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Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:30 am  |
I went to the dermatologist for a botox consultation. Next thing i know, he is asking me if I have any moles, so he can check them. I was like, OK, I think I have one on my back. Then he asks if I have any on my legs, motioning me to take off my pants. Fine... Nothing there. Then he asks, any on my bum? I was going to remove my underwear but then I was like, no. You know what, I think im good. LOL. I just find it strange that I go in for botox and my underwear are supposed to come off. Does this seem normal?  |
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Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:18 pm |
| Same thing happened to me, actually. I went in to talk to a derm about my eczema, and he wanted me to strip down for a full body mole check. I got a weird vibe, told him no way, and haven't been back since. What is WITH these people? This is why I really prefer women dermatologists. |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:21 pm |
| He was probably (let's hope) trying to do a very thorough check for moles to make sure none are cancerous. If they are doing their job right, they really should check just about everywhere. That being said, I had a dermo a few years back when I went in for acne treatment ask me to take my top off to check for moles - I was uncomfortable, but assumed it was for the right reasons - but he didn't ask to check my bum! You could google what the protocol is for a mole check. |
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Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:44 pm |
Yes honey! He was within the bounds of current medical practice to check you EVERYWHERE for skin cancer! It can lurk anywhere...not just where the sun shines!!! I worked in derm for a while and we would give patients a brochure advising them to look EVERYWHERE on themselves with a mirror! Melanoma can even be between the toes, under the toenail, under the scrotum.....anywhere!
Shocking  probably, but he was being a good doctor!!! I myself would explain very clearly to patients WHY I was checking them everywhere....or show them the brochure as a guideline. Medical ppl can be so nosy, I know, but usually they are looking out for us! If you get a bad vibe though, like Manslayer, run for the hills! but get another Dr to do the check instead, or do it yourself! |
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✪ My go-to products: MyFawnie.BigCartel.com ✪ |
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Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:13 pm |
I agree with Fawnie.
A good derm should have checked under your hair, in your mouth, make you take your panties off and part the buttocks and check there, etc.
He should have explained better what he was doing and why, but at least he was trying to do the right thing.
I really do not care if the Doctor is male or female. I am more concerned for him to know what he is doing. Unfortunately there are so many that do not. |
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Early 50s, Skin: combin.,semi-sensitive, fair with occasional breakouts, some old acne scars, freckles, under-eye wrinkles; Redhead with hazel eyes |
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Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:52 pm |
It's true that skin cancer is at epidemic rates these days, so that a good dermatologist should always be checking for pre-cancerous signs for every patient. Having said that, I would ask for a nurse or female med tech to be present while an intimate mole check was being done.
Of course, as a cancer survivor, I'm pretty militant about doctors checking their patients without patients asking for it first... |
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Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:41 am |
My sister claims she has the "best" derm, and at her first visit (for a rash on her face), the nurse explained that she needed to remove all her clothes. "But it's on my face", she protested, and nevertheless complied. The derm did a thorough check of her whole body, using some kind of headlight device so he wouldn't miss anything.
At the last derm I went to see, the body-check was an "option" offered to me on the ppwk I filled out at first visit. |
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Nadine, age 50, live in VA; half-Asian, slight yellow tone; sensitive, dry/combo skin |
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Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:21 am |
| Well,He not only is a good doctor he is A responsible one..I do not think he was inappropriate ..He is suppose to check the whole skin ( Mole checks for cancer hello~)as thats his "Specialty"...I am not trying to defend him in anyway but he did the right thing the only thing he should have done is explain a little more and Keep a nurse in the office while doing the routine complete skin exam.....God forbid one of his pts gets the skin cancer after being in his office and he didnt do that "damn" complete exam ...Malpractice lawyer will have a party with his client...in hopes of getting big bucks...cha ching! |
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Mon Jan 19, 2009 4:12 pm |
| Same thing happened to my friend and you guessed it - a small cancerous growth was discovered on her inner upper thigh. She began treatment immediately. Since then, several more growths have developed and would have probably gone unnoticed for too long had it not been for the thorough exam. |
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blonde, blue eyes, fair, normal/dry skin, 53 |
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Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:11 pm |
I agree that the derm was being thorough BUT my dr. always has another person in the room with him, recording the details that he verbalizes as he examines my skin. (basically he describes each mole, AK, angioma, etc, in proper medical terms as he sees them and the technician documents the info. on a diagram of the body). The same process was used at the last practice I went to so I assumed that was the normal and appropriate process.
