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Have you ever seen a dermatologist?
Have you ever seen a dermatologist? What was the experience like? Worth it?
I saw one once for acne, and it was a horrible experience. But later on, I talked with my primary care physician, and they prescribed me Differin, and that cleared up the majority of my acne. So, my one experience was horrible, but I recognize that (well, hopefully) it was a very extreme and rare type of dermatologist that I met.
Thanks to Tammy for today’s question! Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
So many of them n so many times… I’m v fussy about my skin n I don’t trust salons for it.. Only a dermatologist will do..
I’ve seen two. The first one prescribed Differin and something else I’m blanking on but when I combined them with my face wash my skin became really red and irritated and peeling, so I had to stop using everything and switch to a gentle face wash. The second one prescribed something called Acanya, which is supposedly gentler than the Differin, and it worked for a while but I stopped using it. I should probably see him again and ask if I need anything; my skin was behaving for a long time but has started acting up lately, probably due to the changing weather and I’ve been slacking on my skincare routine.
Saw one in my tweens for my acne. He was a fantastic guy, always pleasant, always had some bit of scientific knowledge to impart. Took through puberty and low-dose hormones to get myself straightened out, but it was completely worth it.
Yah i did before but stopped because I noticed that the more I go to the dermatologist, the more pimples I get. My skin is better now with just leaving them as is.
I’ve seen a few. I’ve had eczema my whole life and trying to get that under control is generally ridiculous.
One was a little too focused on inappropriate parts of my body when the main issue was my scalp (and I was about 14 at the time).
One told me I don’t even have eczema and I actually have seborrheic dermatitis, which doesn’t make much sense with my very dry skin.
And the next one who kept trying to walk out the door as I tried to ask her questions. She was literally standing there halfway out with the door open trying to escape. She didn’t even look at anything and spent less than 5 minutes in the room before trying to leave.
My general impression of dermatologists is that they don’t care about your skin condition unless they can get money from it. And that means they won’t pay attention to you unless you have acne or want Botox.
Fortunately, I’ve never had to. I’ve never had any serious skin issues, other than the occasional pimple, my skin has always had an even tone, and has never been too dry or oily. I don’t have perfect skin, by any means, but unless someone comes up with a solution to shrink pores, I see no need.
When I was in High School, I was a bit self-conscious about my skin during a brief period in 11th grade, and did consider it, but by the time I got around to seriously looking for a good one, my skin had cleared up on its own; looking back, it really wasn’t that bad, although I do have a few tiny “craters” on my lower cheeks. Some type of dermbrasion could probably help it a bit, but not entirely, and since it really is minor, I don’t think it’s worth the expense, pain, time, etc.
Yes, I see her once a year as I’m very pale and have some moles. I don’t see her for cosmetic reasons, though.
Yes, when I was thirteen to fifteen! He prescribed me Roicutane, and it cleared up my acne. Ever since, I had a normal skin… until six months or so ago. My skin became prone to break-out again, no idea why. I managed to get rid off most of it through skin-care, but it’s still not ideal, so I might come back.
I went once in high school. It was a waste of time and money, IMO. The dermatologist walked in and without so much as asking or answering a question told me what he was going to prescribe. WTF?! Not even joking, the entire visit was one minute long!! I tried asking questions about what he was prescribing, but got very little from his responses. Before I left, I tried to ask another question about the bumps on my arms and legs, which was something I mentioned when scheduling the appointment, and he told me I would have to call and make a totally separate appointment just to ask that question. In the end, I ended up with products I used once and tossed. I don’t think I’d ever go back. Heck, I’m still looking for a primary care physician that doesn’t piss me off.
As a medical student, this makes me very sad to hear. I’ve noticed that with dermatologists, the appointments are often very short, but I’ve never had a derm prescribe me something without asking me *anything* about my medical history. That is ridiculous! I hope you find someone better!
only once because i had those annoying skin tags underneath my armpit, and he burned them off right then and there.
