Skin Conditions That Should Warrant A Visit To Your Family Doctor
Posted on: 10 May 2017
If you have a family doctor, you might have checkups at regular intervals — for example, one checkup per year. When you notice a concerning health issue between these checkups, however, you don't necessarily have to wait until the next one. Instead, if you feel that the issue is pressing — but not pressing enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room — it's advantageous to call your family doctor's clinic, explain your situation, and go in for an appointment. Where your skin is concerned, there are a number of issues that should warrant this type of action. Here are three examples.
Warts
Upon noticing a wart on your finger, foot, or elsewhere on your body, you may choose to treat it yourself. Your local pharmacy carries a number of different products that can often be used to effectively remove warts. If you don't have success with this approach, or if you're not the do-it-yourself type, you shouldn't hesitate to visit your family doctor. He or she will inspect the issue to ensure that you're indeed dealing with a wart, and may treat it on the spot by cutting away the top layer of skin and burning it with liquid nitrogen or applying an acidic cream.
Acne
Sometimes, acne will come and go on its own, although you can also use pharmacy products and lifestyle/diet changes to control your acne. If your acne persists, however, it's valuable to see your doctor. A family doctor will look at the acne, ask you several questions about your condition, and may prescribe ointment that you can use to address the problem. In some cases, your doctor will refer you to a dermatologist for further care; it's ideal to see your doctor first, though, as doing will yield the name of a recommended dermatologist, which is easier than you finding one on your own.
Eczema
If you've noticed the symptoms of eczema, which can include dry, red, and itchy patches on your skin in any number of areas, your family doctor is worth visiting. He or she will look at the affected areas to officially diagnose them as eczema, as well as suggest cream that may be effective in treating this issue. Given that some people notice a link between their eczema and their diet, your doctor may make some suggestions about certain foods to avoid and certain foods to add to your diet, as well as advocate that you keep a journal to note what you eat and when your skin condition worsens.
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