Women Dermo vs. Gyno

My wife says that at times it is more embarrassing to go to the dermo then the gyno because she is fully undressed for the dermo and he opens both her butt checks and parts her labia to look at all her skin.

What do you think?

While I've never had a gyno exam, dermo exams are VERY thorough with no inch of your body skipped.

Why does it matter? Both exams are for different checks. The Gyno is for the women's reproductive health, cancers and other women's anomalies. The Dermo is to check for Skin Cancer. Skin Cancer is the most easily found and most easily rectified if you find it soon enough. If you want more info get in touch with AndreaSLC here and she can really help you understand the exams.

Why would you be embarrassed to have a trained professional check your biggest organ, meaning skin, to find our if there are any lesions that may exist. These can and doi exist in mucosal membranes, too, which include the inner folds of your anus, a woman's labia and vagina. They also exist in mouths, noses and eyes.

Get checked and have a healthy life. hey, if you're like me you wouldn't mind a person of the opposite gender looking over your whole body, even if they aren't stimulated and you could be...

Raven has hit the nail right on the head. When I was a teen, my mom packed me off to a dermatologist once a week for treatment of (moderate) acne. He was one of the few doctors I have ever truly disliked, but he made my life a living hell. That was back in the days of "no pizza, no chocolate, no sodas" and liberal doses of Retin-A and tetracycline. It was forbidden for me to touch my skin with anything other than soap and water but it was fine for him to spend an hour a week picking at anything that even looked like a zit.

Anyway, now I'm in the process of waiting for a kidney transplant. The immunosuppressive drugs that I'll be on post-transplant will significantly raise the potential for skin cancer so I know that from that point onward, I will have to visit a dermatologist at least once a year for a full going over. And I'm required to have a Pap smear every year for the rest of my life. So really, what's the difference? It's just another medical professional doing what they have been trained to do.

My dermo doctor is a young lady my daughter has been good friends with since elementary school. She for the most part grew up as part of my household and is now one of my trusted Dr.

My daughter made me go have a mole looked at, I thought it was just going to be lift my shirt, zip and out the door. Nope, I heard the words, Pops, we need to be careful so you will be around for awhile, slip those pants off and lean back!!!!!

What the hell, did'nt you little girls sneak enough peeks when I was taking a shower years ago?... She laughed but said don't make me call your daughter and the other nurses to help you strip!

I was embarrassed to say the least but I was happy she was being very cautious and through. Found a couple of spots that needed attention.

Cheers,

Skybear

A complete real skin check up may indeed require total nudity from the patient this can also give an excellent scenario for medical play even if by itself the dermatological exam only includes the inspection component not recurring to the so appreciated auscultation and palpation skills. ( perhaps incorporating the dermatological exam in a really really thorough complete exam would be a very exciting idea...)

Ok, I understand that 99.99% of all doctor’s appointments are completely necessary to avoid potential problems. But I am coming from the medfet side. I have been in many of my wife’s exams and my medfet fantasy is completely turned off and my wife’s medical needs are my upmost concern.

But, when I do go with the medfet fantasy the dermo fantasy turns me on a bit more because the doctor has my naked or almost naked wife in different positions (of his choosing) to check every part of her body.

Exactly IMFPICS. The reality is often fraught with stress and worry but after the fact in fantasy is another story all together.

Yes, I guess so. for breast exam , they make you naked waist upward. For pelvic exam , it is waist down. But for skin check you should be full naked.

My derma gives me a choice on how much clothing she removes, but I just take all off!

First, I'm a guy so maybe I shouldn't write this here, but, ... My dermatologist has me strip down to underpants, then put on the gown. I have had a few benign tags in my crotch and I have to get her to look at them as she isn't likely to check anything there. Don't know what she does with the ladies.

I'm a guy as well, and the last time I was examined by my female dermatologist, I was asked to "take everything off" and covered with a towel. She looked at everything---my pubic hair, penis, scrotum, between my buttocks, etc.

I just went to derm exam and was completely naked with no gown offered!

My wife says that at times it is more embarrassing to go to the dermo then the gyno because she is fully undressed for the dermo and he opens both her butt checks and parts her labia to look at all her skin.

What do you think?

I think your wife has a great dermatologist. While I'm naked for mine, she avoids my groin and genitals unless she incidentally notices something or I point something out.

Oh man, I hate going to the dermatologist (whom I refer to as "the butcher"). I'm very fair skinned, and I had an atypical mole removed when I was younger. At this point I've had about half a dozen moles removed and I'm only 25. I have whatever type of skin that is most prone to skin cancer so I am supposed to go every six months. In addition to that my fiancee's father lost his life to skin cancer in 2009 a little before we met so she's pretty adamant about me staying on it. She on the other hand, is very fair skinned, but has a type of skin that isn't as prone to skin cancer. We've gone to the dermatologist together and it was a fun adventure, although she only has a few moles and no freckles so he was quicker with her than me.

Anyways just an anecdote. I didn't realize they had different classifications of skin.

SKIN CANCER, MELANOMA prevention, treatment is one of my biggest platforms, passions!

Even if your provider offers you a gown, a drape for modesty and moves it as needed, EVERYTHING needs to be looked at. This includes all the places skin cancers, pre skin cancers, melanoma likes to hide and is easily not noticed. Women, when having a skin cancer check, IT IS BEST to not wear fake nails, painted nails on your fingers and toes. It is also best to refrain from wearing any cosmetics. Skin cancer, melanoma can be found anywhere, including inside of the body. Even those that occur inside of the body can be caused from sun exposure and tanning beds. The following list are places skin cancer and melanoma grow that is easily overlooked. These areas need special attention.

