9 Questions to Always Ask at Your Annual Dermatologist Appointment

Between checking for signs of skin cancer, monitoring abnormalities and prescribing products to usher in healthier skin, your annual dermatologist appointment is vital. To ensure that you discuss everything you want to during the visit, Eagan, MN dermatologist Charles Crutchfield III, MD suggests writing down questions and bringing them with you.

Conversely, it’s just as important to be prepared to respond to questions from your doctor about past medical history, dermatologic histry, family history and current medications, says Bloomfield Hills, MI dermatologist Linda C. Honet, MD. She adds that it’s essential to be completely honest when answering any questions your dermatologist asks.

“There’s no reason to hide or stretch the truth,” says Dr. Honet. “Everything else falls into place when your dermatologist examines your skin—remember that your skin never ever lies!” Fort Lauderdale, FL dermatologist Dr. Matthew Elias says you should also tell your doctor what products you’re using on your skin. His brother, Fort Lauderdale, FL dermatologist Dr. Merrick Elias says disclosing any supplements and vitamins in your regimen is also important.

To make sure you cover all your bases during your appointment, we’ve rounded up some of the top questions dermatologists say you should ask.

“What kind of things determine my risk for skin cancer?”

— Chico, CA dermatologist Kafele Hodari, MD 

“What kind of things can I do to minimize my risk of developing skin cancer?”

— Dr. Hodari

“What are the best practices for optimal skin health?”

— Dr. Crutchfield

“Ask about the ABCD’s of mole changes that are significant. Asymmetry, Border changes and Bleeds, Color (i.e. black dark brown variations and diameter changes).”

— Delray Beach, FL dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby

“What is photoaging, and how can I reduce or minimize my risk of developing it?”

— Dr. Hodari

“What are some sunscreen suggestions?”

— Dr. Allenby

“What is the best thing I can do to have or maintain healthy glowing skin?”

— Dr. Hodari

“How often should I have a comprehensive skin exam?”

— Dr. Crutchfield

“What are skin conditions/changes that would cause me to call (you) my dermatologist before my next annual visit?”

— Dr. Crutchfield

It's Personal

At NewBeauty, we get the most trusted information from the beauty authority delivered right to your inbox

hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "8806970", formId: "a8aef9b2-6178-4dad-9e2a-98b7661febc2" }); Find a Doctor

Find a NewBeauty "Top Beauty Doctor" Near you

Select a state State AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC FL GA HI IA IL IN KY LA MA MD MI MN MO NC NE NJ NV NY OH OR PA SC TN TX UT VA WA WI Select a state Specialty Cosmetic Dentist Dermatologist Facial Plastic Surgeon Hair Restoration Specialist Oculoplastic Surgeon Periodontist Plastic Surgeon Prosthodontist Vein Specialist Select a state Treatment Abdominal thread lifts Accent your Body Acne Treatments Alexandrite Laser Arm Lift Asclera Bellafill Belotero Blue Light Body Body Lift Botox Botox Browlift Brachioplasty Brazilian Butt Lift Breast Augmentation Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting Breast Implants Breast Implants with Saline Breast Implants with Silicone Breast Lift Breast Lift with Implants Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Browlift Butt Enhancement Carboxytherapy Cellulite Treatment Cheek Augmentation Cheek Augmentation with Fat Grafting Cheek Implants Cheek Lift Chemical Peels Chin Augmentation CO2 lasers Cool Lipo CoolSculpting CoolTone Crowns Dental Bonding Dental Implants Dimpleplasty Diode Laser Dysport embrace Active Scar Defense Emsculpt Endermologie Endoscopic Browlift Endoscopic Facelift Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Erbium Lasers Exilis Ultra 360 Eyelift Eyelift with Fat Grafting Face Facelift Facelift with Fat Grafting FaceTite Fat Melters and Fat Reducers Fat Transfer Forma Fractional CO2 lasers Fractional Resurfacing Lasers Fractora Glycolic Peels Glytone Enhanced Brightening Cream Gum Dermabrasion Gum Lift Hair Hair Removal Hair Transplant Hair-Loss Treatment Injectables & Fillers for Cheek Augmentation Injectables & Fillers for Eyelift Injectables & Fillers for Lip Enhancement Injectables And Fillers Injectables and Fillers with Fat Grafting Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Invisalign Isolaz Juvéderm Juvéderm Volbella Juvéderm Voluma Kybella Lactic Acid Peels Laser Liposuction Lasers Lateral Tension Tummy Tuck Limited Incision Facelift Lip Enhancement Lip Enhancement with Fat Grafting Lip Implant Lip Lift Liposculpture Liposuction Liquid Facelift Long Pulsed N: Yag laser Lower Blepharoplasty Lower Body Lift Lower eyelid surgery Lower Facelift MACS Lift Mandelic Peels Microdermabrasion Microinjection Microneedling Microwave Laser Treatment Mini Tummy Tuck Mini-Facelift Mommy Makeover Nd: Yag Neck Liposuction Necklift Nonsurgical Facelift Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty Obagi Blue Peel Otoplasty Perlane Phenol Peels Photobiomodulation Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Photofacial PiQo4 Plasma Resurfacing Lasers Power Assisted Liposuction Prevelle Pulsed Dye Radiesse Radio Frequency with Microneedling Radio Frequency-Assisted Lipolysis Red Light Restylane Restylane Defyne Restylane Lyft Restylane Refyne Restylane Silk Revision Rhinoplasty Rhinoplasty Salicylic Peels SculpSure Sculptra Aesthetic Selphyl Silhouette Instalift Skin Skin Tighteners Skin Treatments Slim Lipo Smart Lipo SMAS facelift Smile Smile Makeover Smoothshapes Straightening Stretch Mark Treatments TCA Chemical Peels Teeth Whitening Thermage ThermiTight Thigh Lift Titan Tooth Contouring Traditional Facelift Tumescent Liposuction Tummy Tuck Ulthera Ultherapy Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction Umbilicoplasty Upper Blepharoplasty Upper eyelid surgery Vanquish ME VASER Lipo Vein Treatments Velashape Velasmooth Veneers Xeomin Search