Dermatologist - When do I need to go?

You probably think that your family doctor can take care of anything. He can handle cuts, scrapes, and illnesses, certainly he can handle everything right? He can to an extent. That doesn't make him less of a doctor; it just means he has general knowledge about a lot but maybe not the expertise to handle other problems. If you are suffering from skin problems your general practitioner is probably a great place to start, sometimes you just need to know if routine treatments are going to work or not. If he can't help you, however, it might be time to see a dermatologist instead.

A dermatologist is a specialist that deals specifically with skin conditions. While you might be reluctant to go see one over a little rash, if you suffer from something like psoriasis then you might want to think twice. Psoriasis is a skin condition that appears on the upper layer of skin, the epidermis. There are a couple of forms but the most common is flaky red/white patches. This autoimmune disease has no cure but your doctor can give you treatment options to control it. This is one of those cases where a specialist can help you.

Another time to visit a specialist is if you have any sores or growths on your skin that you think might be cancerous. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Usually it is found on areas of the body that are exposed to sun or ultra-violet light on a regular basis. A dermatologist can not only diagnose and treat this deadly disease but he can also give you information and the pointers you need to be able to prevent this type of cancer. Once the skin lesion is gone and you are able fully healed prevention is important.

Most people suffer from acne at some point in their lives and this type of doctor is great at handling this type of ailment. For most people, a healthy diet and some cleanser will help control the outbreaks. While the over the counter stuff might work for most people, those suffering from rosacea, which is considered a form of acne, need a specialist to deal with the problem. It is an embarrassing condition that makes the sufferer look like she either is flush or blushing at all times. Most of the time this condition is treated with prescription drugs, which may have to be monitored during the course of the treatment.

A dermatologist is the person to go to when you have any form of skin ailment. Not only can he help you cure or at the least control the ailment, he will be able to give you great tips on how to keep your skin healthy. Keeping your skin healthy is important because it is the largest organ you have, even if most people don't remember that fact.