So I decided as my New Year's Res to finally get my skin under control. I am 26 and am going to take a more active approach to getting nice skin.... so the question is.. what kind of derm should I go see?
Living in NYC, I am close to a lot of great, high-profile derms... but I wonder, are they worth it? I also don't really know anyone who goes to a derm regularly, so I don't have anyone I could get a recommendation from. Do you think it's okay just to go to anyone because it's more about the treatment/medication?
I would like to hear your thoughts.. and if you are in NYC, love to hear your recs! :)
Don't have any doc recs for you unfortunately, but didn't want your post to go unanswered . Many, many derms have a pretty cookie-cutter approach to treatment, especially if this will be your first time at a derm. I'd do lots of research about different treatments BEFORE you go to the doc, so you're informed about the different treatment options and what they are used for and their effectiveness. Many will try to start you out on antibiotics and/or a low dose topical antibiotic - in my sonotadoctor personal experience, I've never seen antibiotics really help anyone, and since it's not something you can continue long term IMO it's a hassle when you're on it (oral antibiotics interfere with BCP, and some you have to take 4 (!) times a day) and is just not a long term solution for someone with persistent and/or adult acne.
You know your own skin better than any doctor, so you really have to be prepared to advocate for your own care. If you find a treatment that sounds like it would be ideal for your particular skin condition, ask about their experience with it, the results they've seen with it, and if you can start out on that. IMHO if you don't direct your care, you could very easily end up on the default regime that docs hand out regardless of your situation, only to have them shrug their shoulders at you when nothing they've prescribed has worked .
Sorry, that was terribly doctor-negative. If you get a good, results-oriented doc that's willing to try new things and think outside the box, your battle will be much easier .
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