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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. 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 illnesses, stresses or recent life changes.
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you're taking, including the dosage information.
- 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. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For pityriasis rosea, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What's the most likely cause of this rash?
- Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
- Is this condition temporary or long lasting?
- What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
- Are there any side effects from this treatment?
- Will the treatment help ease the itching? If not, how can I treat the itching?
- I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Will this rash leave permanent scars?
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 you first begin to notice the rash?
- Have you had this type of rash in the past?
- Are you experiencing symptoms?
- Does your rash itch?
- Have your symptoms changed over time?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
What you can do in the meantime
While you're waiting to see your doctor, the following steps may help relieve your itching:
- Use lukewarm water when you shower or bathe, because it may be less irritating.
- Use oatmeal bath products in your bath. These are available at most pharmacies.
- Use an over-the-counter anti-itch cream on the rash.
- Pityriasis rosea. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch116/ch116d.html. Accessed Feb. 12, 2010.
- Goldstein AO, et al. Pityriasis rosea. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 29, 2010.
- Drago F, et al. Pityriasis rosea: An update with a critical appraisal of its possible herpesviral etiology. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2009;61:303.
- Chuh AA, et al. Interventions for pityriasis rosea. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007;2:CD005068.
- Blauvelt A. Pityriasis rosea. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2955172. Accessed Feb. 12, 2010.
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