Some get unpleasant news.

For instance, did you know that skin cancer is THE most common type of cancer in the US?

Each day, nearly 10,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer.

These stats might be scary, but they’re also why it’s so imperative to schedule your yearly skin exam.

“Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most common forms of skin cancer, are highly treatable if detected early and treated properly.”

American Academy of Dermatology

Skincare best practices

• Wear sunscreen every single day, even if it’s cloudy
• Drink plenty of water
• Get a full night of rest
• Use a quality moisturizer and Vitamin C serum daily.
  • If appropriate, utilize a dab of retinol at bedtime…but do NOT wax anytime immediately after, as you will get a chemical burn.
• Get established with a board certified dermatologist for your yearly skin exam, and any skincare questions you might have
• Stop putting weird shit from the kitchen on your face because a skinfluencer on TikTok with cosmetic surgery told you to!
  • Spoiler: her skin glows because she does laser treatments, has Botox and maybe even a dab of filler. There is zero shame in any of these treatments, and I’ve done them all. But my point? Her skin is NOT glowing from using a lemon and brown sugar mixture on the face! Experts exist for a reason.

Find the perfect dermatologist for your needs with the American Academy of Dermatology!

Search for a dermatologist here.