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Skin doctors are trained to diagnose and treat different types of skin problems. Skin doctors are also trained to prescribe medications for the treatment of various skin problems. Sometimes they can recommend moisturizers or ointment for specific skin conditions. Skin doctors are best placed to determine whether some external factor causes your situation, such as certain types of medication you are taking, exposure to pollution or sunlight, etc. It is due to internal factors like some hormonal disorder or stress and anxiety.
Here is a list of questions to ask your dermatologist regarding your skin problems:
1. What type of skin do I have? (oily, dry, normal, etc.)
Ans: Dermatologists often use your skin type as a diagnostic tool. They will determine whether your skin is too dry, oily, normal, or a combination of these types before diagnosing any condition.
2. What are other possible causes of my condition?
Ans: Sometimes, the problem may not be caused by skin diseases or other medical conditions related to skin problems. Based on the history provided by you, dermatologists may ask about medications you are taking and exposure to certain chemicals at the workplace, etc., ruling out the associated causes of your problem.
3. How do I treat this condition effectively?
Ans: Dermatologists can recommend different treatment options for common skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and warts. Such treatments include medications, laser therapies, and home remedies.
4. Do I need to do any tests for this condition?
Ans: Depending upon the severity of your condition, dermatologists may suggest a skin biopsy that involves removing tiny cells from the affected part of the skin under local anesthesia. It will help identify whether you have a bacterial or fungal infection or whether it is caused due to some virus or parasite that needs specific treatment.
5. What are possible complications if I delay treatment?
Ans: Sometimes, delaying diagnosis and treatment can lead to severe consequences such as the spread of infection in dermoid cyst and loss of function in the case of basal cell carcinoma. Dermatologists can explain such scenarios to you and can help in counselling for early diagnosis and treatment.
6. How long do I need to take medications?
Ans: Depending upon your condition, dermatologists may ask you to continue medicines for a certain period, such as one month, three months, or six months. They can explain the reason behind prescribing such medication duration, and you should follow their advice so that the problem does not recur again.
7. Will my symptoms get worse initially while treating this condition?
Ans: Most skin conditions, including psoriasis, flare up with initial use of some medications or treatments like laser or at times due to allergy caused by certain cosmetics that may use on the affected part of the skin. Dermatologists will guide you regarding what kind of medication to use and how to avoid any allergic reaction.
8. How do I prevent recurrence?
Ans: This question is often asked by patients who are relieved after treatment of their condition successfully but want to prevent future recurrences. Dermatologists can explain the reasons behind certain skin conditions and how they can avoid them effectively. For example, sun exposure is the leading cause of the development of most skin cancers. So dermatologists may recommend avoiding direct exposure to sunlight or applying sunscreen creams to prevent any recurrence in the future.
9. Will this affect my pregnancy/breastfeeding?
Ans: Some medications or treatments can harm pregnant women mothers who are breastfeeding their babies. Some of the treatments, such as isotretinoin, can cause congenital disabilities in a developing fetus, and hence dermatologists may need to perform a pregnancy test before prescribing this medication.
10. What kind of side effects can I expect from treatment?
Ans: Certain medications may lead to side effects such as peeling, drying, redness, etc. If you suffer from any side effects due to the prescribed medication, you should contact your dermatologist as soon as possible. An alternative form of treatment can be given so that it does not adversely impact your health.
11. Will I need any procedures like surgery?
Ans: Depending upon the severity of your condition, dermatologists may recommend some surgical procedures to remove certain skin conditions that are difficult to treat with medications or other forms of therapy. However, most cosmetic surgeries improve one’s external appearance and do not treat an underlying medical condition. So the doctor will suggest the best approach for you after examining all options available.
12. How can I take care of my skin at home?
Ans: At times, it becomes essential to know what kind of daily routine you should follow to prevent the recurrence of certain conditions such as acne. Dermatologists may suggest cleaning affected parts carefully, using mild soaps, and avoiding harsh scrubbing brushes, leading to further breakouts.
13. How much do you charge for the first visit?
Ans: Dermatologists may or may not charge an initial consultation fee or examination fee for their services depending upon the nature of your problem. However, they usually collect fees before starting treatment procedures such as dermabrasion, laser therapies, etc. Patients covered under medical insurance plans are generally exempted from paying these charges after submitting relevant claims forms. However, patients who are not covered under any health plan will have to pay all medical bills independently without any help from third-party insurers.
14. What other treatments or medications do you offer to your patients?
Ans: Dermatologists commonly prescribe medication for treating a problem and may also recommend specific procedures such as cosmetic surgeries if needed. So you must ask the doctor about other possible treatments that they provide along with medications. For example, some doctors may perform dermabrasion before prescribing peeling creams for treating acne conditions, while others may use lasers instead of applying these creams on the affected parts.
15. What is the best way to prevent the recurrence of my problem?
Ans: Certain skin conditions cannot be cured entirely and can only be prevented from occurring again in the future by taking some precautions and care of your skin. For example, dermatologists usually recommend avoiding sun exposure if you suffer from a condition such as melasma, which can recur soon after treatment discontinuation.
