Dermatologist Skin Care: What can Your Doctor Do for You?

People often wonder whether they should see a dermatologist. Skin care should begin with consulting one of these medical professionals who can help you make wise choices.

A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of skin conditions. The type of treatment depends, of course, on your particular skin condition, so a thorough examination is the first step in the process.

On your first visit, the dermatologist will take a thorough medical history. This will include family history, current and past medications, stress levels etc. The dermatologist will also consider allergies to food, clothing, sunlight etc and ask you about any pain, itching or rashes.

The next step will be for the dermatologist to examine your skin. He may use a Wood’s light, an ultraviolet light that emphasizes skin color changes. He may also use a dermatoscope, a bright hand-held magnifying light. If needed, the doctor may obtain a skin culture or a biopsy to get a sample of the skin tissue in order to make a diagnosis.

Depending on the diagnosis, there are many options that can be suggested by the dermatologist. Skin care treatments may be a simple matter of apply an anti-fungal cream for an infection. Or she may choose to prescribe Retin-A, which has been shown to be affective against wrinkles as well as blackheads and whiteheads.

For those who want to fight the effects of aging, dermatologists can provide many options. Botox can be used to block signals from the nerves to the muscles, helping wrinkles to soften and disappear. Collagen can be injected to fill in wrinkles. A chemical peel may be used to remove damaged outer skin layers. Each of these treatments can be very effective.

At the other end of the spectrum, dermatologists often help people troubled by acne. It can be treated with creams or an oral medication called Accutane. Acne surgery may be used to manually remove skin blemishes. Another option is to eliminate them through interlesional corticosteroid therapy, in which each pimple is injected with a diluted cortisone solution.

Of course, an important part of a dermatologist’s practice is skin cancer treatment. There are many options available, including conventional surgery, burning or freezing out the cancerous cells, laser surgery, light therapy and chemotherapy.

While most people think “skin” when they hear the term “dermatologist,” skin care is not all they do. Did you know that they also perform laser hair removal as well as provide treatment for hair loss? There are many treatments available for these conditions as well.

As you can see, dermatologists offer many services to keep your skin in the best possible condition. Choosing one can be bewildering as many of them specialize in specific treatments. Your best bet is to ask your regular physician for recommendations. You may also check local telephone listings. Often directory advertising will list a doctor’s specialties. If you know anyone with the same skin concerns that you have, ask them for recommendations too.

Don’t be afraid to see a dermatologist. Skin care treatment can be relatively quick and painless when you see a board-certified professional.