Wear sunscreen and/or stay out of the sun. That’s all you need to know really! But yes, for moles and freckles I have. I had mild rosacea at one point (but my beauty therapist told me it wasn’t rosacea because it wasn’t lumpy, she gave me some non-irritating products and BOOM cleared up) – as well as anxiety meds lol pretty much every time I’ve been there they’ve been pretty useless actually…
I did once, for acne. She was disappointing. I found general practitioners did a much better job of treating my acne.
No, but my Dr prescribed me some topical acne medication as a teenager. I’m not sure what brand it was, but it worked!
No, and i don’t plan too! My Aunt did though for adult acne and his only “answer” to it was chemical peels! my mother and i strongly pursueded her to not get it.
As with any type of physician, there are great ones and there are those who make you say to yourself, “How the heck did you become a doctor?” It’s always best to do as much research as you can before seeing a doctor, but even when you’ve done your due diligence, you can still have a horrible experience.
have seen a few dermatologists over the years. I have very fair skin and quite a few moles, so I like to get checked often because skin cancer is a concern. I am grateful I have not had any terrible experiences.
Recommendation: If on the first visit you feel uncomfortable with any doctor (for whatever reason), just hear what they have to say and kindly tell them, “Thank you for the information. I’d like some time to consider what you have told me.” You’re always free to leave without committing to anything. 🙂
Yeah, I’ve had some real clunkers (doctor who did a crappy job on a punch biopsy such that it was quite painful and left a big scar), some great ones (looked at my skin for two minutes and was able to discern that salicylic acid would RUIN MY FACE, which it in fact had a history of doing). I’ve also had a lot of in-between people who weren’t great but work out fine if I advocate for myself.
Two of them actually. One of them didn’t really listen well, rushed me through the process and gave me some horrible advice (but was nice about it). The other one was a robot woman who only laughed at her own jokes, then stopped abruptly as if her programming told her the appropriate amount of time had lapsed.
Yes I have, several times. It was worth it to get rid of my acne and of my acne scars. It was also necessary when I had to get rid of a mole that was getting bigger. It was however not worth it for eczema – there only homeopathy worked, albeit slowly.
I’ve recently felt the need to see one to treat my mild acne, she prescribed me Differin too, along with Benzac AC. i’ve been on treatment for a week and a half, my face is drying out like crazy, i just hope it works out and clears my acne.
My question is, do these creams and gels clear acne for good or just gets rid of the current acne i have?
I’ve tried both of those before, and as long as you keep up a good skincareregime after you use up each tube/container, your skin should stay clear. I’ve had periods of time where I got lazy and didn’t wash my face every night and my skin started breaking out again.
I have and I really Ike him, he had a great disposition. I had a large mole removed it was right around where my bra strap went so it was really irritating. I like the doctor a lot so I went back for two other mole removals, it was so quick and painless. I’ve taken my son to one also.
I have seen a dermatologist many many maaaany times! I have always had bad skin. As a teen I was troubled by acne and really bad oily skin, and even in my early 20s I still suffered from terribly oily skin and acne. I visited several dermatologists on and off for about 6 years. But my last derm was by far the best I ever had. She advised me to go on Roaccutane, and it has really changed my life. Not only did it drastically improve my skin, but it also improved my emotional well-being. So thank you, Karina Philips, for having changed my life! 🙂
I’ve seen a dermatologist regularly since I was 17 (so for 10 years). I started out going because of breakouts and was prescribed Differin, too, and it’s great – although I’m not using it now that I’m pregnant. I keep going every year for annual mole checks (I have fair skin and burn easily). Before my wedding, I went a little more regularly to get my face extra clear!
I started seeing one in first grade for hereiditary traction alopecia. I went back at 13 for acne and saw him every month for about a year. I kept the acne at bay with over-the-counter and prescription meds. This past summer, I had a severe breakout and returned. I had good experiences with both of my dermatologists. currently use several prescription topical treatments for ance and hyperpigmentation (African-American) skin. Since I started seeing one at such an early age, I have always felt skincare was the most important step. Make-up can only do so much.
