The first step in getting you the most appropriate treatment is to have a clear diagnosis. At your private Dermatology appointment, your consultant will talk with you in detail about your skin complaint. They may ask you questions like:
- What symptoms do you have?
- How long have you had these symptoms for?
- Have they been getting worse over time?
- Are you aware of any obvious triggers for your symptoms (e.g. certain foods or drinks, increased levels of stress etc.)?
- Have you received any treatment already, such as prescribed medication?
- Do you have any specific concerns about your symptoms (for example, are you worried about the possibility of skin cancer)?
They will carry out a detailed examination of your skin and may recommend a full skin check.
When reviewing skin lesions, a dermatoscope (a special handheld magnifying device) may be used. This can increase the diagnostic accuracy of lesion recognition and could lead to a diagnosis being made without the need for a skin biopsy.
Sometimes, treatment may not be needed at all (for example, a harmless mole can be left alone). However, a biopsy (either removing a small area to obtain the diagnosis OR excision or removal of a lesion) is sometimes recommended to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
Additional investigations may sometimes be needed. These include:
- Blood tests – can be helpful when testing for certain allergies
- Skin scrapings – to test for fungal infection
- Skin swabs – to test for bacterial or viral infection
- Diagnostic skin biopsy – when something is seen that warrants investigation under a microscope, a biopsy is done to remove a small sample of tissue from the affected area. This sample is then sent for further analysis, which aids accurate diagnosis.
- Patch testing –may be helpful when considering if an agent coming into contact with your skin is causing you a problem (e.g. fragrance, jewellery, nail products)
Your Dermatologist will arrange any of the tests that are needed. Some may be able to be done during your appointment while others, such as a diagnostic skin biopsy or patch testing, will need to be carried out at another time. Where this is needed, we will always book things in at the earliest date to ensure you receive a diagnosis as soon as possible.
Once the results of any investigations are back and a diagnosis has been made, your Dermatologist will talk you through the diagnosis and to explain treatment options to you.
Treatment for skin conditions may involve:
- Advice about daily skin care
- Prescribed topical (applied to the skin) medication - creams and ointments
- Prescribed oral medication - tablets
- Cryotherapy - uses liquid nitrogen to remove non-cancerous (benign) skin lesions by freezing them
- Skin surgery
Types of skin surgery may include:
- Excision of skin lesion
- Mole removal
- Skin cancer surgery
Due to the wide variety of problems that can affect the skin, some types of skin surgery may be carried out by specialists in other fields, like ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Surgeons, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and Plastic Surgeons. If referral to another specialist is appropriate, this will be arranged for you.
Treatment will always be tailored to your specific requirements, and should you have any questions about treatment options at any stage, your Dermatologist will be very happy to talk through them with you.