Mouse nipples?

When I am in South Africa, I always visit my dentist (who I have been going to since I was 18) and my doctor (who has been my doctor since I was 20). I do have a doctor and dentist in Sweden but my national health doctor never has more than 10 minutes, and my private dentist is too expensive.

My SA dentist cleans and polishes my teeth, does complete x-rays, replaces mercury fillings, replaces my bite plate, and does any aesthetics that need doing. It’s way cheaper and he is really really good. He can do a crown from beginning to end in the chair on the same day. In any other dentist chair I am so nervous that I have to prise my hands off the armrests afterwards. Dr Eichhoff, however, is so comforting and soothing that I have actually fallen asleep in the chair.

My SA doctor checks my skin for suspect marks and moles (two members of my family have had skin cancer), does a complete blood test, a manual breast check, and removes skin tags.

I went through a stage where I had a lot of skin tags under my arms, around my bra straps and on my neck. I only had one this last time. Apparently they are usually caused by hot and sweaty conditions, so I guess that a combination or age and cooler living conditions has meant I don’t get them anymore.

He did tell me something that made me giggle, though. The Afrikaans word for skin tags is muistepeltjies (mouse nipples). Somehow I don’t hate them much anymore!