What to Expect When Visiting a Dermatologist

A dermatologist is the medical branch of medicine dealing specifically with the skin. It is actually a specialty with both surgical and medical aspects involved. Basically, a dermatologist is an expert medical doctor who takes care of cosmetic issues and diseases associated with skin, nails and hair. He also helps with skin allergies, skin diseases and treatments like laser resurfacing and chemical peels. Dermatologists are also known as doctors of skin because they examine and treat the skin on a day to day basis.

Before you go to a Dermatologist you need to keep in mind certain things. First of all you have to make arrangement for your visit. Arranging a Dermatology appointment can be stressful and time consuming especially if you don't really know what you want or what to look for when choosing a doctor. When deciding to see a Dermatologist, there are certain things that you should do and expect.

One of the first things you should do before your appointment is to find out about a Dermatologist's training and educational background. In fact, if you are looking for a Doctor who performs cosmetic dermatology, it is important to make sure he is a graduate of a good medical school and that he has a clean background in basic sciences. It would also be beneficial to find out more about his medical school and see if he had a spotless reputation even before he started his studies.

Secondly, you should find out more about your appointment and what are the procedures involved in your consultation. There are different types of Dermatology procedures which a Dermatologist might perform during your appointment. For example, a patient may require a Pap Smear - this is basically a skin cancer examination. During your appointment, your dermatologist will remove any small moles that he finds on your body and will check if they are benign or malignant.

Many dermatologists perform a biopsy - this is basically a process of removing cells from the skin to determine the status of a skin tumor. The doctor will remove a small amount of skin tissue to conduct this procedure. After the cells have been removed, the doctor may place it under a microscope to examine it under a magnifying glass. If the cells show cancer, then that area will most likely have to be removed, which could mean that your pearly whites will be touched.

So now you know what to expect at your first appointment with your Dermatologist. Firstly, your dermatologist will review your medical history and will check whether any of your family members suffer from a certain medical condition like diabetes, heart disease, lung disease etc. If any one of your family members does, then that should be a cause for concern. Your dermatologist will ask you about any skin problems you have had in the past, and he will also ask you about any current problems that you might be experiencing.