They say that laughter is the best medicine and that it can cure anything that ails you. But what if the thing that is making you feel icky is, in itself, medical in nature?
Allow us to explain.
We all know that taking care of our bodies is important, and that regularly getting to the doctor is an important part of assuring that we stay healthy in the long run. Still, medical situations aren’t always comfortable. Skin checks, for one, can feel a little too intimate, a little embarrassing. Taking off all your clothes so a doctor can check every inch of your skin for skin cancer? Yeesh.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. With odds like this, it’s that much more important that we all take every possible precaution in order to avoid experiencing this kind of disease, so regular skin checks with the dermatologist should be a no brainer.
If the idea of a skin check makes you squirm — or even if you’ve already had one — we’re here to lighten the mood with a little laughter. Keep scrolling for a GIFs-only interpretation of this kind of exam.
You’ve been hearing a lot about the importance of getting your skin checked, just to be sure you’re in the clear for skin cancer. You’re listening. You’re taking it all in. It sounds like one more thing to add to your to-do list — not to mention a bit of an awkward appointment — but you’re listening.
Time to do your own research. All the praise hand emojis for Google, right? It’s important to get all the facts.
Now that you understand what’s at stake here — according to Shape, dermatologists recommend annual checks for everyone as an important part of preventing skin cancer — it’s hard to ignore the thought that you should probably just get a screening on your calendar.
Your friends and loved ones are asking if you ever did anything about that conversation you had recently about getting a skin check. And, honestly, you’re feeling pretty crummy about the fact that you’ve been dragging your feet. Time to get. it. together.
You’ve made the appointment and the day arrives. Doesn’t everyone wake up looking like Audrey Hepburn?
You say a perhaps overly enthusiastic “hello!” to everyone at the doctor’s office. if you’re going to be there, you are going to sell that good attitude.
Nothing will make you feel less awkward than waiting in a doctor’s office. NOT.
Time to get cozy and let the dermatologist check your skin for any early signs of lurking skin cancer. There’s absolutely no reason to panic. Remember: you’re doing the right thing.
It’s totally OK if you’re not sure where to look or what to say while the doc is examining you. Keep the conversation light — pets, weather, movies you’ve seen recently — and feel free to creepily avert your eyes from what’s happening.
Your doctor tells you that the skin check is over. Oh, sweet relief. See? That wasn’t so bad.
You know you did the right thing for your body and your health, even if it wasn’t always the most comfortable experience. Good for you! All that’s left to do is wait for an update from the doctor’s office. And in the meantime? Wine.
What GIF best illustrates your experience with getting a skin exam at the dermatologist?Tell us on Facebook + Twitter!
Featured image: Brooke Cagle/Unsplash