When to book a Medical Dermatology Visit:
Dermatology encompasses much more than patients sometimes realize. Conditions of the skin, hair, and nails fall under the scope of a dermatology provider. Some concerns that warrant a medical dermatology visit include: skin growths, lumps, bumps, changing moles, skin discolorations, skin lesions, acute rashes, chronic or recurring rashes, symptomatic skin like unexplained itchiness, insect or spider bites, lacerations, non-healing wounds, hair thinning, hair loss, hair growing in unwanted areas, nail discoloration, nail thickening, nail shape and texture changes, just to name a few. Any of these can be signs of a condition requiring necessary examination to offer a diagnosis and effective treatment plan.
Full Body Skin Exam
Full body skin examinations are an important type of dermatology appointment as it is imperative patients regularly screen for skin cancers and pre-cancerous lesions. Early detection is important for best health outcomes and to give the highest likelihood of avoiding serious complications or even death from a skin cancer such as melanoma. The other two most common types of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Both of these, as well as melanoma, can be located anywhere on the body, even in areas of low sun exposure, which is why full body screening is recommended. Pre-cancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses are also screened for and treated during a full body skin examination when found. Other lesions often detected are cherry angiomas/hemangiomas, irritated seborrheic keratoses, solar lentigines, ephelides, benign nevi, etc.It can be far less invasive to treat pre-cancerous lesions or mildly abnormal moles than to treat skin cancers. Pre-cancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses should be treated at regular recommended intervals with prescribed topical anti-chemotherapeutics or using in office cryotherapy. Benign lesions which pose no health threat may also be treated for cosmetic purposes or to maintain optimal aesthetic appearance of one's skin.
Anyone over the age of 30 should certainly get an annual skin exam. If a patient has family history of skin cancers or personal history of pre-cancers or skin cancer, then exam frequency should be determined by the provider. Those patents with family members who have passed away from melanoma, or whose family member had melanoma younger than age 50 often have a genetic component which contributed to the cancer therefore children should be screened as well. Likewise, a patient should book an examination if any of the A,B,C,D,Es of mole morphology are noticed.
A- Asymmetry
B- irregular Borders
C- Color, inconsistencies, darker than the rest, multi-color, changing color
D- Diameter larger than a pencil eraser or getting larger than it was
E- Evolving in any way, especially if changing rapidly or becoming symptomatic (ex. bleeding, crusting, pain)
Another good reason to have a skin exam is if any mole which could be referred to as "the ugly duckling" is noticed on the body. A mole that is dissimilar from the rest of the moles on one's body merits a closer inspection.
It takes a well-trained eye as well as proper dermatoscopic examination to determine lesions of concern versus benign, non-worrisome lesions. Often the things patients are most concerned about are of least concern to a provider and those which are worrisome can be far more difficult to detect. Even a simple solar lentigo or "age spot" can turn into lentigo maligna melanoma. A patient should always err on the side of caution and be screened for skin cancers and pre-cancers as this is a simple appointment that can actually save one's life. If a potentially concerning lesion is found during a skin check, then a biopsy is required to rule out or confirm diagnosis and to determine next steps moving forward. Biopsies are a simple and quick procedure done in office during the same visit as the skin exam. The tissue will then be sent for definitive diagnosis via dermatopathologist review and report. To ensure no question goes unanswered, a call or in-person follow up will take place with every single patient to discuss dermatopathologist reports.
Acute and Chronic Skin Conditions
General medical dermatology appointments will address patient concern of acute or chronic skin conditions by offering diagnosis, assessment, and treatment plan. Many patients have an acute or temporary dermatological issue which needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
For that reason, I guarantee immediate or same-week appointments, depending on necessity and time sensitivity. Some of these include allergic skin reactions such as poison ivy or contact dermatitis, bacterial, viral or fungal skin infections, such as cellulitis and impetigo, shingles, tineas and candida, respectively. Also, insect bites, new onset rash, laceration or wound secondary to trauma or other systemic condition, or cysts.
Some chronic or ongoing dermatological conditions which can require ongoing management can be psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, acne, autoimmune skin disorders, melasma, vitiligo, other hyper or hypopigmentation disorders, alopecias, hair loss, hirsutism, hyperhidrosis, hidradenitis suppurativa(HS), keloids and other scars, keratosis pilaris, molluscum contagiosum, prurigo nodularis, scabies, seborrheic dermatitis and other types of dermatitis, nail disorders and sexually transmitted skin infections such as condyloma acuminata, genital/anal warts, Herpes simplex virus 1 and HSV2 sores and cold sores, and syphilis chancre. These are not exhaustive lists. If you are having a manifestation of the skin, hair, or nails, please feel free to schedule an appointment to be seen for medical dermatology.
