Your skin is one of the most notable parts of your appearance, yet many people don’t give too much thought to the care of it. As the largest organ in the body, your skin is its first line of defense against injuries and bacteria. In such a vulnerable position, your skin may be prone to certain conditions. Dermatologists are doctors who specialize in treating these conditions and making your skin look the best it possibly can.

How do you know you need to see a dermatologist? Discover a few common reasons why someone would seek a dermatologist’s services at their local urgent care center.

Skin Cancer Screening

A dermatologist is the specialist you want to see if you need screening or treatment for skin cancer. Those who are more at risk for skin cancer, such as people with fair hair, light eyes, a history of blistering sunburns, or a family history of skin cancer, should speak to a dermatologist to find out how often they need a skin cancer screening. Early detection through routine skin examination is essential for successful treatment.

Besides regularly seeing a dermatologist at your local urgent care clinic, you should keep an eye out for any changes in the size, color, or shape of your moles. If you notice that a mole looks or feels different, a dermatologist can remove the suspicious tissue and look at it under a microscope to identify any cancerous cells. People who are undergoing treatment for other cancers and experiencing skin side effects from their medication often benefit from seeing a dermatologist as well.

Eczema

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes patches of dry and itchy skin and rashes to form on various parts of the body. People with eczema will often develop these irritating patches on their hands, feet, face, behind their knees, and inside their elbows. Eczema can also present in red, raised bumps, scaly patches of skin, swollen areas of skin, and skin color changes.

The main symptom of eczema is itching. As you scratch your dry patches of skin, you may get caught in an itch-scratch cycle that worsens your eczema symptoms rather than relieves them.

While there is no cure for eczema, a dermatologist can help you find ways to treat it and reduce your symptoms. Once they identify a treatment that works for you, you can allow your skin to heal and prevent skin damage and flare-ups of symptoms. The most common treatment for eczema is a routine of medications, moisturizers, and at-home skin care.

Acne

Almost everyone has had a pimple at some point in their life, but persistent acne can prove to be painful and cosmetically unpleasant for those suffering with it. While there are many face washes and creams that you can buy over-the-counter to treat acne, they won’t work on all types of acne. This is especially true for more severe cases.

If your acne isn’t responding to more common treatments, you can seek out a dermatologist to give you a personalized treatment. There are many different types of acne and a dermatologist can help identify the kind of prescription treatment that would work best for your acne and lifestyle. After prescribing the right medication, they can also follow-up with routine appointments to ensure your acne is responding correctly and your skin is clearing up.

Hair and Nail Care

The field of dermatology not only includes the skin but the hair and nails as well. These parts of the body are in the same integumentary system as the skin, making dermatologists well-equipped to deal with issues in these areas.

Common nail issues can include unusually frequent breakage, discoloring, and other nail disorders. The most common hair-related issue is hair loss. Dermatologists can help you with any unusual symptoms you notice in these areas and prescribe treatment or recommend how to better care for your hair and nails.

Cosmetic Dermatology

This category of dermatology covers issues that affect the appearance of your skin but may not be dangers to your overall health. However, any abnormalities can affect your confidence and self-esteem, making it important to seek treatment for these issues.

Typical examples of issues covered under cosmetic dermatology include stretch marks, scars, warts, skin discolorations, skin tags, and other non-cancerous lesions and growths. For issues like warts and growths, dermatologists will often remove them and prescribe ointments to help the healing process. They’ll often treat issues like scars and stretch marks with in-office laser treatments and other methods to improve the look of them.

In a 2016 survey, 75% of patients who visited urgent care said their care was good or excellent. While many people may only think that urgent care centers treat conditions like the flu or upper respiratory infections to get these high quality scores, these facilities can also provide dermatological services. Visit Care Station Medical Group today to see our experienced team of dermatologists for excellent treatment.