Wednesday, August 4

On Becoming Older

Two weeks ago, I found a mole that had doubled in size since Kaitlyn was born. My initial reaction was, "Oh no! It's cancer! I have to get my affairs in order right now." (Think I'm a tad dramatic sometimes?) I called the dermatologist and took the first appointment available. (Well, that's not quite true. There was an earlier appt available with another dermatologist in the practice, but because he is in my ward [church congregation] and the mole is in, let's say, a delicate place, I didn't want to see him.)

After showing it to the dermatologist, he told me that it is not a mole, but is in fact seborrheic keratoses, and that "they are very normal, it just means you are getting older." He asked me if I had any other things on my body I was wondering about. I pointed out three more, and he said they were all the same thing. He said even more would show up as I get older.

Well, crap. So you mean my body is going to be covered with these ugly, gross looking things? I'm going to be a 60 year old with disgusting looking, crusty old skin?

Sigh.

15 people wanted to leave a comment:

Kristina P. said...

Erin, I KNOW! About six months ago, I mentioned to my hairstylist that it had been so long since I hadn't colored my hair, that I had no idea if I had gray hairs or not. She assured me I didn't.

Fast forward to last week, and she had to break the gray hair news to me. Sob.

Me (aka Danielle) said...

Well, despite them being a sign of you getting older, I am VERY HAPPY that they weren't anything more than age spots.

Braden Bell said...

So with you! I have encountered a few getting older markers lately, too. I won't go into detail, since that would be TMI, but it's not great!

Jilly Bean said...

Aging, it happens to the best of us, sister. I like to remember that this is all a part of the bigger plan. We age, our bodies wear out, we don't like it a bit. But then, someday, it will all be renewed! What joy! We'll appreciate it so much!

Jessie said...

Ha ha ha ha ha. Funny.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I think things like this happen to keep us humble. The older we get the more we know, so the physical calamities probably happen to keep us from getting swelled heads. It's a theory anyway.

Heather of the EO said...

I love what Kimberly said. I'm going to cling to that thought while my skin and hair fails me :)

Emmy said...

Well at least it isn't cancer right? :)

Mary said...

Erin, I get those too, and I hate them so much that I make the dermatologist burn them off. They do come off if they do that. I just don't like the looks of stuff like that. We've had a crazy scare with Jared's big sister, she had to have a bunch of her foot cut off because she got Melanoma between her toes. Check out your toes and make sure there's no dark spots between them!

Mary said...

I just call them freckles, since I've always been covered in small moles (had the large ones removed) and freckles. I also discovered my first gray hair about two weeks ago...and I'm only 28!!

mCat said...

Just wait until you get hair growing our of your moles!

Lara Neves said...

Hmmm. I think you just answered a question about a growth I have been worried about lately.

I'll still get it checked out eventually. (Maybe I should be as dramatic as you are and book the first appointment? I noticed this thing a couple months ago...)

Sherrie said...

Unfortunatly its true! The older I get the more things start popping out all of my skin. It's terrible! At least it's not cancer.

CB said...

M-CAts comment is what I was thinking - Oh my it just gets worse!! Maybe they sink into the wrinkles - ha ha!

Melanie Jacobson said...

Oh, my gosh. I'm going to the dermatologist on Thursday for the exact same reason!