The other thing is that the nurse or technician who takes you to your room and speaks with you initially is the one who usually asks if you want a skin cancer check. I am guessing your dr. saw some moles on your exposed skin and that triggered the question?
I am a huge supporter of full body skin cancer checks but it would be uncomfortable for me to be examined in the manner described. |
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Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:05 pm |
Thanks for your opinions. Yes, I guess it makes perfect sense. I just did not expect to go in for botox one minute, and be asked to remove my underwear the next Also he seemed a little flirty, but maybe that is just his personality. He kept saying, have I seen you somewhere? You look so familiar  I will give him the benefit of the doubt though since he IS a dermatologist so I am sure he sees a lot of cancers and such. |
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Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:45 pm |
There is unfortunately an epidemics in USA (and Latin America) of skin cancers. It better to be safe then sorry.
The procedure differs from the office to the office (verbal notes, etc.). I am not sure if the presence of the nurse is required. Perhaps, you would feel more comfortable seeing a female physician?
Just a thought. |
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Early 50s, Skin: combin.,semi-sensitive, fair with occasional breakouts, some old acne scars, freckles, under-eye wrinkles; Redhead with hazel eyes |
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Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:49 pm |
My dermatologist checks my whole body, but there's a nurse in the room. I don't think you should ever be asked to remove underwear without a third person present.
Plus, she has me strip and put on the lovely paper gown before they enter. It would be sorta creepy undressing in front of someone, whether it's a male or female. |
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I’m 60, never smoked, eat healthy, fitness center + hiking, lots of water and nutrients, size 4 jeans  , some lower facial sagging, but it’s improving with AALS, Clarisonic, Remergent, L2K, (including her new hand held devices), Ageless exercises, peels, OCM, etc. “This is my face; deal with it.” Annette Bening |
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Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:21 pm |
I agree Cat, I hate to be naked in front of strangers.
It's helpful to have sheets and drape the patient discreetly so that only a small area at a time is exposed. Too bad medical ppl get in such a hurry and forget the niceties sometimes, because it doesn't have to be so embarrassing, really.
So, amonavis...we want to know if you are gonna get checked out???! Would it seem better or worse if the derm dr was a same sex or opposite? I am female and oddly, I feel better if the examiner is a male....just years of conditioning from all the gyne exams I have been subjected to over the years....I have no dignity left down there....  |
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✪ My go-to products: MyFawnie.BigCartel.com ✪ |
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Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:49 am |
Im not much of a beach person and am often in long pants or skirts so most of my body is never exposed to the sun. Im wondering though if you can still be at risk? Do the rays penetrate through clothes and still cause cancer. I guess at my age i should know
I did spend the first 20 yrs of my life though at the beach alot. Sunbaking etc |
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39, in Australia, using retin a, Skin actives I Bright and Antiaging Cream, change sunscreen regularly currently. |
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Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:51 am |
Carol69,
the answer to your question is - YES, you should have your skin examined.
Not all clothes can stops the sun rays (usually you have to buy specially treated ones), and the main risk factor is the sun exposure you had accumulated in the first 20 years of your life. It takes a long time from the exposure for a person to start having problems (over 20 years sometimes).
To play it safe it would be a good idea to have it checked and hopefully they find nothing and you will have your mind put at ease.
