Mysterious Skin
I am happy to report that not only do I not have a broken nose and that I can take the punch, but I do not have measles or the Lyme disease.

Huzzah!

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a weird oval ring on my hip. Nothing huge or itchy or raised or anything – just a reddish ring. I thought it might be a bug bite or maybe a reaction to new detergent. I ignored it.

After a week, I figured I should take some action and threw a little Lamisil on it, thinking it could be ringworm. When I was in high school I worked for a vet for a while and I got ringworm from the dogs and cats a couple of times (maybe upwards of 4). I threw a little ointment on it and everything was fine, if not itchy for a few days.

But I didn’t have the itch and the Lamisil didn’t work. Then I noticed another, similar splotch. I opted to ignore everything and hope for the best.

Then I noticed more splotches – all over my torso.

I work somewhat near the offices where some people have been passing around the measles. I didn’t believe I had the measles as I don’t have any symptoms besides the splotches. Deeps finally suggested I call the doctor, they saw me this morning.

I have some kind of rosacea – it starts with a p. She pulled out one of those fun skin books with the color pictures and we looked over it carefully. Then she examined me again (behold my gut splotches!) and compared against the book.

Me: So it’s just like, there.
Doctor: Yep.
Me: Huhm.
Doctor: It’ll go away in a few weeks. It might spread a little but doesn’t really go above your chest or below your knees.
Me: How’d I get it?
Doctor: It is a virus.
Me: What causes it?
Doctor: We don’t really know.
Me: And it isn’t contagious?
Doctor: No, and it’ll go away in a few weeks. You don’t need to do anything.
Me: Wow.
Doctor: Yeah, rashes can be bad – you’re lucky it’s nothing worse. Usually when I see rash on the chart I think, “Oh god.”
Me: So that’s it?
Doctor: Yep.

I like doctors who say yep.