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Did you know that your skin is the largest organ on your body? That's right! Our skin takes up nearly 16% of our bodies.

Such a large organ needs the right amount of care. Visiting a dermatologist is an important step in keeping this part of your body in peak shape.

You might book a dermatologist exam for acne, a new rash, or a suspicious mole. Or you might visit a cosmetic dermatologist for anti-aging tips and tricks.

Whatever your reason for visiting a dermatologist, you are probably wondering what to expect during your first dermatologist appointment.

Knowing exactly what happens during this first visit can make the whole process easier for you. This blog post will take you through everything you need to know about what happens during this appointment.

Keep reading to feel prepared and confident when you set out for your first meeting with your dermatologist!

Discussion of Your Medical History

Your first dermatologist appointment will start out with your medical history. Many medical conditions are genetic or passed through families.

It's important for your dermatologist to know about any conditions in your family. They might also ask you questions like:

• Have you had a lot of sun exposure in the past?
• What medications are you taking now?
• Do you use a tanning bed?
• Is there a history of skin cancer in your family?
• Are you worried about something in particular?

Before you go to the dermatologist, you should think about your answers to questions like these. You could write down some notes to reference during your appointment.

If you are currently taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications, write down the medication names and dosage.

Your dermatologist might give you a prescription. So they need to make sure that this medication won't have a bad interaction with anything you're already taking.

Comprehensive Skin Exam

After your dermatologist takes your medical history, it's time for the dermatologist exam.

You might be asked to trade your clothes for a medical gown. Your dermatologist will then carry out a thorough skin exam.

It can feel overwhelming to have your entire body examined like this. But dermatologists have to check the entire area of your skin. This helps them figure out what your skin needs and identify any potential issues.

One of the main things a dermatologist checks for here is skin cancer. If they notice any abnormal skin areas, they may recommend further tests.

This process can definitely seem scary at first. But catching skin cancer early is important for making a full recovery. It's worth it to have your skin checked regularly so you can avoid serious conditions down the line.

If you have a lot of moles on your skin, your dermatologist will also focus on examining these.

Most of the time, moles are harmless. But in some cases, they can indicate a more serious skin problem. Your dermatologist will examine all moles to make sure they are healthy.

Other Considerations

You should always feel comfortable during your examination. If at any point you do not, feel free to speak up!

At Miami Skin Dr., experts are trained to the highest levels of professionalism. During every visit, the comfort and safety of our clients are always our top priority.

You should also feel comfortable talking about any concerns you have. Are you worried about a particular mole or acne breakout? Then let your dermatologist know.

No one knows your body better than you. If you feel that something is off, you might be right. Trust your intuition, and let your dermatologist know what you're thinking.

If you notice a mole looks bigger, for example, you can bring photos in with you. You could show your dermatologist what the mole looked like a few months or a year ago.

Pictures like this can help your dermatologist understand any changes going on with your body.

Personalized Treatment and Advice

If you are dealing with a serious acne condition, your dermatologist might prescribe medication. After your appointment, you can generally pick up this prescription right away from your local pharmacy.

And if your dermatologist notices a suspicious mole or two, they might refer you to a specialist.

If this happens, it's crucial not to get too alarmed. Many people go to specialists for more advanced tests. This does not necessarily mean you have a serious condition.

You might also be visiting your dermatologist for more cosmetic reasons. Maybe you want to reduce fine lines or wrinkles around your eyes. Or maybe you want your facial pores to look smaller.

Your dermatologist will be able to recommend treatments for cosmetic concerns as well.

Dermatology Care for the Long Haul

They can also give you specific advice about your skincare routine or lifestyle habits. For example, eating a healthy diet and getting enough sleep both help keep your skin healthy.

Of course, working with a dermatologist takes place over several appointments. If you're dealing with chronic acne, you will almost certainly have to visit your dermatologist regularly.

You can think of the first visit as more like a consultation. Your dermatologist will get to know you, your history, and your skin.

In follow-up visits, your dermatologist will keep tabs on your skin and see how you're responding to treatment.

The first appointment with any practitioner can seem scary! But visiting a dermatologist is crucial for your long-term health.

When you book an appointment with a dermatologist, you are committing yourself to a healthier future.

Book a Dermatologist Appointment Today

Are you ready to book your first dermatologist appointment? Then Miami Skin Dr. is ready to help!

Our expert staff has years of experience working with individuals just like you. Miami Skin Dr. is committed to the health and well-being of all our clients.

If you're ready to take the next step to skin health, get in touch! We look forward to welcoming you into our supportive community.

Acne affects 40-50 million people in the United States so you are not alone in your suffering. 

