PRINTConquering age and acne
June 5, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Harrison Ford and his well-established Hollywood cohorts are just like the rest of us. Rather than relocating to a warmer state, hitting the golf course a few days a week and clocking out of the working world upon turning 65, they’re still pulling in millions.
OK, so they aren’t just like the rest of us, but it’s true that they aren’t giving up their day jobs yet. In today’s cooling economy, not to mention the cloudy forecast for Social Security, chances are we’ll all be working longer than previous generations.
Faltering dollars and markets aside, these movie men are still making pictures because they keep attracting audiences. Yet with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull representing the sole new movie in town two weekends ago, there wasn’t much competition. Turn to “Actors be-aging badly” for a run-down of five of our favorite older men and their tactics for dealing with their maturing careers.
With age comes clear skin — at least, that’s usually the case. The teenage years end, and so does the need for Retin-A cream. But for some, the dermatological gods are not so kind. Acne was a persistent problem for Becky Kifer, but then she heard about Accutane … and all its potential risks and side effects. Kifer writes about her experience and the serious issues that accompany Accutane’s promise of a blemish-free complexion in this week’s feature story.
For her and the numerous others who choose to turn to the drug, the potential dangers are worth the potential outcome. I understand the value of clear skin. It took me five months of being on Accutane myself, several blood tests and some worrying over losing my night vision (I didn’t) to get clear skin. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Like Kifer says, it’s the wonder drug.
