When Should You See a Dermatologist? Signs It’s Time to Make an Appointment

Skin concerns can range from occasional acne and dry skin to persistent rashes, changing moles, and unusual growths. Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions affecting the skin, scalp, and nails, and can also perform routine skin checks to identify areas that may need further evaluation.

Knowing when to make an appointment can help you address concerns that persist, return, or change over time. At Lane Regional Medical Center, Lane Dermatology provides care for adults, children, and teens in the Zachary area.

What Does a Dermatologist Treat?

Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions affecting the skin, scalp, and nails, including acne, eczema, psoriasis, hair and nail conditions, precancerous changes, and skin cancer. They can provide care for both ongoing conditions and new or changing skin concerns.

At Lane Dermatology, common conditions treated include:

• Acne and inflammatory skin conditions: Acne, eczema or dermatitis, psoriasis, rosacea, dry skin, and dandruff or seborrhea
• Moles, growths, and lesions: Moles, cysts, dermatofibromas, skin tags, seborrheic keratoses, molluscum contagiosum, and warts
• Hair and nail conditions: Alopecia areata and nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis
• Other skin conditions: Scabies, shingles, tinea versicolor, vitiligo, melasma, sunburn, and sun damage
• Precancerous changes and skin cancer: Actinic keratoses, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma

When Should You See a Dermatologist?

You should consider seeing a dermatologist when a skin, scalp, or nail concern persists, recurs, changes over time, or requires professional evaluation. New or changing moles and growths are also reasons to have your skin checked.

Signs it may be time to make a dermatology appointment include:

• A new or changing mole
• A rash that persists or keeps returning
• Acne that continues to be a concern
• Ongoing redness, dryness, itching, or irritation
• Unexplained hair loss or persistent scalp concerns
• Changes in the color, texture, thickness, or appearance of a nail
• A new, changing, or bothersome skin growth
• Changes related to sun damage
• A skin concern that continues to worsen or is difficult to identify

Not every skin change is a sign of a serious condition. A dermatologist can evaluate the concern and determine whether treatment, monitoring, or additional testing may be appropriate.

How Often Should You Get a Skin Check?

How often you should get a skin check depends on your individual needs and your dermatologist’s recommendations. Lane Dermatology provides annual skin screenings as well as appointments for skin concerns that need more immediate attention.

Your dermatologist can recommend an appropriate schedule based on your skin and any areas that may need continued monitoring.

You do not necessarily need to wait until your next routine skin check if you notice something new or changing. Bring concerning changes to your dermatologist’s attention when you notice them.

What Happens During a Full-Body Skin Check?

During a full-body skin check, a dermatologist examines the skin for moles, growths, lesions, and other areas that may need closer evaluation. The appointment also gives you an opportunity to point out changes or specific areas that concern you.

A dermatologist may determine that an area simply needs monitoring or that further evaluation is appropriate.

Routine skin checks can be especially useful for areas of the body that may be difficult to monitor on your own. Keeping track of changes between visits can also help you know what to bring to your dermatologist’s attention.

What Happens If a Dermatologist Finds a Suspicious Spot?

If a dermatologist identifies an area that needs further evaluation, a skin biopsy may be recommended. A biopsy involves taking a sample of skin tissue for closer examination.

A biopsy may be used when a dermatologist needs additional information about a mole, growth, lesion, or other skin change. The findings can help determine whether additional care is needed.

Lane Dermatology treats precancerous actinic keratoses as well as skin cancers including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Patients who need additional cancer services can also access cancer care through Lane Regional.

Where Can You See a Dermatologist in Zachary?

Lane Dermatology provides dermatology care for adults, children, and teens in the Zachary area. Board-certified dermatologists Dr. Ashley Record and Dr. Jessica LeBlanc treat a range of skin, scalp, and nail conditions and provide annual skin screenings.

If you have a persistent skin concern, notice a new or changing area, or are due for a skin check, visit Lane Dermatology for more information or to request an appointment.

Written by

This blog was written by Ashley C. Record, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist with Lane Dermatology. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of skin, scalp, and nail conditions.