Many years ago, I visited a dermatologist for the first time and, even from our brief, one-time interaction, I can remember her name: Dr. Lucia Tufanelli. How old was I? Late 30s or early 40s I think, and one of the questions I asked her was “What should I do for my skin as I get older?” I was looking for suggestions or advice – she was a dermatologist and I had never really paid all that much attention to what I was doing with my face beyond moisturizing with my tub of Cetaphil. I have never really been much for beauty products or an intensive regimen, but I was seeking information. Hey, my skin was in good shape – what should I expect and do as I got older?
“Dye your hair,” she said, brusquely.
“Excuse me?” I said, completely taken aback.
“If you want to look younger, dye your hair.”
Damn!
I rephrased my question, “Whether or not I ever dye my hair, what should I do for my skin as I get older?” By then, though, I didn’t really hear her answer.
I resented her unsolicited opinion and I didn’t return to Dr. Tufanelli, but the interaction stayed with me. What the hell was her deal? That wasn’t what I asked, Lady, thank you very much. But aren’t there always unbidden messages about how we’re supposed to look younger, thinner, or or or?
I have fair and increasingly speckled skin so I visit a dermatologist every year or two to make sure none of my spots are worrisome. During those visits, I've noticed the emphasis on expensive products and magic potions in the waiting room. The blatant merchandising makes it very hard for me to truly trust the doctor when it seems from the lobby that her main interest is to sell me $80 serums. Sitting in a dermatologist’s waiting area is like sitting within the pages of a women’s magazine where both advertising and editorial pages poke at your self-regard in an attempt to influence you to purchase stuff. Even at the dentist now, you are faced with glossy ads for expensive teeth whitening procedures. I think it muddies things when you think your doctor may be more interested in your dollars than your health.
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Teen Magazine, July 1976
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My skepticism about pressures on women around beauty and youth goes way back. When I was a young teenager – 13 or 14 – I used to look at Teen Magazine. I don’t know where the skepticism came from, but I would skip over the ads – wouldn’t even look at them – and would just jump to the editorial pages for any guidance or fashion tips I sought. I had a natural mistrust of the ads and the advertisers, and reasoned that the editorial sections were more objective. That bubble burst years later when I learned how much the editorial spreads were also driven by advertisers’ interests and influence. I don’t know if that is universally true these days.
It’s interesting to think about those early seeds of media literacy because in 1995 they had grown into a full-on activist rebellion when I launched About-Face, initially called the Stop Starvation Imagery Campaign (SSIC!) While I am no longer directly involved, About-Face is doing fantastic work. You can check out About-Face all grown up: www/about-face.org.
