Your dermatologist gets fifteen minutes. Make them count.
Most of what a dermatologist needs to help you — when it started, what changed, what you've already tried — lives in your memory, where it reliably evaporates the moment you sit on the exam table. Build it all here first, then print a one-page sheet to hand over at check-in.
What kind of visit is it?
Pick one — the "what to expect" notes below adjust to match.
Your symptom timeline
One entry per concern. "It started around March and spread after the beach trip" beats "a while ago" every time.
Products you're currently using
"Are you using anything on it?" is guaranteed to come up. Search our database, or add anything else by hand.
Questions to ask
Check the ones you want answered — they go on your sheet in order.
What to bring
Check what applies — the sheet prints these as a packing list with tick boxes.
Attach from your other tools
Anything you've logged elsewhere on this site — flare diary, symptom scores, patch tests, photos — can ride along on the printed sheet.
Pick which photos go on the sheet — a printed page fits about a dozen.
Nothing logged yet. A flare diary, an eczema severity score, a patch test log, or progress photos would all strengthen this sheet — each takes a couple of minutes to start.
Auto-saved on this device as you type. Nothing leaves your device.
Saved only on this device — and browsers erase site data. A history clear, a private window, or Safari's automatic deletion after seven days without a visit will take this log with it. The fix is a free Dermington account: it backs this up automatically and puts it on every device you sign in to — details in how storage works.
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How the prep tool works
Start by telling it what kind of appointment you have — a first visit, a full-body skin check, a specific concern, or a follow-up — and it lays out exactly what that visit looks like, from the paperwork to the dermatoscope. Then you build the substance: a symptom timeline (when it started, how it changed, what you've tried), the products currently on your shelf — pulled from our review database or typed in by hand — the questions you want answered, and a bring-along checklist. One click prints it all as a clean one-page sheet you can hand over at check-in.
Why bother? Because dermatology appointments are short, and the details that drive a good diagnosis — dates, product names, what actually helped — are precisely the ones that vanish under exam-room pressure. A written timeline and product list turns five minutes of "um, some cream, maybe last spring?" into thirty seconds of useful history. It's educational preparation, not a diagnosis: the assessment itself belongs to your board-certified dermatologist. And it's private by design — everything stays in your browser, with nothing uploaded anywhere.
Common questions
What should I expect at my first dermatologist appointment?
Mostly conversation, then a focused exam. Expect detailed questions about your medical history, medications, allergies, and any family history of skin cancer, followed by a close look at whatever brought you in. First visits typically run 15–30 minutes — and if you want a head-to-toe skin check, say so when you book, because it is not automatic.
What should I tell my dermatologist?
The timeline is the most valuable thing you can bring: when the problem started, how it has changed, and everything you have already tried — including over-the-counter products. Add your full medication and supplement list plus any family history of skin cancer. This tool assembles all of it onto one printable page so nothing gets forgotten in the room.
Should I wear makeup to a dermatologist appointment?
Skip it if you can. Your dermatologist needs to see your actual skin — the redness, texture, and pigment that concealer exists to hide. If you are having a full-body skin check, also remove nail polish, since nails can show early signs of melanoma and other conditions. Arrive bare-faced, or plan to take makeup off at the office.
How do I prepare for a full-body skin exam?
Come with clean, product-free skin: no makeup, no nail polish, and hair you can move aside so your scalp is easy to check. Before the visit, note any spots that are new, changing, itching, or bleeding so you can point them out rather than trying to remember. The exam itself takes about 10–20 minutes in a gown, and the dermatoscope — a lit magnifier — is completely painless.
What questions should I ask a dermatologist about acne?
Ask what type of acne you have and what is driving it, which treatment plan they recommend and how long before you should see results, which side effects — purging, dryness, irritation — are normal versus worth a call, and whether anything in your current routine is making things worse. If over-the-counter products have not worked after two to three months, ask specifically about prescription options.