28/01/2021
If you’re one of my acne patients, you’ve most likely seen one of these masterpieces being drawn live (while I’m talking), upside down. They’re so pretty I often wonder why no one ever asked to take them home. 🤔😅
Kidding aside, what I want to emphasize here is the importance of knowing what’s happening to your skin (or hair, or nails).
I’ve always been interested in pathophysiology (and drawing, and talking 😂), and it has been an integral part of my Dermatology practice. I would take time explaining (often with drawings—examples posted) to my patients how a skin problem came about and linking it to the treatment plan. This way, I’m hoping they’d understand why they need to follow my instructions and in turn, be more compliant.
However, with the COVID pandemic, consult time has been considerably shortened. Here are some tips to make the most out of a consult with me (or with other PDS board-certified dermatologists):
1. Recall the events surrounding your concern before coming in for a consult (this makes history taking faster)
2. Wear appropriate clothes for easier examination (ex. for lesions on the legs, wear shorts, skirts or loose pants; on the arms, sleeveless tops)
3. If the lesion is on the face, wash before going to the clinic (avoid wearing makeup); if on the nails, remove nail polish beforehand
4. Make a list of questions (never be afraid to ask—most questions aren’t as stupid as you think they are)
These tips will help make parts of the consult faster, which gives us a little more time for discussion. Remember, knowledge is power (in our case, power over your skin, hair or nail concern).
Stay safe! 💕
P.S. If you still want one of these drawings, just let us know. We’ll be glad to give you one (can also be signed upon request 😂).
