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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou may start by seeing your primary care physician. However, you may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to arrive well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. For neurodermatitis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What's the most likely cause of my itching?
- Are there other possible causes?
- Do I need any tests?
- Will the itching ever stop?
- What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
- What side effects can I expect from treatment?
- Are there any alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- How long will it take for my skin to return to normal?
- I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did your symptoms start?
- Have your symptoms been continuous, or do they come and go?
- What steps have you taken on your own to manage the itchiness?
- Have any of these measures helped?
What you can do in the meantime
While you're waiting to see your doctor:
- Avoid scratching as much as possible.
- Keep your nails short so that if you do scratch, you'll lessen the risk of damaging your skin or creating an infection.
- Try an over-the-counter anti-itch cream or an oral antihistamine containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl, others) or chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, others) to ease the itchy feeling.
- Lichen simplex chronicus. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch114/ch114f.html. Accessed March 17, 2010.
- Burgin S. Nummular eczema and lichen simplex chronicus/prurigo nodularis. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2003. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2961069. Accessed March 17, 2010.
- Lichon V, et al. Lichen simplex chronicus. Dermatology Nursing. 2007;19:276.
- Berger TG. Dermatologic disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. 49th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=747. Accessed March 17, 2010.
- Witch hazel. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed March 17, 2010.
- Camphor. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed March 17, 2010.
- Shenefelt PD. Hypnosis in dermatology. Archives of Dermatology. 2000;136:393.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 22, 2010.
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