I’ve been to two different derms. Both horrible experiences. The first was for my psoriasis. After a two hour wait, the doctor spent about 5 minutes with me, wrote a script and was out the door. Never went back.
Second time was for my daughter and her exzema. Different doctor, same 2 hour wait and 5 minute consult and script. Got better results surfing the net and forums
Huh, that sucks that you had such a bad experience with the derm, I’ve always had good interaction with dermatologists. My worst was when I was prescribed benzaclin for acne which didn’t work for me at all and actually gave me cystic acne (I stubbornly stuck with it for six months hoping it would work but no dice). Now I also use Differin which I love: cleared up my acne and also makes my skin look fresher.
I generally see my derm at least once a year for skin checks. I’m really, really pale, grew up in Florida and have a family history of skin cancer so I want to stay on top of things.
Yes, but not for anything beauty-related, more medical. I wish I had the money to go to one about my frequent breakouts!
yes:( Unfortunately I had a terrible experience with acne years ago too. I went to a dermatologist and she prescribed me a strong birth-control pill which came up to be fatal cause I started to put on weight..So I gave up taking it and I went on a diet which includes a lot of vegetables and fresh fruit. It increases the amount of mineral salt in blood and one of the several benefits you would get,is a very soft, pure skin!!Trust me!
I have been through SO many dermatologists and only one of them was just absolutely rude and horrible and talked to me and my mother like we were stupid, I’m not kidding.
The previous one I had was alright but wasn’t really informative, the one I have now is great and I am currently on a course of Accutane and my acne is clearing away marvelously! (And don’t listen to people who do not know what they are talking about–while Accutane is very strong it is meant for severe acne/rosacea, and dermatologists still prescribe it and you are kept under close watch if anything!)
A couple of times for acne. No success with any of the meds they prescribed and I refuse to take Accutane. Luckily my husband does not have perfect skin either so I know he doesn’t judge me for it!
In Brazil, my country, we go to a dermatologist at least once a year since teenagers. It’s a commom habit around here.
I went to a dermatologist about a year ago, when I was 19 because that is when I started to develop acne. It was a very bad experience, as well. He did not ask many questions about my skin, and prescribed me some medication and cream. It made me skin so dry and made me break out more and in places I never did before. When I came for the 3 month check up, I told him that and he wanted me to do another 3 months. I just stopped seeing him after that consultation. I want to go to a different dermatologist because I hear so many people talk about how differin or epiduo cleared their skin, but I am worried I’ll have the same negative experience.
I’ve been to 3 difference dermatologists over the years (home town, university town and post-college town) and haven’t been impressed with any of them. I just didn’t feel like they took acne seriously, and were happy to prescribe mild topicals and tell me to come back in 6 months.
Among the ways this grinds my gears:
1. My health plan covers prescription treatments but not scar treatments… the longer they let this drag on, the more serious money this is going to cost me to treat later on
2. As a 20-something, acne affects your career and promotions – managers, co-workers and clients unconsciously perceive you as young, dirty or not caring about yourself
3. I lose about 20 min every day in the morning trying to cover my face up with foundation and concealer
Anyhow, other symptoms brought me to an endocrinologist who diagnosed me with an extremely common endocrine disorder. One of the top symptoms? Persistent acne. I am pretty disgusted that in 6 years, 3 dermatologists never figured it out.
Hi Kim,
I think I have the same problem–polycystic ovary syndrome? If so, I have the exact same story and I’m wondering if you’d like to exchange notes about our experiences? I’m still working on clearing my skin, but it is getting better. I’d love to know what you’re doing to help your acne. I totally identify with everything you said. I hope you respond, and I can give you my email address. Thanks!
When I was younger, yes, but unfortunately it didn’t really seem to help. Maybe my skin would’ve gotten much worse without it, I don’t know. But I stuck with the routine religiously for years and got a lot of peeling and dryness but still struggled with acne. What helped most was learning about how ingredients work for myself and figuring out a routine that worked for me with that information.
i’ve seen a few…i feel like they don’t even really look at my skin, they just spend like two mintues with me and prescribe me whatever and nothing ever worked.