16. How long will it take for me to get better?
Ans: Dermatologists usually provide their patients with an estimated time frame for recovery during the initial diagnosis itself so that they can consult them about possible timing issues before starting medication or surgical procedures on the affected areas. However, factors such as age, the severity of symptoms, current health status, etc., can sometimes adversely affect the outcome of treatment procedures, so you should not expect a fixed time for complete recovery at all times.
17. How often will I have to see you during treatment?
Ans: Dermatologists typically provide their patients with regular or periodic follow-up visits till they are completely satisfied that they are recovering well from your problem. These follow-up appointments are essential as they help the doctor assess your progress regularly and fine-tune his diagnosis if required to provide effective treatment for preventing recurrence of the underlying condition.
18. What kind of side effects can I expect after completing my course of medication?
Ans: Although most medications prescribed by dermatologists give instant relief, some patients may suffer from temporary side effects such as rashes, headache, nausea, etc., so you must ask the doctor about possible side effects before starting medications.
19. Can I get a follow-up online?
Ans: Though some dermatologists provide their contact details through websites and other online sources. It is generally not recommended to follow up for any health issues with doctors who are not physically present in your vicinity unless the patient needs required emergency care. Dermatologists typically conduct regular or periodic clinics at specific locations. Patients can visit anytime they want to treat their skin problems, depending upon the availability of spots on particular dates. So it is better to ask relevant questions from your local dermatologist before approaching him for any future appointments.
20. How quickly can I expect to see results?
Ans: Some skin problems respond to treatment quickly, while others may take much longer before showing signs of improvement. So it would help if you asked the dermatologist about the possibility of seeing positive results during follow-up visits to plan your daily activities accordingly without being depressed over the same for long periods.
21. How can I reach you after office hours if required?
Ans: Since skin conditions do not show signs of getting better during off-hours, you must find out whether your dermatologist has the arrangement to provide emergency care when required. Such as giving medicines over the phone during late-night hours when pharmacies are closed. You should clarify this point clearly when making an appointment so that you do
not face any problems during emergencies.
22. How effective are prescription drugs compared to over-the-counter lotions and creams?
Ans: Although prescription drugs work faster than OTC products, they often cause more side effects such as rashes, allergies, etc., in some patients. So it would help if you asked your dermatologist about the possibility of any such adverse reactions with medications before starting the treatment process so that you can treat your problem effectively and keep most side effects to a minimum.
23. How many times do I have to use my medication every day?
Ans: Dermatologists prescribe their medicines following specific instructions provided by the manufacturers of these medications, which include information such as frequency of dosage, methods of application, etc. These instructions are mentioned on prescription labels so that patients can follow the same accordingly without having any doubts in their minds. However, you should clarify all such issues before starting any course of medication to ensure an effective treatment outcome.
24. What kind of diet do I need to follow after my treatment is complete?
Ans: Although specific dietary requirements vary from person to person based on age, sex, metabolism, etc., specific changes in eating habits may help patients recover faster after completing their courses of medications for skin problems. Some people find it easier to maintain good health if they avoid spicy preparations and eat foods rich in Vitamin C. In contrast, others may have other preferences depending upon their inclinations. So it would help if you asked your dermatologist about the possibility of changing your diet to enhance the effect of medication taken for treating your skin problem.
25. Will I require any other test before starting treatment for this problem?
Ans: Since conditions such as acne, psoriasis, etc. are often complicated in nature and can display varying symptoms at different times, you must find out from your dermatologist about the necessity of conducting any other tests such as x-rays, cholesterol tests, blood sugar level tests, etc. which may help to treat the problem effectively and also provide early detection of complications if present.
26. Can I take alternative medication? Will this interact with my other medicines?
Ans: Since some medications may cause adverse reactions when taken together. At the same time, others may be compatible, like homeopathic medicines are very effective in treating skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema. So, it would help if you asked your dermatologist about the possibility of using any such alternate medications.
- Homeopathic treatment for skin diseases is very effective if it can be started early before it becomes complicated.
Many skin doctors also advise their patients about using homeopathic medications to treat skin problems before prescribing any other form of medicine. - In case if you are sensitive to conventional treatment, homeopathic treatment for skin diseases also works effectively. You can get help from homeopathic skin doctors online to find out the suitable method for treatment for your skin problem.
- Medications used to treat various skin problems may cause temporary dryness or other side effects during their treatment; homeopathic treatment for skin diseases is a safe option for treatment without causing any harmful side effects to the body.
- Homeopathic medications can treat psoriasis, eczema, and other skin diseases effectively. Homeopathic treatment is free from side effects and easy to use. You can get help from homeopathic skin doctors online if you have any doubts about the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment.
Since there are specific instructions from manufacturers of different medications available in the market, you must discuss the necessity of undertaking any treatment with your dermatologist. Book an appointment now through OHO Homeopathy and find a suitable method of treatment for your skin problems.