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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou'll probably first visit your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).
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 ahead of time may help you make the most of your time together. For seborrheic dermatitis, some basic questions you might want to ask include:
- What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
- What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
- Are there any side effects from treatment?
- How long does treatment take to clear up this condition?
- Will the treatment need to be repeated and if so, how often?
- 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?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment if 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 experiencing symptoms?
- Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
- How often do you use treatments?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
What you can do in the meantime
An over-the-counter antifungal medication or anti-itch cream can be helpful. If your scalp is affected, an over-the-counter antifungal shampoo may ease your symptoms. Try not to scratch the affected area, because if you open the skin through scratching, you increase your risk of infection.
- Weston WL, et al. Overview of dermatitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 17, 2009.
- Seborrheic dermatitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch114/ch114h.html. Accessed April 20, 2009.
- Plewig G, et al. Seborrheic dermatitis. 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=2951940. Accessed April 20, 2009.
- Naldi L, et al. Seborrheic dermatitis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:387.
- Berger TG. Dermatologic disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2009. 48th ed. Los Altos, Calif.: Lange Medical Publications; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=747. Accessed April 20, 2009.
- McCall CO, et al. Eczema, psoriasis, cutaneous infections, acne, and other common skin disorders. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2864389. Accessed April 20, 2009.
- Pimecrolimus cream. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/patient/ElidelPIS.pdf. Accessed April 23, 2009.
