One of the worst things about moving is changing all the doctors, etc.  But, I'm working through all that.  Today was the trip to a new dermatologist.  I saw Dr. Michelle Rivera in Arlington -- wow, she was really good.  She was much more thorough and educational than those I've seen before.  But jeeze....the bright lights and close mirrors on all these things on my body -- not pretty.  I told her that I just took for granted that my skin would have all this stuff...but no, that wasn't going to be acceptable.  She took me on a tour of all the bumps, freckles, moles, warts...and lots more, and I mean, we looked EVERYWHERE.  Her basic diagnosis was that though I was basically OK from a cancer standpoint, my skin was a mess.  She did freeze off one place, and had to biopsy another on my leg.  So -- -here is what she wants me to do to improve my skin:

Use Retin A every evening on my face and neck -- this will peel off all kinds of scaly scabby junk

Use Neutrogena 45 moisturizer every day on my face (I'd been using 15, which she said was way not enough)

Use Neutrogena Body Wash -- Body Clear -- with 2% salicylic acid instead of soap in the shower

Use Eucerin Plus Lotion as after-shower moisturizer

Once a week use Trader Joe's or Bath and Body works Salt Scrub with Grape Seed Oil on whole body

So -- though this will be somewhat of a change from my usual routines, she didn't sell me thousands of dollars worth of stuff...it's all from the drug store.  The Retin A isn't covered by insurance, but is about $50, so it could be worse. 

Another thing she said was that I should brush my hair for several minutes a day -- like just brush in front of the TV or something.  I remember as a kid there was this idea that you should brush your hair 100 strokes a day, and in high school I just brushed all the time.  But, she said that it's a good way to spread moisture through your hair, particularly as you age.  I haven't really brushed my hair like that for ages...just enough in the morning to tame it.  So, that will be a change too.

All in all, it was an exercise in aging...blah...but I really liked her.