When it comes to managing chronic skin conditions, your doctor has a secret agent. This person may never have been to medical school. In fact, he or she may be entirely new to treating skin problems. But without this agent’s help, successful management of your skin condition is virtually impossible.

You’ve probably guessed it already - the secret agent is you. Your doctor relies on your input and involvement at every stage of treatment: accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and long-term management. The National Institutes of Health offers these guidelines for working with your health care provider:

• Make a list of your questions in advance. It often helps to get your questions down on paper before a doctor’s appointment. This helps you organize your thoughts, and may reveal a question or concern that hadn’t occurred to you before. Bringing a written list with you to the appointment also ensures that you won’t leave anything out during the visit.
• Don’t hold back. Always provide your doctor with complete information about your medical history, habits, and symptoms. Before your first appointment, you may be asked to fill out a detailed medical questionnaire. Don’t leave anything out, no matter how insignificant it may seem to you. This information helps your health care provider rule out other conditions that may be causing your symptoms. If your doctor suspects you may have skin allergies, he or she may also use your medical history to narrow the field of potential allergens.
• Ask for clarification if you need it. Managing chronic skin conditions may involve self-care, such as maintaining a skin-care regimen or making lifestyle changes to avoid your triggers. If you have questions about your doctor’s instructions, don’t hesitate to ask them. If your doctor is unavailable, a nurse or pharmacist can help. Even if you’re fairly clear on your management plan, it may be worth your while to talk to other health care providers on staff. They may be able to offer useful tips based on the experiences of other patients.
• Don’t shy away from sensitive subjects. Many people with chronic skin problems feel embarrassed or ashamed about their condition. Others may feel angry or stressed when their management efforts don’t prevent every flare-up right away. Negative emotions like stress and anger can make existing symptoms worse, and may even trigger flare-ups. If you’re suffering from the emotional effects of your condition, tell your health care provider. He or she can refer you to a support group in your area.
• Discuss all changes in medication with your doctor. If you’re concerned about the side effects of a particular treatment, talk to your doctor about possible alternatives or changes in dosage. Never stop taking medication on your own. Treatments such as oral corticosteroids can be dangerous if you suddenly break your medication routine. Also ask your doctor what to do in case you accidentally skip a dose.
• Before trying any complementary treatment - especially if it involves taking herbs or dietary supplements - talk to your doctor first. While more people are turning to complementary care in addition to standard treatments, common herbs such as ephedra (also called ma huang) can have serious interactions with some prescription drugs.

Successful management of any chronic condition is rarely as easy as popping a pill. Most often, it requires a balance between your doctor’s responsibilities (making a diagnosis, prescribing medication, providing patient information) and your own. Stay informed, be inquisitive, and keep the lines of communication open between you and your doctor. Your health - and your health care provider - will benefit from the exchange.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 4th, 2007 at 7:22 am and is filed under Skin Concerns. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.