Yep, several times. I’ve had horrible ezcema, which I still struggle with, hormonal acne (caused by the pill that I need to use because of menstrual migraines) and worst of all, spider veins. I’ve sadly inherited mom’s spider veins, but I got them a lot earlier than she did, they already started to show when I was 16-17, and they progressively get worse every year. No shorts or skirts for me. 🙁
I’ve tried sclerotherapy and laser for the spider veins, but apparently mine were very stubborn and the veins themselves were small (but very, very many), and I was one of the “lucky” ones who got even more spider veins after doing sclerotherapy. Not to mention that it cost me a fortune ($1100) with a worse result than I started with. The dermatologist was very surprised that I didn’t react to any of the treatments, but he did say I was one of the worst cases he had seen, especially at such a young age. He has promised me one more treatment, but I haven’t had it yet. Now I deal with them with Dermablend leg and body cover creme, which covers them very well, and after careful prepping, my legs look pretty okay.
As for the acne, I’ve been told to deal with it, and for the ezcema, I’ve got various cortisone creams etc, but nothing seems to help much. It comes and goes in periods, sometimes my skin is fine, sometimes it’s full of red spots, rashes and itches like a bat out of hell.
Your derm told you to just deal with your acne? Is it serious acne (you’d know it if it were…it much more than visible pimples. You can have painful cysts below the skin for example that don’t seem to go away at all)? If so, maybe you need to find a new derm. As far as your eczema…that’s the way it is always going to be. There isn’t a real cure so no matter what medication you use there will be times when you will experience flare-ups. Some creams work better than others and make healing time go by quicker. I’ve personally noticed that generics do NOT work the same as name brand meds for eczema. I have a draw full of creams and ointments…a lot of which are generics and don’t work well at all (they may start to heal the area but the area never fully heals and seems to constantly flare up when using those, but when I use a name brand it clears the area up in just a few days and I don’t have a recurring flare-up quickly).
I have been numerous times. I go yearly for skin checks as skin cancer runs in my family. I have had numerous moles removed. I have also gone for cosmetic reasons. I have been prescribed Finacea for my early signs of rosacea and it works great. My experiences have been great and necessary for my health.
I’ve seen four. I’ve battled with acne for years and years. The first one was a friend of my father’s but he was not very good. The second prescribed me doxycycline, which worked perfectly. But then when she decreased the dosage, it came back. She kept on prescribing me the same regimen (I was on 3 different prescriptions) even though it didn’t work. She continued this for years before I finally decided to go to somebody else. The third dermatologist did laser treatments on me, which I loved, but she suggested I get botox for my chubby cheeks (I was 18 at the time) so I never went back. I am now on my fourth and I love her.
What does your new derm have you doing for your acne? I am looking for help! Please let me know.
Yes-I see one yearly to check my moles. He’s great and so friendly. I need to ask him about my chronic dry lips.
I have a brown-purple spot on the center of my bottom lip that appeared 5 years ago, I saw a dermatologist and it’s diagnosed “labial melanotic macule” 🙁 It’s caused by the sun or solarium, I used to tan a lot, don’t do my mistake use sunscreen, I regret everyday I see my spot 🙁 (Sorry for bad English.)
I go yearly to a dermatologist to have my moles checked. The first time I went, I had to have two moles removed because she wanted to make sure that they weren’t cancerous. Luckily, they were not. While it was painful to have them removed, it was no more painful than a tattoo, of which I have several. It was certainly worth the discomfort. My dermatologist is in her late 60’s (at the very least). She wears more makeup than I do, and she is always in some sort of leopard print. She is fabulous! I am slightly annoyed by the number of botox advertisements throughout the office, but I guess that is how she makes her money. I can’t really be mad at her for that.
Thanks to my rosacea, I now have to see a dermatologist regularly throughout the year. Mine was nice.
