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Dermatologist visit
dermatologist · skin doctor · mole check · skin specialist
A doctor who treats conditions of the skin, hair, and nails, and checks moles.
For rashes, itching, acne, spots, hair loss, nail fungus, or changing moles.
⏱ Duration: usually 20 to 40 minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Skin. On the day of the visit, do not put cream or ointment on the area. The doctor needs to see it as it is.
- Makeup. If it is your face, come without makeup. If it is your nails, no nail polish.
- Photos. If the rash comes and goes, take photos of it.
What to bring
- Your ID
- Photos of the rash, if you have them
- Names of creams and ointments you used
- Past test results, discharge papers, and reports
- A list of your medicines, or the packs themselves
How it goes
- The doctor asks about your symptoms
- Your skin is checked in good light
- Moles are looked at through a special magnifier called a dermatoscope
- Sometimes a skin scraping is taken for testing
- Treatment or tests are ordered
What you'll feel
- The exam does not hurt
- A scraping feels like a light scratch, almost painless
Afterwards
- Apply treatments as the doctor said, and do not stop the course early
- Compare changes using photos
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Fast-growing swelling of the face or lips, or a rash with a high fever: call emergency services
Common questions
Can I put cream on the rash before the visit?
Best not on the day of the visit. The doctor needs to see the skin without ointment.
How often should moles be checked?
Usually once a year, unless your doctor says otherwise. More often if a mole changes.