Finally, in the summer of 1983 my mother convinced me to see a new dermatologist. It was my senior year and there were Proms to go to, senior pictures to take and many events to attend. She wanted me to feel good about this special time in my life. However, it was going to be expensive for us to see this dermatologist because he was very well known and his office was 30 miles away in another town.I felt bad because I knew we really did not have the money for doctors. Still, secretly I was excited that I might be able to finally take some pill and be rid of the acne. So began the years of dermatology visits and thousands of dollars in prescription medicines. My doctor was a good one and he was probably the most honest with me about acne looking back on it now. Again, he was progressive and well known. Many people came from 3 states around to see him. When we arrived at his office that first time it was very hot. He was located in a nice new office building that still smelled of carpet and paint. I walked in, signed in, and sat down to wait. Finally, a nurse, or what looked like a nurse opened a door and called my name. As I sat in this stark white new patient room I wondered if he could really help me. I remembered I didn’ t really like going to doctors. I felt a familiar tingle and I scratched a place on my face and it began to bleed. Great! I yanked a paper towel down from the dispenser and quickly dabbed the spot. Then, Dr. Bander walked in. He was a middle aged man, slightly overweight, and kind of disheveled looking. His tie was crooked but he had a nice smile. He started speaking to me in a soft kind of staccato voice, while I stuffed the paper towel in my pocket. “Well, I am afraid you have 2 different kinds of acne. You have the surface kind that we can easily help with peeling agents, so I am going to prescribe a lotion for that. You also have cystic acne and that is called Acne Vulgaris. Those are deeply infected pores that swell and can cause permanent damage to the collagen under your skin.” He continued. “You see genetics has done you a great favor in giving you plenty of oil to lubricate your skin. However, at the same time you have small pores and they become blocked very easily. Thus, the acne on your face.”