Dermatological (skin) examination

A dermatological examination is a diagnostic check-up to evaluate the skin, hair, and nails. The dermatological assessment typically includes the patient's history, when the dermatologist will review the medical records, and symptoms if the patient has any. Next, the doctor will physically examine the patient's skin, hair, and nails. They are looking for any signs of abnormalities or issues such as rashes, moles, or nail fungus. Next, a dermatoscopy examines the skin using a specialized device called a dermatoscope. It magnifies the skin surface and illuminates it with polarized or non-polarized light. It lets the dermatologist see parts of the skin that can't be seen with the naked eye - for example, changed pigmented skin lesions, blood vessels, or hair follicles. Some blood tests are also recommended. Finally, the dermatologist will make a diagnosis and provide treatment recommendations based on the examination and test results. Early detection and diagnosis of skin, hair, and nail conditions such as skin cancer, eczema, or psoriasis help to find proper treatment. Doctors can also identify other conditions that may have skin manifestations, such as diabetes, lupus, etc. Dermatologists watch if the therapy helps and give the patients the ability to have healthy skin, hair, and nails.