Make seeing your dermatologist a habit like visiting your dentist

When it comes to your health maintenance, there are several things that may automatically come to mind. You visit your primary care provider annually for a checkup. You visit your dentist every six months for a cleaning and exam. You visit your eye doctor annually to get your vision checked for changes. Ladies visit their OB-GYN annually for cervical screenings. But many people do not remember to visit their area dermatologist for a yearly checkup, which should be as habitual as visiting your dentist. Your dermatologist in Missouri wants to function in this preventative role as well, with the goal of keeping your skin healthy, and early detection of any potential problems.

Why Should You See a Dermatologist Yearly

You should add an annual dermatology appointment to your list of healthy tasks along with your dentist, PCP, and optometrist appointments. Many people forget to see their dermatologist once a year, or bi-yearly if they have a history of skin cancer. Unfortunately, most people only see a dermatologist when they notice something is wrong, or there is something discovered incidentally. Skin issues like skin cancer are preventable and can be treated easily with early detection.

What Are Some Common Skin Conditions That Are Easily Treatable

With your skin being the largest body organ with a variety of functions, it is expected that there are common anomalies that can occur. Common skin conditions include:

• Acne: This is when your skin follicles are blocked by the build-up of oil, dead skin, and bacteria in your pores.
• Alopecia: This is hair loss in small patches.
• Eczema or atopic dermatitis: This is an itchy, dry condition that leads to swelling, scaliness, or cracking.
• Psoriasis: These are scaled, patchy skin areas that may feel hot, or may swell.
• more than 50 moles
• family history of skin cancer
• suspicious moles or lesions

These conditions may be caused by genetics, environmental exposures, immune system issues, bacteria or viruses, or allergic reactions to bug bites or medications. There are many symptoms that you may not recognize, that can be detected during an annual dermatology visit. You may notice a patch of “dry skin”, but may not be able to connect it to a recent infection you had or connect it to discoloration at another skin location, or unseen fluid-filled bumps on your back. A dermatologist can make the connection, diagnose and treat your condition.

What About Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is the world’s most common type of cancer. About 99% of all skin cancer cases are curable with early diagnosis and treatment. Unlike other cancers, skin cancers are present “on” the body instead of “in” the body. That is why both home skin inspections and those by a dermatologist are especially important. Your doctor can detect the cancer before it becomes a danger, disfiguring, or fatal.

What To Expect

During your dermatology appointment, the doctor will take a medical history. They will then thoroughly examine the skin of your scalp, face, neck, core, legs, hands, arms, and if warranted your genital area. They will then perform lab tests, or take one of several types of biopsies to properly diagnose any conditions and begin the appropriate treatment immediately. This is why it is very important to schedule your dermatology visits with the same priority as your dentist, PCP, or other medical specialties. There are a number of specialists practicing dermatology in Arkansas and Missouri that are ready to see you.