Good luck! |
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Early 50s, Skin: combin.,semi-sensitive, fair with occasional breakouts, some old acne scars, freckles, under-eye wrinkles; Redhead with hazel eyes |
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Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:59 am |
| catballou wrote: |
| Plus, she has me strip and put on the lovely paper gown before they enter. It would be sorta creepy undressing in front of someone, whether it's a male or female. |
Yes, that is the part that bothers me the most! If it was necessary to examine parts of the body covered by clothes, the dr. should have handed her a paper gown and stepped out of the room to allow her to undress without being watched. Ugh, the more I think about it, the more I think that this dr. crossed the line, whether intentionally or not. |
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Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:24 pm |
| sigma wrote: |
Carol69,
the answer to your question is - YES, you should have your skin examined.
Not all clothes can stops the sun rays (usually you have to buy specially treated ones), and the main risk factor is the sun exposure you had accumulated in the first 20 years of your life. It takes a long time from the exposure for a person to start having problems (over 20 years sometimes).
To play it safe it would be a good idea to have it checked and hopefully they find nothing and you will have your mind put at ease.
Good luck! |
Thanks sigma,you're right i should get them checked. At the very least i should be keeping an eye on any moles myself.
On the issue of discretion and a gown. My last pap smear i was not impressed as she gave me nothing to cover my 'private bits' She did leave the room while i got undressed but i was left there feeling totally exposed for 5 minutes. Next time im going to the womens health clinic where hopefully they are more professional. |
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39, in Australia, using retin a, Skin actives I Bright and Antiaging Cream, change sunscreen regularly currently. |
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Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:53 pm |
| catballou wrote: |
My dermatologist checks my whole body, but there's a nurse in the room. I don't think you should ever be asked to remove underwear without a third person present.
Plus, she has me strip and put on the lovely paper gown before they enter. It would be sorta creepy undressing in front of someone, whether it's a male or female. |
For me, this is the heart of the matter. I'm a HUGE believer in skin checks and think that everyone needs to have 'em done--- but at the same time, I think patients should demand a certain level of professional behavior. It's one thing to explain to the patient what the exam will include, have a nurse present, and give the patient privacy while she puts on her gown; it is quite another thing to tell the patient to strip down on the spot for an impromptu check. Not cool. |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:44 am |
Sadly, not all doctors are saints, and it’s a fact there are people with criminal records and more than a few junkies (well, they do have easy access to drugs) with medical licences. That said, thankfully, they are a very small minority.
In this kind of situation you have to go with your gut feeling. If it doesn’t feel “right”, it probably isn’t.
Even if he’s not intending any mischief, you as the paying patient should be able to expect professional behaviour. If he wanted to give you a full body skin check, he should request you to undress in private and provide some sort of gown/cover. You shouldn’t have to remove your garments in front of him, piece by piece, at his request, like you’re his own private stripper!
Maybe I sound overly harsh, but I regularly encounter delinquent doctors through work and you wouldn’t believe what some of them get up to. |
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Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:10 pm |
That is exactly what it felt like! It was as if Private Dancer by Tina Turner was playing in the background 
I know this is evil, but I wonder if he would give me a deal on Fraxel? 
Seriously though, when it came to my underpants it was the most akward moment ever. I was starting to take them off when I was like, you know what, I think I'm good actually. |
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Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:11 pm |
| fawnie wrote: |
So, amonavis...we want to know if you are gonna get checked out???! Would it seem better or worse if the derm dr was a same sex or opposite? I am female and oddly, I feel better if the examiner is a male....just years of conditioning from all the gyne exams I have been subjected to over the years....I have no dignity left down there.... |
To me it makes no difference as long as the doctor is professional. |
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Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:03 pm |
| Then you did the right thing for the situation, amonavis. If it feels creepy, it probably is. good for you!! |
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✪ My go-to products: MyFawnie.BigCartel.com ✪ |
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