A Scottish dermatologist with 30 years of experience reveals a list of things that skin doctors would like the public to know. They take care of a myriad of conditions affecting the largest organ in our bodies, and they are very busy because there aren't enough dermatologists. First off, he lets you in on what a dermatologist's life is like.
1. Please stop asking us to take a "quick look" at your lumps, bumps, blemishes, and moles.
Our friends, acquaintances, and Tinder dates just can't seem to resist the urge to drop their pants in front of us to show us a "weird skin thing". Please don't, especially when we're not working and we're just trying to have a nice time. Make an appointment with us instead, and get your weird thing seen to properly.
4. Yes, we are "real doctors".
We can't count the number of times we've been asked if all we do is pop pimples and rub in lotion for a living. Nope. In actual fact, medical dermatologists treat serious medical conditions and perform operations on skin cancers including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinomas. It's heavy going.
Then the list goes into specific advice about taking care of your skin. The post contains some images that may be difficult for the squeamish, but you'll likely learn something important for your health, like how to prevent cancer and not go broke treating acne. See all 24 brutally honest confessions of dermatologists at Buzzfeed.