How to Prepare for a Dermatologist Appointment: Before You Book, and What to Bring

Deciding to go is covered in when to see a dermatologist. This page is the next part, and most of what matters happens before you are in the room: which letters to look for after a name, what to say to the receptionist when you book, and what to write down while you still remember it.

The American Academy of Dermatology publishes guidance for all three, and several of its instructions are ones a first-time patient would have no reason to guess.

Before you book: what FAAD means

Those four letters are a credential rather than a decoration. The AAD explains that These letters stand for "Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology" and tell you that the dermatologist is board certified, and points to its own directory as the place to check.

A warning comes attached, because certification is a crowded field. The AAD says plainly that There are many types of boards and certifications, and names the three it considers sufficient if FAAD does not appear after a name:

• American Board of Dermatology
• American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Seeing one of those, in the AAD's words, means you know you're receiving care from a dermatologist who has passed board exams that thoroughly test knowledge, experience, and skills.

On cost, the AAD's advice is to ask the party that actually decides, and how much does a dermatologist cost covers why the ranges published online are usually somebody else's number. Call your insurance provider rather than the clinic, since They are the best source for learning whether a dermatologist is in your network and if the visit is covered, and note one exclusion it names directly: cosmetic procedures such as treatment for wrinkles usually are not covered.

When you book

Two of these change how long you wait, and almost nobody does the second one.

Book earlier than feels necessary. How far in advance to book a dermatologist has a stated answer: for a routine appointment, the AAD suggests you schedule several weeks or even months ahead of when you wish to be seen.

Say what is wrong when you call. This is the instruction worth acting on, because the queue is not strictly first come first served. The AAD's advice: If you are worried about a particular condition or have pain, briefly explain this to the receptionist or put in it in the online form, and it gives the example that matters most: if you have a mole that is itching, bleeding, or changing (signs of possible skin cancer), be sure to mention that.

The reason is that offices triage. In the AAD's description, Dermatologists try to work in patients with urgent issues as soon as possible, and you may be able to speak with the dermatologist or a nurse about the concern directly. A three month wait for a changing mole is often a wait nobody knew to shorten.

Ask about a waitlist. The AAD notes that Many dermatologists keep a waitlist, which moves people up when others cancel. Where an office does not keep one, its suggestion is to check back frequently.

The list to write before you go

The AAD's framing is a notebook and pen brought with you, with four things written in it beforehand. That is what to bring to a dermatologist appointment, and the second item is broader than most people assume.

Your questions. The stated reason is memory under pressure: When you are in the office, it can be difficult to remember all your questions.

Every medication, and not only medications. The AAD asks for All medications, vitamins, and supplements you take, with an explicit instruction not to filter: Be sure to include non-prescription medications like ones for acne or other conditions.

Two reasons are given, and the first is the one people do not consider. It is possible that something you're taking is contributing to a concern about your skin, hair, or nails, and separately, some medications interact with others. The over-the-counter acne treatment you did not think worth mentioning is exactly the kind of thing that belongs on the list.

Your family history. The AAD's reasoning is that Many skin conditions run in families, so a blood relative's condition can raise your own risk. It singles out what to be sure to mention: whether a blood relative has or had skin cancer or another serious disease. If you do not know, its advice is to ask relatives before the appointment rather than to guess in the room.

Any lab results you already have. If another doctor has run tests or taken a tissue sample, bring a copy. The AAD gives two benefits: it can help with diagnosis, and it can prevent unnecessary testing.

The morning of

Should I wear makeup to a dermatologist appointment? No, and the instruction covers more than makeup. The AAD: Do not wear makeup, nail polish, heavy amounts of moisturizer, or another skin treatment. The reason is simply that Your dermatologist needs to see your bare skin and nails.

Nail polish is the one that surprises people, and it comes up twice on the page, so it is worth taking literally: a nail exam cannot happen through polish.

There is a practical exemption for anyone who does not want to travel bare-faced. The AAD's suggestion is to bring what you need to remove it so that you can take it off at the dermatology office.

One thing to add from experience with the other half of this hub: if removing makeup leaves your skin red, that redness can obscure what you came to show. The same caution appears in the AAD's photography guidance, and how to photograph skin for a dermatologist covers it in the context of pictures. Removing it the evening before, or early enough that the irritation settles, avoids the problem in both cases.

In the room

The notebook has a second job once you are there. The AAD's instruction is to Keep your notebook and pen out during your appointment, and it gives two specific uses.

Write down the names. Its suggestion is that It can also be helpful to write down the medical names for any conditions your dermatologist may mention, so that you can look them up afterward. A condition name is the key to everything published about it, and it is the one thing that is hard to reconstruct later from memory.

Expect to be questioned, in detail. Staff will ask about medications, which is why the list is already written. Beyond that, the AAD says your dermatologist will also ask you detailed questions about your medical history and concerns, and gives acne as the example: how long you have had it, and what you have already tried.

That last one is worth preparing properly rather than answering from memory, because "I tried a few things" is not usable information. What you used, at what strength, for how many weeks, and what happened. The documented windows for judging whether a treatment worked are collected in how long skincare takes to work, and knowing them tells you which of your past attempts were long enough to count.

FAQ

What does FAAD mean? Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, which indicates the dermatologist is board certified. If it does not appear, the AAD names three other acceptable certifying bodies: the American Board of Dermatology, the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

How far in advance should I book a dermatologist? Several weeks to several months for a routine appointment, per the AAD. Booking early and asking about a waitlist are the two levers you have.

What should I bring to a dermatologist appointment? A notebook with your questions, a complete list of medications including non-prescription ones plus vitamins and supplements, your family medical history, and copies of any relevant lab or biopsy results.

Should I wear makeup to a dermatologist appointment? No. The AAD also says no nail polish, no heavy moisturizer and no other skin treatment, because the exam needs bare skin and nails. If you need to wear makeup to get there, bring remover and take it off at the office.

Do I really need to list vitamins and supplements? Yes. The AAD asks for them specifically, both because something you are taking may be contributing to the problem and because of interactions.

What questions should I ask a dermatologist? Whatever you wrote down, plus a request for plain language on anything you did not follow. Asking for the medical name of the condition is worth doing even when nothing is confusing.

Will insurance cover it? Ask your insurance provider rather than the clinic, since they are the ones who know your network and coverage. The AAD notes that cosmetic procedures are usually not covered.

Ask them to say it in plain language

One line on the AAD's page does more for a first appointment than any of the preparation above, and it is a permission rather than a task. Explanations may be complex, and terms may be unfamiliar, and the AAD's instruction is direct: You should ask your dermatologist to explain anything that is unfamiliar to you in simple, plain language.

Nothing about how to prepare for a dermatologist appointment matters much if you leave holding a word you cannot spell and a plan you did not follow. Bring the list, take off the polish, and then use the part of the appointment that is yours.