I saw a dermatologist when I got chicken pox as an adult, aged 27. My face was a mess of horrible red marks and I was terrified they would leave depression scars! Well, he prescribed me a very simple regimen of cleansing only with micellar water (and that’s how I first heard of Bioderma Crealine before it became cult), applying a regenerative cream over the scars, moisturizing and sunscreen. A month later, when the redness had faded, he prescribed a medical retinol preparation to be applied only on the scars, at night. Three months later my skin was perfectly clear and not a pockmark in sight.
I see my derm at least twice a year, but often more. I am very fair and have to get yearly mole checks and frequently go in to get suspicious looking moles removed and tested for dysplasia. If I have issues with my skin, she’ll often notice and ask me about it. My derm is awesome, and I have a better relationship with her than my primary care doctor. I’m sad to see so many people on here saying they’ve had bad experience with a derm – if you find the right one they want to help your skin looks its best and won’t be annoyed by you.
In my case, maybe close to a million times 😉 I suffered from different levels of Acne. My first Dermatologist visit was when I was 17 years old. That was the 1990’s and there wasn’t a lot of meds back then. From then on, my acne had gone thru levels of severity…. with not much success from prescribed meds. The worst outbreak was after having given birth to my 3rd child. It was horrible! And I’m so grateful that my current Dermatologist realized the pain I’ve gone thru that he put me under Accutane. The process was difficult (monthly blood test, contraception, proper diet, severe side effects, etc) but worth it! After 6 months my acne is gone! After my post Accutane check up, I haven’t gone back since. ‘Hopefully never 🙂
Wow! So many of you all have terrible Dermatologists in your area! I started seeing one a few years ago for my sudden eczema condition and for my adult acne. Love my Derm…he actually works hard to help find your issue and what will work for you. He cares if you have financial constraints (no insurance or your insurance isn’t great and won’t cover much) and goes above and beyond most others to try and make you pay as little as possible for anything. If that means giving you all of the samples he has in his office for an expensive med (example would be the insanely expensive EpiDuo if your insurance won’t cover it) to billing you at a much lower rate than he normally would. I was so upset when he had to close his office for a year because he got called back to active duty and was deployed…and was like a kid in a candy factory when he re-opened lol.
There are some great derms out there (just like there are some great general docs out there also…I have one of those too), but sometimes they can be hard to find. I think you don’t need to go to a derm unless there is something going on with you that your general doc has attempted to address but has been unsuccessful…and you have exhausted all none medical options for whatever your issue may be. That would probably save you a lot of money and heartache if you made sure you actually have an issue that needs medical attention before heading to one…because in general, a lot of doctors will prescribe you something just for walking in the door. It’s part of how they make their money so it shouldn’t be a shock that if you walk in chances are you will walk out with a rx for something. Not the greatest way for things to be, but…sadly, it’s how healthcare seems to have become (in the U.S.)
I love my dermatologist, but I had to go through a few before I found her! There were a few derms that I tried before her, and they just wanted to write a prescription without even glancing at my skin.
I see my derm throughout the year because I have acne, eczema, and chemical burns on my legs from using Veet. Rather than sitting online for hours at a time searching for methods to improve my skin, I think going to a dermatologist is just so much easier. Afterall, they specialize in these things.
Yes I have and I encourage everyone to see one. After I had my kids my skin was horrible. So they did a few peels and gave a a mircarcle cream…..Retin A. It evens skin tone and prevents wrinkles. Love my derm.
I did for a while when I was 13 or 14, I was on Minocycline and Tetracycline for over a year and some other topical stuff they gave me but nothing ever helped. I’ve had more luck on BC and witch hazel, and part of it has to do with age. Once I hit 20, a lot of my acne went away.
Yes. What I hate most is that they seem to never have any appointments when I call. Each time I’ve gone, I’ve had to wait for about 3 months to be seen. My dermatologist has the worst hours, never working past 3. And the last time I went, I waited in the waiting room for 2 points. My dermatologist is probably my least favorite doctor.
I’ve seen a dermatologist to get moles looked at, and it was fine. Having a mole lanced wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t a bad experience. Luckily, the biopsy came back negative.
