4 THINGS YOUR DERM SHOULD ASK YOU

4 THINGS YOUR DERM SHOULD ASK YOU. As a medical doctor, I care about the whole you. Your underlying health can profoundly affect your skin’s health and appearance.
 
Even when patients come to see me for a specific skin condition (especially those I’m meeting for the first time), I often ask about their health in general. This is why I allow 45 minutes to an hour for most new patient visits.
 
Here’s what I ask my patients, and what your Dermtologist should be asking you:
 
1. HOW’S YOUR HEALTH? Are you taking any medications/supplements? Do you have any habits, such as smoking, alcohol, etc?

Your skin reflects what’s happening on the inside (for example: smoker’s acne; alcohol and rosacea). All of these can affect how your skin looks & how it ages.
 
2. HOW’S YOUR DIET & DIGESTION? These affect your skin, esp if you have acne, rashes, allergies or hives.

I wrote a book about this, called FEED YOUR FACE: drjessicawu.com/feed-your-face. Your diet can also affect hair growth/thinning.
 
3. WHAT’S YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE? I encourage my patients to bring in their skincare products so we can review together and identify any gaps or potential interactions.

For example, some at-home treatments, such as glycolic acid, may interact with retinoids. I also ask about facialist treatments.
 
4. ANY FAMILY HISTORY? Some skin conditions can run in the family and increase your risk (such as: eczema; autoimmune conditions; melanoma skin cancer) so I might recommend more frequent followups.
 
And if your Derm doesn’t ask, don’t be shy — let them know anything you feel could be relevant!