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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or primary care doctor. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred to a specialist in skin diseases (dermatologist).
Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it can help to be well prepared. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your appointment and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
Write down questions that you want to ask your doctor. Don't be afraid to ask questions or to speak up when you don't understand something your doctor says. If you have age spots, questions you may want to ask include:
- Are tests needed to confirm the diagnosis?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are my treatment options and the pros and cons for each?
- What will the treatments cost? Does medical insurance cover these costs?
- What results can I expect?
- What kind of follow-up, if any, should I expect?
- What suspicious changes in my skin should I look for?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:
- When did you first notice the condition?
- Have you noticed any changes in the appearance of your skin?
- Is the condition bothersome?
- Have you experienced frequent or severe sunburns?
- How often are you exposed to sun or UV radiation?
- Do you regularly protect your skin from UV radiation?
- Schaffer JV, et al. Benign pigmented skin lesions other than melanocytic nevi (moles). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 3, 2008.
- Ortonne JP, et al. Treatment of solar lentigines. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2006;54:S262.
- Farris PK. Combination therapy for solar lentigines. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2004;3:S23.
- What you need to know about moles and dysplastic nevi. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/pdf/WYNTK/WYNTK_moles.pdf. Accessed Dec. 4, 2008.
- The sun and your skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_sun.html. Accessed Dec. 3, 2008.
- Habif TP. Light-related diseases and disorders of pigmentation. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/112580021-4/0/1195/130.html?tocnode=51442208&fromURL=130.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01319-8..50021-2--cesec13_2361. Accessed Dec. 4, 2008.
- Alpha hydroxy acids. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Dec. 4, 2008.
- Draelos ZD. Skin lightening preparations and the hydroquinone controversy. Dermatologic Therapy. 2007;20:308.
- Chawla S, et al. Mechanism of tyrosinase inhibition by deoxyArbutin and its second-generation derivatives. British Journal of Dermatology. 2008;159:1267.