I also had a bad experience with a dermatologist – I was getting weird skin rashes and they insisted I needed antibiotics for FOUR MONTHS. So after four months of complete misery and nearly daily vomiting, it hadn’t helped, and they wouldn’t see me again unless I agree to take two more months of antibiotics. As it turned out, my actual problem was celiac disease, which a nutritionist figured out (I was also have digestive issues and losing weight like crazy) in one visit. I asked the derms if it could be a food allergy, and they said no way. I’m sure there are great dermatologists out there, but I’m so scared of them now. :/
Yes for dry skin and it was a good experience.
No. I’m very lucky in that my skin has more or less behaved itself for most of my life. I get occasional redness from allergies during the summer and the occasional blemish (usually during menses). The only thing I’m likely to get see a dermatologist for is concerns about skin cancer. I’m quite fair and burn very easily, so I keep concerns about my skin in the back of my mind.
Once a year at least!
My skin is so demanding and I trust my Doctor
Having a dermatologist is part of my primary health care. Maintaining my skin is just as important as my other health needs. I make an annual visit or as needed visit to regulate my eczema and adult acne. She also monitors the health and condition of my skin – I couldn’t rely on a makeup artist to do that!
I see my dermatologist every 6 months to have a skin cancer check. I would see whatever random doc was available and then I found my current doc and she is fantastic. She answers all my questions and if she sees an issue with my skin she will still treat it even though I initially went in for a skin check.
I saw a dermatologist in my early teens. I was prescribed doxycycline for acne. It worked, though I once forgot to take it on a full stomach and I got sick.
When I had rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis as a teen I saw four or five different dermatologists, although most of those were in public healthcare. Whenever I had an appointment I’d see whoever was working that day there, so it goes without saying that it was disastrous since each dermatologist would prescribe something but wouldn’t see the results, if any, of the treatment. I finally got seen by one that prescribed me some pills that worked so I started going to his private clinic, but after I had to stop using that pill for health reasons, I got prescribed tons and tons of other expensive treatments but nothing worked. Not so surprisingly, when I changed my eating habits and diet to include more vegetables and fruit my skin got much, much better, without the aid of any pill or lotion. Funny enough, when I went to see said dermatologist again he was incredibly skeptical about the reasons for my recovery and brushed them aside as nonsense, and went on to prescribe me more stuff. I obviously never went back and just stuck to a healthy diet and products for sensitive skin. Not that that’s gonna work for everyone, but I believe a dermatologist should do a bit more research on each patient, even if it’s just questions about diet or lifestyle, instead of randomly making guesses of thing that might work. That surely is a good way to keep making money off appointments, though!
I need to go to one, but I dont even like my PCP. And with my insurance, I have to get a referral from my PCP. And in order to go see my PCP, I literally have to go see 4 other docs. I shall pass- I will just deal with my dry scalp
I’ve been seeing dermatologists since I was around 12. I used to have pretty severe bacne. The first couple derms I went to just prescribed drugstore products from Neutrogena and Clean & Clear. The third dermatologist I went is the one I’m still seeing today, 5 years later. She finally suggested I go on Accutane, and while it did make my skin super dry for a few months, my back completely cleared up and I haven’t gotten a single pimple there in 4 years. She was really good at making sure I wouldn’t get any nasty side effects from the Accutane, which included a special diet and monthly blood tests.
I stopped going for about a year and a half because I was studying abroad, and my skin broke out a lot last semester. I finally went in to see her in December and we came to the conclusion and school-related stress was to blame for my skin. She prescribed a scrub cleanser to use morning and night and a benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin gel that I use as a night treatment, and now that I’ve been following this regime for a little over 2 months, I can say my skin has never looked better.
I’m surprised that so may people have never been to one, and many of those who have have had a negative experience. Everyone I know has been to a dermatologist at least once, and most of my friends have had good doctors.
My advice is to ask your friends and family if they know of a good dermatologist. That’s how I found mine! (And later I found out that at least a couple dozen people in my class also saw her haha)
Yes, I went to see one when I got this strange flair up of cystic acne right as I was entering college… he prescribed me retinol as well as antibiotics. He was young and pretty cute, too, so that’s always a plus.
