November 22, 2004
Skin
A friend of mine lost a part of her nose to some epidermal malady and got it fixed with a skin graft on loan from her forehead. It wasn’t a pleasant time for her, but it may have saved her life.
The skin is our largest organ, and its irregularities and surprises are not all that easy with which to keep track. But as a consequence of my friend’s experience, I began a closer watch and also made an appointment with a dermatologist.
There were some things I’d noticed, but he wrote them all off to geriatrics and sent me on my way, telling me that my skin was in good shape (you know the line, “for someone your age”). If I keep on making the clinical specialty rounds brought on by my decadence (I’m in my ninth, now), I may start a “Dear OoN” advice column just to help pay the rent.