Skin cancer doesn’t wait so your skin checks shouldn’t either! When it comes to diagnosing and treating skin cancer, early detection is key. which is why even throughout the pandemic, you should be conducting regular skin self exams as well as scheduling an annual skin check, or earlier visit if you notice anything suspicious, with your Dermatologist.
At Advanced Specialty Care, we offer both in-office appointments as well as telehealth visits where appropriate with our Board-Certified Dermatologists. Though telehealth does have limitations in terms of not being able to view suspicious spots in-person, perform a biopsy or other treatment, it can help determine if an in-office visit is warranted and can also be beneficial for other skin concerns such as acne, rashes, dry skin and more.
Dermatologist, Sarah Tullo, shares her tips on how to prepare for a teledermatology visit and what you can expect.
Take pictures.
New spots? Changing spots? Rash? Take a picture! Not only does this provide a baseline picture to see how something may change over time, it’s also often easier for your provider to see a close-up photo rather than trying to get a clear, focused view via video.
Share your pictures.
It’s helpful when you share your pictures prior to your appointment so we can view the photos ahead of time and refer to them during your video appointment. This is also helpful when you have a rash that comes and goes and may not be there during your appointment.
Make a list.
If you have multiple concerning spots or you find certain conditions make your acne worse, write it down and have it in front of you during your appointment. You’ll be able to go through your list and it will help me to better care for you and make recommendations.
Know what to expect.
Telehealth is a wonderful tool, especially during the pandemic. It provides another way to care for patients without patients ignoring their symptoms or delaying care if they aren’t able to leave their home. But, I always want my patients to have realistic expectations of what can and can’t be done through a video appointment as well. Some spots, moles, rashes, lumps and bumps can’t be diagnosed and treated over video and an in-office follow-up appointment may be required.
In the office, I’m able to perform Dermoscopy which is where I examine any suspicious areas with a dermatoscope. The dermatoscope is like a magnifying glass for your skin and it helps determine benign lesions from potentially cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions. Of course biopsies, skin cultures and cryo treatments among other things also can only be done in the office.
Office visits.
If you do need to be seen in the office, rest assured that we have rigorous safety and sanitization standards in place to ensure the health and safety of our staff and patients. Our practice continues to adapt and implement additional measures to meet the changing needs of our patients and the community. Read more about what we’re doing to ensure safe access to healthcare here.
If you have any skin concerns or need to see a Dermatologist, please contact our office at (203) 830-4700 or click here to schedule your appointment today. We have offices in Danbury, Norwalk, Ridgefield and Stamford, Connecticut and offer telehealth appointments where appropriate.