Member-only story
“One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine.”
- Sir William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian physician; a founder of Johns Hopkins
Over 8 years ago, perhaps while doing my morning shave, I noticed a peculiar dark discoloration of a portion of the right side of my face extending below the sideburn almost to the chin. I thought it rather odd, but had no idea as to the cause. I felt fine and had no systemic symptoms. I had no good idea whether it came about with suddenness or gradually.
I decided to watch it. Rather than dissipating, it persisted, and may have even spread a bit.
I thought I’d better have it looked at.
The dermatologist in an adjacent city examined it, thought it might be a form of chloasma or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (although I’d had no inflammation that I could recall) and gave me some bleaching cream. This did nothing.
On a subsequent visit he performed a punch biopsy.
When I went back, he said the biopsy was unsatisfactory; I’d have to have another one.
After 4 visits, I could sense he was grasping at invisible diagnostic straws. I decided to go elsewhere.
