I didn't get acne until I went to college. By the time I donned my high school graduation robes, I thought I had managed to avoid the facial curse called Teen Acne that had plagued so many of my friends through junior high and high school. Yes, I got zits every once in while during my teen years, but they were nothing to get panicked or insecure about. I thought I was lucky. I thought I had avoided the whole acne dilemma. But somewhere between after-graduation parties and packing for college, my skin got some serious attitude. In the three short summer months after high school graduation, I went from zero pimples to full blown might-as-well-wear-a-mask-all-day acne. The worst part about all of it? It meant that I had the worst of all acne problems - Adult Onset Acne. Yes, not only did I get major acne, but it happened when everyone else I knew was growing out of theirs!! Their skin turned into beautiful clear swans while I regressed into an ugly duckling!
In many ways, I think I deserved it. All of those teenagers who suffered through high school with braces and pimples were now getting their revenge on those of us who flitted through teen-dom pimple-free and now are full grown adults with sixteen-year-old faces. I've learned to keep my AOA (or "The Devil" as I call it) under serious control, but I still get major breakouts and - I can't believe I am admitting this to all three of our blog readers - MONSTER pimples. These zit beasts begin underneath my skin and grow into big painful lumps before they turn red and appear on top of my skin. By that time, they have been fed and nurtured by The Devil to the point that there is no stopping the big red yucky mess that I will have to live with for days on end - and lots of zit cream. Ask Jeff, he thinks these huge pimples hilarious (so sweet).
Well, dear reader, the Son of The Devil himself has arrived.
About two weeks ago, one of these Monster Zits was born underneath my cheek. It grew to a big lump and I thought, "Oh great, here comes another one and it's in the worst spot - smack dab in the front of my cheek." Well, after a few days this lump never came above my skin and over the next two weeks or so it got kind of hard and weird, so I thought that maybe this wasn't a zit (yay!) but something more serious like a cyst or - gasp! - melanoma! So I immediately made an appointment with the doc and shakily described the lump to a caring and loving primary care physician. She took one look and said, "Yep, it's a zit. You need some major antibiotics. About a week should do it. If not, you'll have to get it popped (POPPED people!) by a dermatologist."
Erin's face: 0 The Devil: 1
When I called and told Jeff that I had to get a zit professionally popped, I politely waited on the phone while he laughed for a full five minutes.
The good news is that you can't even see this Monster Zit until you get close, so maybe this one will be merciful. Well, besides the embarrassment of having my pimple popped by a someone who went to medical school. In reality, I'm not sure if I would be more embarrassed or the doc. I mean, I would be pretty bitter if I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a world-class education just to end up popping some self-conscious chick's monster zit... In other news, I am so excited to share an INCREDIBLE day after session that Jeff and I shot this past weekend, so here's a quick preview! More to come tomorrow!
4 comments
Betsy, La Vida - Erin, you’re so cute! But seriously, what’s up with the adult acne… I still have my days too. I so thought that crap ended with HS!!! You’re still gorgeous,doll
stan - okay, next time we’re together, i’m going to trump all your stories. i had something i’ve still never heard of in a human being, only in forests. yes – forests!
Jennifer Disney - That was so incredibly disgusting…. and yet delightful, all at the same time. I feel your pain Erin! I had the acne starting in jr. high and still have break outs. What the heck! But you look cute! I love the sweater.
Jeff - And, I’m still laughing
I love you, though sweetie. Giant zit, and all!