Embarrassed To See A Dermatologist? 4 Tips
Posted on: 29 May 2020
Dermatologists are experts at treating skin conditions, but the thing about skin conditions is that they can be embarrassing. As such, you might feel a bit shy and apprehensive about seeing a dermatologist about your skin conditions. Here are some tips to help you deal with your embarrassment and seek the care you need.
Write down your questions ahead of time.
When you're embarrassed, you may struggle to remember what you need to ask, or you may jumble your words and fail to get your point across. One way to mitigate this problem is to write down your questions ahead of time. You can then read the questions to your dermatologist, or you can even hand them your piece of paper with the questions on it. (Letting them read it might be best if you feel uncomfortable saying certain words that you've written down.)
Remember your dermatologist is a doctor and a professional.
You might be embarrassed to show and talk about your skin with your friends and family members, but remind yourself that the doctor is different. They are a professional, and they are not there to judge you. Their job is to treat skin conditions, so whatever you have to show them will not shock or alarm them. Being open, honest, and thorough in your interactions with the dermatologist will just make their job easier, and ultimately what you want is for them to do their job and do it well.
Consider a telemedicine appointment.
Ask your dermatologist if they offer telemedicine appointments. If they do, you may want to take advantage of this option. Basically, you would video chat with your doctor rather than going into their office. You can show them your skin via camera, which can feel a lot less embarrassing and vulnerable than showing it off in person.
Visit early in the morning.
When you're feeling embarrassed and apprehensive about your appointment, the later in the day it is, the worse you'll be. You are likely to spend hours mulling over the appointment and letting your embarrassment grow. If your appointment is first thing in the morning, you won't have as much time for the tension to build.
Dermatology appointments can be embarrassing, but with the tips above, you can make it through. Just remember that this is an important first step towards healing your skin condition and being more comfortable with your own appearance.
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