The medical field is composed of numerous professionals who have their own specialties. Among them, dermatologists are tasked with diagnosing and treating your skin and its outgrowths. They manage a wide range of conditions and offer various treatments, ranging from prescribing medications to invasive surgical procedures. But are there dermatologists near me? Read on to find out an easy way to find one.
The Experts in Diagnosing Skin Conditions
The skin is a massive organ that provides numerous essential bodily functions. It is more than just an external covering that we see. The skin also provides us with a large external barrier from the environment, provides thermoregulation with its intricate blood vessel organization, produces Vitamin D, and much more.
Given all these intricate tasks for the body, the skin is also at risk for developing problems that can be of medical concern. Hence, dermatologists are here to provide their skills to offer care for these conditions.
In general, dermatologists are doctors who take care of a patient’s skin, hair, and nails. These can also manage cosmetic concerns such as hair loss and scars.
The Scope Of A Dermatologist’s Profession
Keep in mind that dermatologists are certified and well-trained to provide top-notch medical care. Each of them must complete their college degree, medical school, internship, residency, and sometimes, a few more years of fellowship. After all these, dermatologists must pass a licensure and certification exam made by the country’s respective Board of Dermatology. With all these, they are ready and knowledgeable to commit to patients’ needs.
Dermatologists can diagnose and treat skin conditions. Furthermore, their medical experiences also allow them to identify symptoms of other body illnesses with the lesions that appear on the skin. These professionals can run diagnostics tests to help determine your skin conditions. Furthermore, dermatologists are also trained to provide treatment including topically applied and injected medications, surgeries, skin biopsies, and cosmetic procedures.
Here are some of the most common conditions that you might want to consider having dermatological intervention:
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Moderate to severe acne
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Eczema
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Fungal infections
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Psoriasis
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Eczema
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Skin cancer
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Scarring due to surgery or biopsy
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Lighter or darker patches of skin that may be a source of malignancy
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Rashes and hives
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Long-term irritation and non-healing infections
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Varicose veins
After adequately running diagnostic tests to identify your skin condition, the dermatologist will provide you with a treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms, and even help improve the appearance of your skin.
Here are some of the common procedures that dermatologists can perform:
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Electrosurgery with a high-frequency electric current to conservatively cut tissue and excise lesions.
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Laser surgery with special beams for various surgical needs.
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Mole removal in cases of biopsy for moles that are suspected to be indicative of cancer or other skin diseases.
Of course, a dermatologist can do so much more than the procedures listed here. They can provide treatment or referrals for conditions that they diagnose from their patients.
Dermatologists vs. Estheticians: What Are The Differences?
You can easily find various estheticians if you browse the web or look around establishments near you. However, are there differences between dermatologists and these estheticians?
Dermatologists and estheticians have completely different scopes of work and have gone through different trainings. Unlike dermatologists, estheticians are not medical doctors. Therefore, they are not trained nor allowed to diagnose skin disorders and prescribe medicines the way dermatologists do.
Instead, estheticians may provide treatment that may improve the appearance of your skin. They also have some training, but these are limited to apprenticeships or programs that focus on giving their clients healthy, beautiful, and glowing skin.
Here are some procedures that estheticians can provide to their clients:
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Skin exfoliation
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Cosmetic covering of scars and signs of aging
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Applying acne treatment
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Suggesting skin care products that fit your needs and cosmetic goals.
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Waxing
With these services, an esthetician can help improve the overall color, texture, and appearance of skin. They may also help your skin if you struggle with the effects of pollution, sun exposure, and aging.
Finding A Dermatologist Made Easy: Dermatologist Near Me
Estheticians are limited in their work. They cannot prescribe medications, suggest treatment not related to cosmetic goals, not diagnose possible malignancies in the skin. In these cases, you should seek the help of a dermatologist.
If you want to find a dermatologist near your area, you may check out the We Care For Skin guide to finding one. Following the link, you are given an option to type in your preferred location to go to for a consultation.
All you need to do is choose a location from the dropdown button. Then, a list of clinics of legitimate dermatologists within the area. In each entry, you can see the following details:
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Name of the clinic
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Ratings of previous clients
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Complete address of the clinic
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Clinic hours
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Contact number
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Maps
You can browse different clinics here and choose based on your preference or convenience to their locations. You may take advantage of the contact details on the website to make sure that you can be accommodated on your preferred date.
Preparing For Your Dermatologist Appointment
“What would I do after finding a dermatologist near me?”
You might find yourself intimidated by your first dermatologist appointment. But you always need to make sure that you can make the most out of every appointment! So here is a quick list of what you need to do to prepare before your schedule:
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Make sure you have a list of issues and questions that you want to tell your dermatologist. Keep them simple and straight to the point.
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Write down everything that you remember about the history of your skin concern. What is your primary concern, how long did you have the problem, what are some changes that you observed over time, and what is your primary goal with the treatment.
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Try to research a bit about your family’s history concerning the same condition that you have. It may be helpful in the diagnosis to be made by the dermatologist later on.
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Wear loose clothes and avoid too much makeup or wearing nail polish. You would want to give the dermatologist an easier time to examine your skin and nails. Wearing tight clothes or makeup can impede these procedures.
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If you are taking medications or have been treated for the same condition in the past, you need to provide a list of it as well. The dermatologist usually asks for the specific medication that you took, including the dose and duration for each.
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If you have allergies, take note of them as well.
With all these, you are now equipped with the necessary information for your appointment at the dermatologist. In an appointment, you can expect to have a thorough physical exam to be done where the dermatologist closely looks into the skin lesions that you have. From here, they may prescribe laboratory tests, if needed, to arrive at a correct diagnosis. Then, you may have medications prescribed and follow-up appointments to ensure progress monitoring and adjustments as needed.
Benefits of Seeing A Dermatologist
You can always trust a dermatologist when it comes to treatment of your skin conditions. They have adequate skills and knowledge to diagnose and treat skin issues. Plus, they can prescribe medications that are not sold over the counter. Hence, you can have access to correctly prescribed medications that your skin truly needs.
Another great benefit of visiting the dermatologist is having an expert tell you all about your skin health. Dermatologists are also tasked to educate their patients about their existing conditions. With the correct background of what your skin condition is, you can also have a good idea of the dos and don’ts to accelerate healing and prevent further aggravation of your skin problem.
Conclusion
We all know how important the skin is for everyone. And the dermatologists are here to provide you with services that heal the skin or prevent further degradation. Visiting the dermatologist is essential because they can correlate skin findings and identify if it is rooted in a deeper health issue.
Here, we have explored an easy way to answer “how to find a dermatologist near me.” You can always find a reputable clinic near you. So, if you find yourself needing a consultation, try to explore the We Care For Skin website for more information.
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