Your consultation is an opportunity for your dermatologist to understand your concerns, review your medical history, and perform a thorough examination of your skin. Depending on the reason for your visit, this may include assessment of a single lesion or rash, or a full skin examination, particularly for patients with concerns about skin cancer or changing moles.
Many skin conditions can be diagnosed through careful history and clinical examination alone. When additional investigations are required to confirm a diagnosis, these can often be arranged or performed during your visit. Depending on your condition, this may include skin swabs to identify bacterial or viral infections, skin scrapings to diagnose fungal infections, skin biopsies performed under local anaesthetic for microscopic examination, or patch testing to investigate allergic contact dermatitis.
At the end of your consultation, your dermatologist will explain the diagnosis, discuss the available treatment options, and develop an individualised management plan with you. Our aim is to ensure you leave with a clear understanding of your condition and confidence in the next steps of your care.