But if you have bad acne, you might think that you are the only one who's stuck with it for life. Especially if you've tried a dozen different acne treatments to no avail. Don't despair though. 

There are many things you can do on top of getting an acne treatment to get rid of adult acne. Read on to see what these 5 ways would be.

1. Get on a Low-Glycemic Diet

A high-glycemic diet is an American favorite - this means, lots of carbs, white bread, cornflakes, milkshakes, white potatoes, white rice, fries, doughnuts, and other pastries, and more. You might recognize yourself in this group. 

If you do, then perhaps your bad acne is a result of this high-glycemic diet. Think about changing your diet to a low-glycemic one to see the effects on your skin. 

In fact, a study done on Americans where they were placed on a low-glycemic diet to lose weight caused 87% to report that they had less acne, and 91% to report that they needed less acne medication. 

Those are pretty high numbers, so it would be prudent of you to test yourself for a few weeks on a low-glycemic diet. The good thing is that even if your acne isn't affected by this diet, it's still a healthy diet to be on. 

2. Don't Pick at Your Skin or Pimples

Yes, yes, you've heard this a million times before. But do you actually follow this advice? Be honest now. You might even be picking at your acne or popping your pimples as you read this blog post. 

Get those hands away from your face. Your bad acne will worsen if you keep picking at it, touching it with hands filled with bacteria. No matter how many times you wash your hands a day, your hands are still a cesspool of bacteria.

In fact, health care workers who are careful about washing their hands still had 5 million bacteria on each of their hands! 

Every time you touch your face, you are transferring these bacterias over to your acne. Not only that but every time you pop a pimple, you are just making it worse. You know this already from experience. Just don't do it!

3. Change Your Bedsheets and Pillows Often

In fact, this applies to everything and anything that touches your acne-prone skin. Your acne treatment isn't going to work if your bacteria-laden gloves, hats, bed sheets, pillows, or other items keep rubbing against your acne.

It seems like a chore to wash your bed sheets, pillows, and clothing this often, but it's worth it. Not only do these items have bacteria on them, but also dead skin cells, dirt, and oil, all of which will clog up your poor pores. 

If you want to get serious about things, think about washing your pillowcases at least 3 times a week. These are the main culprits when it comes to worsening bad acne. You sleep on them for 8 or more hours a day, after all. 

4. Wash Your Face Twice a Day and Always After Sweating

Do you worry about washing your face too much? Do you avoid putting anything on your face all day, because you are worried about interfering with your acne treatment? 

Well, stop worrying about that. Your acne treatment is already deep in your pores, doing its thing. For now, you need to avoid adding more bacteria and oil from entering your pores and bad acne. 

You can do this by washing your face at least twice a day with a gentle cleanser that's made for sensitive acne-prone skin. You should be washing your face once you wake up in the morning, and before you fall asleep.

Also, if you are the kind to get sweaty during the day, due to sports or other activities, always wash your face after that. You don't want that sweat to get into your adult acne and make it worse. 

This is the best skincare treatment for you - it sounds simple, but it will work miracles if you can follow it consistently. But don't overdo it!

Don't wash your face more than 3 times a day. It's too much for your sensitive acne-prone skin. 

5. Don't Get Impatient - Give Your Acne Treatments Time to Work

Are you getting impatient with your acne treatments? Have you been using them for a couple of weeks, but not noticing any noticeable effects? 

Please be patient with it. You've had your bad acne for a while now, so it will take some time to heal and reverse itself. 

Take a deep breath, and keep calm. Don't start rummaging about with another acne treatment, or start looking into alternative treatments yet. 

Wait at least 4 weeks before you declare that your acne treatment doesn't work. Even then, you should consult with a dermatologist to see if there's something they can help with.

Perhaps you haven't been using the treatment in the right dose or applying it appropriately. They will be able to guide you.

Instead of getting impatient with your treatment, and raving about it online, think about your diet, or other habits instead. What are some other bad habits that could be affecting your acne? 

Do you eat sugars late at night? Or do you tend to sleep with your makeup on? Maybe you are the kind of person who loves picking at their skin, no matter what others tell you? Fix your habits first!

Bad Acne? There Are Many Things You Can Do to Ease It

If you've lost all hope for your bad acne, take a step back and reevaluate. Sometimes, you've been in a situation for so long, that you need to look at it with fresh eyes.

Stop berating yourself for your skin problems, and start working on creating new powerful acne-repelling habits. 

If you are interested in speaking to a skin doctor (dermatologist) in Miami, then book an appointment with Miami Skin Dr. today!

If you have dry skin, looking after it can be a challenge. Here's how you can put together an effective skin care routine.

Are you trying to figure out how to make your skin smoother? If yes, you should check out some of our best tips right here.