Sensitive Dermatologist

[mvc]

Hello, my wife has had some scarring acne, usually around hormonal events (e.g. pregnancy). I'm wondering if this is unusual or something that she should get checked out by a dermo. Also, I would like to find her a dermatologist that would be sensitive to her doctor phobia, and am at a loss as to how I would find one. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Does,t remind me of any diseases.  She needs to be seen.

Dr. Rockoff

[mvc]

Sorry, but I was wondering if you could respond to some specifics that I left out: one pimple like skin thing that's been around for almost 20 years, near where her underwear would rub the skin, one on her upper arm (where short sleeve may have
rubbed against it(?), one on lower back that she's had
for 10 yrs or so and a few on her legs that she's had
for 5 or so years.  They are pink and turn skin
colored when pressed (like a pimple would, not like a
'pigmented' mole or freckle).  She seems to have gotten
them all during periods of hormonal fluctuation, ie.
pregnancy or breastfeeding or high stress times.
There's been no changes that I can see to any of them.
Could this possibly  be pre-cancerous?  Or a symptom
of some other disease that she should get checked out? Thanks again, mvc

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

If the acne bothers her, sure you should seek out a dermatologist.  As to finding a sensitive one, I'm not sure how to respond.  You could drop a note ahead of her visit to give the doctor a heads up about her sensitivity.

It should be relatively easy to find a gentle dermatologist--we don't do invasive things, certainly not to acne patients....

Best.

Dr. Rockoff