So ladies, go to the dermatologist.

We all know that going to the dermatologist can be a humiliating experience. It’s not always the kind of appointment you’re looking forward to, especially when you know you may have to strip off your clothes, wrap yourself in a paper-thin gown, and sit in a cool room staring at four walls waiting for the doctor. Y you know you’re waiting for the doctor to come in and look at your body… the same body you’ve been meaning to get on that treadmill for last month… or last year. But you’ve taken care of the things you can control: You’ve made sure to shower and shave your legs, and to wear underwear that’s nice (but conservative), but above all clean and hole-free. You did your hair and makeup and all the other things we usually do before we walk out the door to the public.

As a dermatologist and a woman, ladies, I’m going to take a chance with some great advice on your next visit. While all your efforts to shave, shower, and wear clean underwear are greatly appreciated, they are probably more important because they make you feel more comfortable, which is extremely important. I would like to give you some tips that will be of great help to make the most of your next visit to the dermatologist. Some of these may surprise you.

1. Don’t wear any face makeup! This is probably the hardest to swallow. It doesn’t matter if you’re seeing a dermatologist for acne or skin cancer. Makeup is meant to cover things up. Cover red spots, brown spots, pimples, dark circles under the eyes. It also covers skin cancers, skin pre-cancers, abnormal moles, and acne. I could go on and on, but the point is that it covers your bareThe same as you are at your dermatologist to have it checked out. Most dermatologists will ask you to remove your makeup because if your dermatologist can’t see it, she can’t treat it. It is understandable that there are times when you have to go to your appointment with makeup, for example, if you come from work. In that case, be prepared to take it off and bring your makeup if you need to reapply it after your appointment.

two. Take off your nail polish. Another hard. I know pedicures don’t come cheap, so the idea of ​​removing your polish before your appointment isn’t necessarily appealing. However, the nails can say a lot, not only about the skin, but also about other problems that could be going on internally. You can also develop skin cancer under your nails or cuticles. Melanoma in those areas can appear as a very subtle streak of color on a nail. Those kinds of things will be lost if you cover your nails with polish. So remember, ladies, take off your polish.

3. Do not apply lotions to the skin before your appointment. You may not want anyone to see your dry skin, but we can take it and we can treat it. The lotion can change the appearance of a lesion in its natural state, making it difficult to diagnose. Oh, and while I think about it, as women we usually apply lotion to our freshly shaved legs, I just want to tell you that it’s okay if you forget to shave. It doesn’t bother us at all. After all, dermatologists are specialists in skin, nails and hatred!

Four. Let your hair down and be prepared for a bit of a mess. A full body exam includes the scalp and the scalp cannot be seen without moving the hair a little. It also makes it difficult to see the scalp through stiff hair with hairspray.

5. Prepare to completely undress. Some of you may be a little uncomfortable with this, but remember, skin is everywhere. That includes under your bra, on your breasts, on your buttocks, between your buttocks, and in your pubic area. Despite the fact that those areas may not have seen as much sun as the skin on your arms and legs, you’re just as likely to develop melanoma-type skin cancer in those areas as in any other area. And while your dermatologist probably won’t put you in stirrups for a regular skin exam, you should consider removing your underwear so he can check those areas. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always request that the physician’s assistant be in the room during your exam. If the idea of ​​getting completely naked makes you uncomfortable, consider wearing that thong you purposely left in the drawer. I can’t tell you how many times a patient has apologized to me for wearing a thong, because it was deemed inappropriate in the doctor’s office. Believe it or not, it shows more skin, and skin is what your dermatologist is looking for for unwanted lesions.

6. Consider leaving your jewelry at home. This one is self explanatory. You would be surprised what a watch or a large necklace can hide.

7. Don’t worry about not getting on that treadmill. Your dermatologist sees big people, little people, short people, tall people, young people, old people. We have seen all the shapes and curves that exist or that you can imagine several times a day. So if you are self-aware, put your fear aside. Your dermatologist is just looking at your skin and focusing on finding problem areas, none of us are judging your body shape or size. Our concern is your health, not your physique.