So you have an appointment with your dermatologist, ladies: What are you going to wear?
So ladies, go to the dermatologist.
We all know that going to the dermatologist can be a humbling experience. It’s not always the kind of appointment you’re looking for, especially when you know you may need to remove your clothes, wrap yourself in a thin paper gown, and sit in a cool room staring at all four walls waiting for the doctor. AND you know you’re waiting for the doctor to come in and look at your body … the same body you’ve wanted to get on that treadmill since last month … or last year. But she’s already taken care of the things she can control: she made sure to shower and shave her legs, and to wear nice (but conservative) but mostly clean, hole-free underwear. You did your hair, you put on your makeup and all the other things we usually do before going out to the public.
As a dermatologist and a woman ladies, I am going to take a chance with some great advice on your next visit. While all your efforts to shave, shower, and wear clean underwear are highly appreciated, they are probably more important because they make you feel more comfortable, which is extremely important. I would like to give you some tips that will be of great help to you so that you make the most of your next visit to the dermatologist. Some of these may surprise you.
one. Don’t wear face makeup! This is probably the hardest to swallow. It doesn’t matter if you’re seeing the dermatologist for acne or a skin cancer checkup. Makeup is meant to cover things up. Covers red spots, brown spots, pimples, dark circles under the eyes. It also covers skin cancers, pre-skin cancers, abnormal moles, and acne. I could go on and on, but the point is that it covers your skin- tIt is the same thing that you should verify with your dermatologist. Most dermatologists will ask you to remove your makeup because if your dermatologist can’t see it, they can’t treat it. Understandably, there are times when you will have to go to your appointment with your makeup on, for example if you are coming from work. In that case, be prepared to remove it and bring your makeup if you need to reapply it after your appointment.
two. Take off the nail polish. Another hard one. I know pedicures aren’t cheap, so the idea of removing your nail polish before your appointment isn’t necessarily attractive. However, nails can tell a lot, not only about the skin, but also about other problems that could be occurring internally. You can also develop skin cancer under the nails or cuticles. Melanoma in these areas can appear as a very subtle stripe of color on a nail. Those kinds of things will be lost if you cover your nails with polish. So remember ladies, take off your nail polish.
3. Do not apply lotions to your skin before your appointment. You may not want anyone to see your dry skin, but we can take it, and we can treat it. The lotion can change the way a lesion appears in its natural state, making it difficult to diagnose. Oh and while I think about it, because we women often apply lotion to freshly shaved legs, I just want to tell you that it’s okay if you forget to shave. It doesn’t bother us at all. After all, dermatologists are specialists in skin, nails, and hate!
Four. Leave your hair down and get ready to mess it up a bit. A full body exam includes the scalp and you cannot see the scalp without moving the hair a little. It also makes it difficult to see the scalp through hair that is stiff with hairspray.
5. Be prepared to undress completely. Some of you may be a little uncomfortable with this, but remember, skin is everywhere. That includes under the bra, on the breasts, on the buttocks, between the buttocks, and in the pubic area. Although those areas may not have seen as much sun as the skin on your arms and legs, you are as likely to develop melanoma-like skin cancer in those areas as in any other area. And while your dermatologist most likely won’t put you in stirrups for a regular skin exam, you should consider removing your underwear so he / she can check those areas. If you are uncomfortable, you can always request that the physician’s assistant be in the room during your exam. If the thought of completely undressing you are uncomfortable, consider wearing that thong that you intentionally left in the drawer. I can’t tell you how many times a patient has apologized to me for wearing a thong, because it was deemed inappropriate in the doctor’s office. Believe it or not, it shows more skin and the skin is what your dermatologist is looking for for unwanted lesions.
6. Consider leaving your jewelry at home. This one is self explanatory. You will be amazed at what a large watch or necklace can hide.
7. Don’t worry about not getting on that treadmill. Your dermatologist sees big people, little people, short people, tall people, young people, old people. We have seen all the shapes and curves that exist or that you can imagine, several times a day. So if you are self-conscious, put your fears aside. Your dermatologist is just looking at your skin and focuses on finding problem areas, none of us are judging your body, shape, or size. Our concern is your health, not your physique.