When is it time to seek for diagnosis by a skin specialist instead of a general practitioner doctor? How do you know if your condition should be treated by a general doctor or do you need the treatments by a skin specialist doctor?

Last week, we had a special Patient Mailbox series involving both Dr Peter Ch'ng, our consultant dermatologist (skin specialist), and Dr Loo, our aesthetic physician, to explore the differences between a skin specialist doctor and an aesthetic physician. You can check it out here: Patient Mailbox: Should I See a Skin Specialist or an Aesthetic Doctor?

Today, we take a look at 5 signs that show you might need to see a skin specialist doctor!

1. Your mole is changing shape / has an irregular shape

There are many different types of moles: some are flat, some are raised; some moles disappear as we grow, and some also appear along as we age.

However, if you notice your mole(s) changing in shape or colour, or if it itches or bleeds abnormally, you should check with a skin specialist doctor and have a biopsy immediately to spot any possibilities of skin cancer.

Dr Loo recently shared her experience with a patient who did a mole removal treatment elsewhere. The procedure was done with no proper examination, just a laser treatment to get rid of the mole directly. It helped the patient achieve her objective, which was to get rid of the mole.

However, after the treatment, the lesion left at the treatment spot turned bigger, and it turned out to be a form of skin cancer that was causing the mole formation in the first place. 

So if you find your mole in an irregular shape, or if it changes shape, you'd need to consult a skin specialist doctor!

2. You have severe acne inflammation

Acne on the face means that there's bacteria present on and beneath the skin. Laser treatments that can kill the bacteria can effectively help you get rid of your acne, but if your acne returns again and again, there may be underlying problems causing your acne inflammation other than bacteria.

For example, if you are a female patient with chronic acne problems, there's a possibility that it could be caused by hormonal disorder. If a female patient has acne and menstruation problems, it is possible that she has Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). And treatment for PCOS is needed in order for the acne to be treated successfully.

However, only skin specialists will help you in diagnosing your acne problems by tracing it down to the root cause. Rather than just treating the symptom by getting rid of the acne on your skin surface, you can consult a skin specialist doctor to help you find out the root cause of your acne and help you get rid of your acne problems once and for all.

*Editor’s note: As an esteemed dermatologist and skin specialist, Dr Peter prides himself in being able to treat acne patients of all types, with a 100% acne treatment success record. If you’d like to ask more about acne or have a discussion with Dr Peter, you can contact us at +6011-22882299, Whatsapp us here, or book an appointment with Dr Peter here!

3.You have rough, dry, itchy skin

If you have really dry skin which can get itchy and flaky, and you have tried moisturisers and medical cream from the pharmacies but they didn't work, there's a possibility that your dry skin is a deeper problem than that is seen on the surface of your skin.

Just treating the skin problem on the surface alone would only treat the symptom temporarily, but without really finding out the root cause, the skin problems will always come back, sometimes even in a worse or stronger form.

For example, thyroid disease can cause skin problems like dryness and itchiness. So if we don't pick up on the thyroid disease, we would just be treating the symptom of the condition, but not the root cause to solve the problem.

Dry and itchy skin may be a symptom of eczema or psoriasis as well.

In cases like this, seeing a skin specialist would help you get down to the problem and solve it once and for all.

4. You are experiencing severe hair loss in a short space of time

Even though hair loss is a common phenomena especially among men, experiencing hair loss rapidly in a short period of time may be a warning sign of other symptoms of underlying problems in our body.

Hair loss treatments can also be found anywhere. It is widely advertised by beauty centres, online shops, and even in the streets. They promote miracle-like solutions using chemicals or devices that claim to be able to treat hair loss easily and immediately.

However, we actually need to understand that hair loss treatment is by no means such a simple procedure that can be done by the street within 30 minutes. 

Treating hair loss requires an accurate diagnosis on the condition of the scalp to find out the root cause for hair loss, before an effective treatment can be carried out.

Hair loss can be treated with topicals or treatments like PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) and stem cell treatment. Treating the root cause of hair loss is very important, so that hair loss doesn't occur again immediately after the treatment.

Therefore, getting the right diagnosis from a specialist doctor like a dermatologist is very important.

5. You are looking for the safest and most effective solution for your skin problems and aesthetic needs

Did you know that for aesthetic treatments like facelift, fat removal, or wrinkle reduction, dermatologists are your best bet for a safe and effective treatment?

With the knowledge of a skin specialist on the skin and beneath, it helps to provide you with the best and safest treatment for your desirable results.

It is often misunderstood that skin specialists are only proficient in treating skin problems. However, skin specialists are actually the authority for cosmetic dermatology, which includes aesthetic treatments and improvements, in many places in the world.

Remember, safety is always of utmost priority when it comes to any treatment, whether it be medical or aesthetics. Rather than taking a risk on the flyers that advertise an aesthetic enhancement by unverified sources, it is best to go for safety to avoid any complications.

We'll be back with the Patient Mailbox series with Dr Peter Ch'ng next week, so stay tuned!

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If you’d like to ask more about your skin condition or have a discussion with Dr Peter, you can contact us at +6011-22882299, Whatsapp us, or book an appointment with Dr Peter here!