Derm RF

The Doctor is In … the Christmas Crush

December 20, 2011 at 1:19 am Dr. Kathy Fields 2 comments

By Dr. Kathy Fields

Around the office, we call it the Christmas Crush—people putting off appointments until the last minute and then clamoring to be diagnosed, treated and recovered before the family photo op, the Hawaiian getaway, or the New Year’s bash. Not that I’m judging. I’m as likely as anyone to put off a doctor’s visit. In fact, I’ve come to believe procrastination for most of us is the rule, not the exception.

Ironically, accepting this truth has actually allowed me to change my behavior. Because I know I’ll likely delay or avoid things that are either not urgent (yet) or just plain unpleasant, I’ve learned to plan ahead for my inevitable procrastination by proactively implementing solutions before many of my problems start. For example, I know I tend to break out as life gets busy and stress runs high. So, as events start to ramp up, so do I ramp up my acne regimen, applying twice daily until after the holidays. This helps me keep my skin clear from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

I share this advice with my patients, because whether you’re battling acne, sensitive skin flare-ups or even melasma, following this advice can help keep your skin clear this holiday season. So, instead of feeling overwhelmed by what we can’t achieve in entirety today and overly optimistic about what we’ll get done at the last minute, make mini commitments daily and keep them.

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