Table of contents:
- What is a dermatologist?
- Treatment that can be obtained from a dermatologist
- How is the inspection process?
- Things that must be prepared before visiting a dermatologist
Skin disease is one of the most common diseases affecting many people, including in Indonesia. To help overcome this problem, a skin specialist or dermatologist is needed.
What is a dermatologist?
A dermatologist is a doctor who has expertise in treating and treating problems related to skin health. Dermatology itself is a branch of medicine that studies the skin, including hair and nails.
A doctor can be said to be a dermatologist if you already have a SpKK (skin and genital specialist) degree. Prior to earning this degree, doctors must undergo specialist training in dermatology and genital health for about three and a half years or more.
Dermatologists do not only master basic sciences such as micrology (the science of microorganisms), pathology (the science of how disease occurs), and physiology (the science of survival). They must also study other medical specialties. Therefore, skin diseases are often associated with internal conditions or other diseases.
The field of expertise in dermatology is divided into several divisions, including:
- Allergic dermatology and immunology: focuses on skin problems related to immune system disorders such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (eczema).
- Tumors and skin surgery: surgical treatment that focuses on patients with skin cancer or benign skin growths.
- Pediatric dermatology: focuses on treating skin conditions affecting babies, children, and adolescents such as skin infections, birthmarks, or red rashes.
- Geriatric dermatology: a specialist who deals with skin problems in the elderly.
- Tropical dermatology: treat skin problems experienced in people who live in tropical areas such as tinea versicolor, ringworm, and scabies.
- Genodermatology: treat diseases that occur due to genetic factors.
- Cosmetic dermatology: treat aesthetic or cosmetic skin problems, including skin pigmentation problems, cellulite, or hair loss.
Treatment that can be obtained from a dermatologist
Source: Ubiqi
Dermatologists perform special diagnostic procedures related to skin conditions. The dermatologist will also perform a variety of treatments on the patient including:
- Giving drugs for skin diseases, both drugs that are applied topically, injected, or taken by mouth.
- Skin disease therapy, treatment for various skin conditions through therapeutic methods such as ultraviolet light therapy using artificial UVA and UVB. It serves as a method of treating diseases such as psoriasis and eczema, excimer laser therapy for treating vitiligo and dermatitis, or blue light photodynamics for treating acne.
- A series of dermatological surgeries, includes surgical procedures such as Mohs surgery which is performed to treat skin cancer, surgery cyrosurgery which involves freezing using nitrogen under extreme cold, or surgery-related wounds.
- Cosmetic procedures, perform procedures related to beauty and care for skin such as chemical peels for dull skin, laser to tighten the face, filler installation, and Botox.
How is the inspection process?
Generally, you can go to a dermatologist with a referral from a general practitioner, but you can also go to a skin and venereal disease polyclinic. During the examination, the doctor will ask several questions related to the characteristics of the skin disease or changes in the skin that you are experiencing first.
After that, the doctor will see the condition of your skin. For example, if a rash appears on the skin the doctor will look at how big and what the pattern looks like, or if there are any accompanying lumps. Sometimes the doctor will take photos to make it easier to spot skin changes.
If there are signs of infection such as herpes, the doctor will ask you about the source of the infection and the possibility that you have infected someone else. Meanwhile, if you have signs of an allergy, the doctor will ask you about possible triggers, from exposure to certain materials or foods.
If additional examinations are required, several procedures will be performed. Some of them are biopsy by taking a skin sample to see the cause of the skin disease. Then, there are culture tests that identify microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi that cause infection.
In skin cancer screening, all of your body's skin needs to be examined, including the mucosal lining in the mouth, scalp, nails, skin folds, and genital areas.
When diagnosing a disease, doctors also consider the factors that can trigger the condition. This includes exposure to hazardous substances at work, smoking habits, sexual behavior, and other medications that are being undertaken. In addition, any chronic conditions you have (such as diabetes), or a family history.
Things that must be prepared before visiting a dermatologist
Before deciding to go to a dermatologist, you must make sure that the doctor you choose is competent or has a trusted certification. This is also very important to do even though the goal is only for skin beauty care.
Then if you want to use insurance, make sure that the doctor you want to go to is affiliated with your insurance. Also find out whether insurance covers all treatments or only certain types. Usually, cosmetic procedures will not be covered by insurance. You can then save some time and make a schedule with your doctor.
If your goal is to consult about the condition of your skin, recall some of the things you want to tell the doctor or if you have anything to ask. For convenience, you can write it on a note.
Some tests require you to bring along some documents such as previous examination results or blood lab test results. Prepare these documents a few days before going to the doctor so you can make sure no documents are left behind.
