Our skin is our largest organ, and yet it is often easily ignored. The quality of a person’s skin is something you don’t tend to notice unless there is something wrong. For this reason, plenty of people neglect their skin until something serious, such as an infection or a lesion, appears. Our skin is responsible for keeping intrusive bacteria out of our bodies and acts as a barrier between us and the world, as well as retaining water and other fluids. Without it, we would die quickly of infection and fluid loss. If you haven’t been to a dermatologist lately, there are several reasons why you may want to make an appointment at our office.
Changes to Moles, Freckles and Birthmarks
It’s quite common to have perfectly healthy birthmarks, freckles and moles, but it can be difficult to tell when one of them begins to change. Whether it’s a change in size, shape, color or the border of it, such changes can be an early warning sign of cancer. If you visit our office regularly, our team will be able to detect these changes before they can bloom into a serious problem. Considering that some forms of skin cancer carry an extremely high survival rate for cases caught early, this should be incentive enough to make an appointment with our dermatologist.
Formation of Cysts
Cysts are pockets of skin oils and fluid that grow beneath the skin. The vast majority are completely harmless, but it is best to find them when they are small and have them excised early. If allowed to grow unchecked, a cyst can burrow deep into the skin and even become infected. If you don’t notice it until it’s large and painful, the excision could leave you with a noticeable scar. There’s also a chance the infection from a cyst could enter the bloodstream and pose a threat to the rest of your body, much like any skin infection can travel.
Early Detection of Autoimmune Disorders
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that can herald the existence of other autoimmune disorders and diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or rheumatoid arthritis. Sadly, however, some people suffer with untreated psoriasis for years because they think they have eczema or dry skin. These same people can then be blindsided when another autoimmune disease or disorder begins to manifest. Seeing our dermatologist at the first sign of itchy, dry skin can save you years of discomfort and surprising problems later in life.
Don’t Forget About the Hair and Nails
The skin is just one aspect of dermatology. If you are dealing with a hair or nail condition, this is also a reason to speak with our dermatologist. Visiting Dr. Yeoman’s Dermatology Office should be just one more appointment in your annual wellness routine, much like going to the dentist. If you haven’t been to a dermatologist in a while or you’ve been relying on your family care physician to care for your skin, hair and nails, schedule an appointment at our office in Poplar Bluff or Paragould. Contact us today to book a consultation!
