Your skin is one of the first things people notice about you, which is why you shouldn’t leave the care of it up to just anyone.
Finding the right dermatologist involves much more than simply searching for a doctor with a medical license and an open door. After all, skin is the most visible organ on the human body, and you wouldn’t leave the look of your face up to just any doctor, would you?
Finding the right dermatologist involves much more than simply searching for a doctor with a medical license and an open door.
Rather, choosing the right dermatologist to take care of your patient-specific needs and issues—whether they involve simply treating acne or a more serious skin condition—involves a number of different factors and should not be taken lightly. Some things to consider include:
1. Everyone Should See the Dermatologist. Dermatology is not just for teenagers anymore. Because they can spot and diagnose a number of conditions that first surface on the skin—including abnormal birth marks, eczema, shingles, and sun damage—all Americans should make a trip to the dermatologist an annual event. In addition, dermatologists also serve as teachers to many patients, since they know better how to protect the skin, hair, and nails from environmental damage than just about anyone else.
2. Dermatologists Don’t Just Treat Acne. While the facial acne and pimples that plague teens are what today’s dermatologists are best known for treating, the majority of dermatologists actually diagnose and care for a wide array of more complex conditions. From infections to rosacea, dermatologists are trained physicians with knowledge of the entire human body, not just the skin.
Due to the increased incidences of skin cancer in men and women, dermatologists have additionally become a first line of defense in the fight against cancer, thanks to the annual skin cancer screenings and mole removals that all adults are encouraged to have done every year.
3. Dermatologists Can Help Prevent Future Problems. Although much of the field of dermatology involves spotting problems and finding the correct treatment to fix them, today’s dermatologists are actually trained in preventing future medical conditions before they arise, too. Among the topics dermatologists routinely cover with patients include how to prevent hair loss, care for nails—to prevent the common condition of nail fungus—and protect skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Unlike other beauty professionals, dermatologists are medically trained and licensed, which means that the advice they offer can be trusted fully by patients.
4. Not all dermatologists have experience treating all skin conditions. Whether it is acne, skin cancer, a malignant mole, rosacea, or simply an irritating rash, dermatologists are trained to treat a multitude of general skin problems. When your issue is slightly more specialized, however, it pays to find a dermatologist with experience treating the specific condition you are suffering from.
Finding a dermatologist who specializes in treating a certain condition can mean anything from doing a basic web search of physicians in your area to calling your primary care doctor for a referral. No matter how the specialized dermatologist is found, however, you should ask him or her how many times they have seen this skin condition before and what expertise they have in treating it before going in to the appointment, since it may be a waste of everyone’s time to head into a dermatologist’s office only to find out that he or she does not treat this specific problem.
5. Dermatologists are surgeons, too. While the majority of most dermatologists’ day-to-day routine revolves around treating patients with medical conditions, dermatologists are actually considered surgeons, too. That is because many treatments commonly associated with plastic surgeons or day spa technicians can also be performed by dermatologists just as easily. These commonly include Botox injections, lip enhancements, laser techniques, and various forms of liposuction.
Patients can be confident when undergoing the needle or knife at a dermatologist’s office that the treatment is being performed by someone who is skilled in the procedure, since dermatologists are required by law to undergo rigorous medical training prior to entering the practice. And unlike day spas, dermatologists’ offices must be licensed by a number of state agencies to meet a set of minimum safety requirements, ensuring the quality of care and safety of all patients undergoing treatment.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate health care provider.
