Facing an inexplicable skin concern? All the make-up tips, home remedies, and over the counter topical solutions can’t do what a doctor can. It may very well be time for you to see a dermatologist.
When it comes to skin, we resort to seeing a dermatologist only after we have exhausted all options. Why is it that the part of our body we fret over the most, and take great care off, is the last one to see a doctor when we need it?
Below are the few times when you should stop listening to mother, grandmother, friends and the internet (yes internet!), and rush to see a good dermatologist:
- Hair loss: Loss of hair can be a symptom of many other diseases, some of them more grave than the rest. Even if the diagnosis is not as bad, hair loss either means loss of nutrition or some other scalp problem like an allergic reaction to a hair care product. Whatever it may be, if you see one too many strands of hair on your pillow, in your hair brush, or in the shower — it’s time to see a dermatologist. It is specially important when you see your hair falling in clusters, or if you have a history of hair fall in the family. Hair fall can get accelerated in a matter of days if precautions are not taken.
- Worse than moderate acne: A few pimples are something all of us have borne, but if you realize that your acne is painful, white-boil like, persistent and tends to leave scars, it’s time to see your dermatologist without fail. Persistent acne can lead to scarring which is another level of skin problems altogether. If your acne is arrested at an early level, scarring can be reduced or gotten rid off completely.
- Rash: Any kind of rash (unless it’s from a mosquito bite) should be dealt with by a doctor. A rash on the skin, like hair fall is an indicator or some inner infection or disease. Also, a rash can be very contagious and spread to others in the house, and needs to be dealt with the moment it manifests. Rash can be red in color, or in form or boils etc…all forms require medical attention, specially if they persist more than 3 days. Even a small allergy can lead to an anaphylactic shock if not treated on time. This too requires consultation with a dermatologist.
- Persistent dryness of skin and scalp: If you have persistent dandruff which refuses to go all year through, or skin that is unresponsive to the most effective moisturizing lotions, it could mean you have eczema. Dryness can lead to breakages in skin, which can make skin susceptible to infection. It’s advisable to not scratch yourself to bleed, and instead see a dermatologist.
- Skin/nail discoloration: If you see your skin changing color at any part (apart from even tanning), specially losing color and turning whitish, it’s time to see a specialist immediately. It could be a melanin disorder, hormonal changes, sun damage, or something worse; you need to know to arrest its development.
- Sudden hair growth: If you notice that you have more body hair than usual, it usually means some hormonal problem. It is also found in anorexics and patients of bulimia since excessive body hair is a symptom of being underweight. I would also add that if you notice a friend or family member losing a lot of weight, with tooth discoloration and excessive body hair, it’s a sigh of an eating disorder. Appropriate steps need to taken to resolve that.
The skin and hair deserve more and less attention from us at the same time. While hours spent in front of the mirror are not healthy, neither is ignoring skin problems because they seem trivial.
You should go ahead and visit a dermatologist immediately. Delaying it unnecessarily can lead to certain unnecessary consequences that you can easily avoid by just visiting a dermatologist.
The above listed signs are helpful since they are quite accurate signs that you need to see a dermatologist immediately. Don’t delay such signs, and visit a dermatologist at once in case you come across these symptoms and signs on your skin.
