“DNA damage,” said my dermatologist, in response to my question, “Why is this happening?” With increasing frequency, I’d found new itchy bumps on my face, not unlike the one that turned out to be a basal cell carcinoma a few years ago, back home.
“DNA damage?” I asked. Who knew a sunburn could actually hurt DNA? When I got home, I Googled the subject, and learned the doctor was right. The sun’s UV rays debilitate the DNA of the skin’s epidermal cells, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. In addition to skin cancer, chronic exposure to the sun causes a host of problems, including suppression of the immune system, and of course, dreaded lines and wrinkles.
My dermatologist here in Costa Rica, a favorite with my expat friends, uses cryotherapy: freezing the skin with liquid nitrogen. I can tolerate the zaps on my arms, legs, chest and back, but my face is a different story. When the doctor leans in towards my eye and says, “I’m going to have to spray this four times,” I whimper, wince, hold my breath, and consider asking her for a shot of the vodka she claims to keep in her drawer for scaredy cats like me. Next time, I vow, I’ll bring some wine and drink it on the way, morning or not.
Intervals between visits have become increasingly frequent, because the bumps keep popping up, which is a problem on a lot of levels. I hate and dread the procedure; my face is a scabby wreck for two weeks afterwards, and it’s expensive, albeit not as bad as the price paid in the States.
“If you were here,” said a friend from the States, you’d have to pay by the zap. Folks pay up to 125 dollars per zap; I pay by the visit. I get all the zaps I need for a flat 80 bucks here, at Cima Hospital, in Escazu. Lucky me.
My case is probably a lot worse than most women my age. I’m fair skinned and blue-eyed– both risk factors for skin cancer, not to mention the horrific family medical history. Worst of all, in every year of my childhood I received at least one horrid sunburn, back in the days of baby oil and iodine.
I haven’t had a burn for over thirty years now, and the doctor says that’s good, but so far, nobody has figured out how to reverse the damage, and so I keep a careful eye on my skin, use sunscreen and wear a hat, but oh, how I wish I could repeat those years, mostly in the shade.