Yes, best thing I ever did, prescribed very, very small dose of Acutane, less than 1/20th of regular dosage so no harm to organs, and acne is gone, pores are smaller, finally have that beautiful skin I always wanted. No more thick heavy hide it all makeup. So happy.
Yes, to get Accutane.
Yes, he was useless! My clarisonic and storebought skin care work a hundred times better.
I saw the same dermatologist twice, at 18 and 19, for eczema. I had eczema as a child, then in my teens it pretty much went away – I didn’t have any problems with it for years. Then at 18 it came back and it was horrific! I got it on my face, and the rash used to crack and weep, and nothing I did helped. My god it’s awful to even think about it again now. He prescribed me with stronger topical steriods than I could get from my general practitioner, and also tested me for food allergies, which came back negative. I’ve since figured out that animal hair and pollen really bother me, so I take an antihistamine everyday, which really helps. I’ve had eczema ever since, it’s never gone away, but it’s much more manageable now.
I see a dermatologist once a month, because I’ve been trying to “undo” years of sun damage to my skin. I did a lot of outdoor activities in my high school and college years, and I never bothered wearing sunscreen. Years later, I still suffer from patchy coloring on my face, among other things. My skin is getting better littleeee by little.
TL;DR: Always wear sunscreen, especially if you live in the tropics!
Ugh! I have had nothing but drama at the dermatologists’ office. I went in complaining of what I knew were not pimples, but some other kind of breakout – and eczema.
The worst was the woman who told me that “Middle Eastern, ethnic and even black skin is just hairy and more difficult.” Wait…what? IS THERE A PILL FOR THAT? If so, could I take it and not get stopped for “random selection” at the airport, too? I’m not the least bit hairy, but if she had the magic Arab antidote I was mighty curious.
She prescribed retin-A, which I already told her does nothing but literally burn my skin off.
I gave up, and went back to my regular doctor. Soon, I was sitting in a specialists’ office being told I have lupus with sjogrens. The lack of moisture being produced resulted in some bumps and exactly the kind of problems you would never give retin-a for. What has helped? Omega supplements and increasing fats and oils in my diet.
I know others who love the derm – not me.
I’ve seen one and been seeing him for years. I went to him for acne and skin cancer that runs in my family. He’s great. I’ve been on Spironolactone and occasionally Doxicycline to keep my acne at bay. He’seven removed a mole I didn’t like. He also prescribes me 10% benzoyl face wash and Atralin for my scars. Occasionally he’s threatened Accutane but so far I haven’t needed it. I’ve seen my dermatologist way more often than I ever see my pcp. Then again, she’s useless and just sends me to specialists for anything.
I’ve been going to the dermatologist every six months since I was 15. I’m 24, and I am about to finally start Accutane. If anyone has any experience with Accutane or any advice it would be appreciated. I’m a little nervous but excited for clear skin!
Alas, my insurance only covers derm visits if they are “critical”… and I just have run-of-the-mill concerns, so I’ve never seen one. I’d really appreciate a professional opinion…and welcome a retinol prescription… but it ain’t happening with this insurance… sigh.
YES, I get my moles and freckles checked every year. Also had to go in and have a birth mark removed. Thank god I do see a Dermatologist because I was able to get it removed before it was precancerous. (It was in the first stage of spreading) My dermatologist is the reason I wear a certain type of sunscreen on my face. Many people do not realize the variety of sunscreen ingredients and how some protect against specific rays that cause skin cancer and aging spots. I am part pacific islander and that is a huge reason too for my moles and does not mean I am less susceptible to certain skin problems.
Dermatologists sometime seem unnecessary, but the skin is the most sensitive organ of our bodies. Some people need to see them, and others do not. But for my skin it is a MUST. Skin is also unpredictable. Dermatologists cannot solve acne cases in one visit, but assist you in making appropriate decisions in protecting your skin in the long run.