Taking Care of the Skin

Until yesterday, I had not thought seriously about what the skin could do, if it went to extremes. A skin was just about color, texture, age. The only thing one needed to keep in mind about it was to keep it clean, and moisturised. That's about it. No need to go deep into it, I thought. After all, beauty is only skin deep, that's what everyone said.

But no. I discovered that it is much more than that. My neighbor asked me to accompany her to the skin doctor. Ok, I said. What's the harm in coming with her? She is an old lady, well into her seventies, and driving her car. If I went with her, it would be a good deed. I would be a moral support.

We started off well, driving through the shaded avenues, past the Natural History Museum and the Mission. Somehow, my neighbor was not herself.

She pulled to the side of the road, and then explained to me. It was about skin cancer. She had it somewhere near her lips ten years ago. Then, four years ago, she had it on her right cheek. And now, she thought she had it on her forehead.

Apparently, there are various ways to treat skin cancer. One is to graft skin, or remove the affected part. The other is to apply strong medications on the spot, which would then sear the cancerous cells, and cure the area. She was in a dilemma if she should go for surgery, to remove the skin. But actually wanted to start with the medication, and then depending on the results, would decide.

I hardly had any idea about skin cancer. The only thing I asked was, 'Is it dangerous?'

And she said, 'Yes, it is.'