21 May What Does a Dermatologist Do?
Most of us see our primary care physician and dentist on a regular basis, but the same isn’t always true when it comes to our dermatologist—and this is a big mistake. RefinedMD is your local medical and cosmetic skin care specialty clinic committed to helping you achieve skin that’s healthy and beautiful. Your skin is the largest organ you have, and it undergoes a lot of stress from sun damage, pollution, and subpar skin care products. It’s critical to see your dermatologist at least once a year for a skin check so that skin cancer can be caught and treated early. However, there’s also much more your skin care team can do.
For those who don’t regularly see a dermatologist, they might quickly link acne treatments to dermatology. Treating and preventing acne is certainly part of what a dermatologist does, especially since acne is such a common issue. In fact, it’s so common that a lot of people don’t think of acne as a medical problem (even though it is). There are various forms of acne, and more severe acne such as cystic acne can cause permanent scarring. Your skin care pro also treats and reverses acne scarring with treatments like laser resurfacing and chemical peels.
Acne is often considered a “teen problem,” but in reality it’s also very common in adults. Acne can be painful and affect your self-esteem, getting in the way of personal and professional relationships and goals. It’s important to treat acne seriously, and only a dermatologist has the products, tools, and techniques to treat your acne concerns.
However, there’s still much more your dermatologist can do for you.
Skin Care for Chronic Skin Concerns
If you suffer from eczema or rosacea, you already know that there’s no cure. These conditions are harmless, but they can definitely lower your self-esteem and maybe even get in the way of your social life or career success. However, just because there’s no cure doesn’t mean the symptoms can’t be treated. A skin care expert will work with you to find the best approaches to keeping eczema and rosacea in check.
Melasma and other types of hyperpigmentation, such as brown spots or age spots, can also be troubling. Pigmentation is usually caused by sun damage, and it can take years or even decades for these symptoms to appear. Nobody is quite certain what causes melasma, but hormone fluctuations can exacerbate and that’s how it earned the nickname of “mask of pregnancy.” Melasma is more stubborn than other types of pigmentation, but a skilled dermatologist can still treat it. Common treatments for hyperpigmentation include laser or light therapy.
Reverse the Signs of Aging
The first signs of aging many of us notice are fine lines and wrinkles. They are caused by a combination of sun damage, lost collagen (which happens naturally as we age), and consistently making certain “faces” like frowning or squinting. Looking and feeling your best includes minimizing signs of aging, especially if you’re struggling with early signs of aging.
Your skin care clinic has many options for turning back the clock based on the placement and severity of lines and wrinkles as well as your goals. For instance, laser skin resurfacing or light therapy can dramatically reduce lines and wrinkles, while Botox around the eyes or between the brows can temporarily “freeze” the muscles causing you to frown or squint. Chemical peels can reveal younger looking skin beneath the surface, and microneedling encourages the body to produce more collagen in targeted areas for a completely natural response to aging.
See Your Dermatologist Today
The most important reason to see your dermatologist is to keep skin cancer in check. All types of skin cancer can be treated fast and easily, but only if they’re caught in the early stages. We recommend yearly check-ins and spring is prime time to do it. We can gauge which moles you already have and watch them as you go into summer where you’re likely to incur more UV damage.
For all of your skin health and beauty needs, a skilled dermatologist can help. Call RefinedMD today to schedule your consultation or appointment, or fill out the online form now for the quickest response.