- on your head, in your hair

- the back of your neck

- in your ears, on your ears, behind your ears

- in natural occurring body creases such as the back of your neck

- in the webbing of your fingers

- in nailbeds of your fingers and toes

- the bottom of your feet,

- the backside of your legs and arms

- between the buttocks (buttcrack)

- femoral fold where the femoral pulse is located

- back of the knee where the popliteal pulse is located

- back of the elbows

- creases in the eylids, in the eyebrows

- creases in the nose

- between the folds of the male and female genitalia, on the genitalia and in the pubic hair

- in gluteal fold in the back of the leg where the gluteal muscles meet the hamstrings (the crease under the buttcheek where it meets the back of the leg)

It is important to learn the signs of skin cancer and melanoma. Some things to be aware of is a zit or something similar that never goes away in the same spot. My Mom, who was almost killed by melanoma. After barely surviving her first diagnosis of melanoma she developed a very small red mark on the side of her nose that never seemed to go away after it appeared. It turned out to be melanoma again. We caught it soon enough and it was a quick office procedure to remove it. It was removed without leaving a scar using the Mohs technique. The Mohs technique is used to eliminate or reduce scars if at all possible. There are things that look like skin cancer or melanoma that are not skin cancer, pre cancerous or melanoma. There are also things that look like nothing at all that are pre cancerous, skin cancer or melanoma.

Yes, there are different types of skin. Some skin types are very high risk for skin cancer and melanoma. The enviroment you live in, elevation above and at sea level also play into elevating or reducing your risk per your inherent genetically imposed risk factors. Though it is important to remember that ANYONE, ANY SKIN TYPE CAN DEVELOP SKIN CANCER AND MELANOMA. Yes, a General Practioner, Internist, Family Medical Physician, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practioner can give you a look over for anything obvious to their eye as in the places it likes to hide. It IS best to have your skin check to be done by a Dermotologist. Some of them have Physician Assistants and Nurse Practioners who do the cancer skin checks and may do the biopsy, Mohs. Bear in mind they have training for it. You can always insist to have the Dermotologist perform the exam. If one of these assistants insists on doing a preliminary exam, an extra set of eyes and hands is always a good thing when it comes to skin cancer and melanoma exams. Thickness, thinning of skin, rough areas, raised areas of the skin etc are felt with the hands and fingers as well as visually inspected. It is appropriate to have your skin palpated for these very reasons.

Ladies, skin cancer and melanoma does hide in the vagina. During the internal portion of the pelvic exam, skin cancer and melanoma can be checked for visually and through palpation. If you are higher or high risk for skin cancer and or melanoma be sure to remind your provider to check for it when they are performing the pelvic exam.

Using skin products for the sun and understand how the following factors should determine what products you use:

- Understand the differences between sun tanning lotions, sunscreens, sunblocks

- Understand the differences between water resistant, waterproof, sweat proof

- Understand the correct way to apply these products for maximum protection

- Understand the terms broad spectrum, helioplex, UVA/UVB rays

- If your lip balms, chapsticks, cosmetics, moisturizer has sun protection in them, be aware of how they work and interact

You can ask your dermotologist to explain this. If they are unsure, as some of them are, you can ask them for information on who to contact such as a dermotologist who specializes in skin cancer and melanoma. Yes, Dermotology has specialties within its own category.

Yes, just because its cloudy out, inclement weather etc, the sun rays still come through onto your skin. Tanning salons, tanning beds, they are just as dangerous as the sun, in fact they are a lot more dangerous. One of the melanoma cancer survivors, their family owned a chain of tanning salons here. This incredible lady followed all the rules set to "safely" tan in a tanning bed. Before she started tanning she was very low risk for melanoma. It almost killed her and many others they knew. Even with extensive plastic surgery, it is still obvious the damage that was done. The family closed all their tanning salons.

Skin cancer and melanoma are one of the easiest cancers to prevent as well as treat when they are found early.

WHY AM I SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT? It has killed family members and friends, almost killed family members and friends. The first one I found on the crown of my Mothers head looked like nothing. I found it when I was coloring her hair. It almost killed her. It had already spread into some of the lymph nodes. I am also VERY fair skinned natural redhead that increases my high risk even more so. No, I am not afraid of the sun. I use smarts and wisdom to protect myself. My family members and friends who have died from it and those who have not died with it have always been very careful to minimize the risks they/we have control over.

Melanoma, breast cancer and colon cancer have the same gene marker, BRCA. It has been discovered that having one of these cancers develop can trigger/cause one of the others to develop. The dermatologist and oncologist our family and many of our friends use is one of the very top experts in the fields of skin cancer and melanoma prevention, treatment and research. He and fellow colleagues are involved in making this information available to the medical community, providers, patients, caregivers for those with melanoma as well as regarding breast and colon cancer.

Andie you are right on.

20 year melanoma survivor

Just to reenforce the importance of your continued dermatology visits A recent study publish by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that recurrence of melanoma skin cancer 10 or more years after initial treatment is more common than previously thought, occurring in more than one in 20 patients. These patients however tend to live longer after their cancer returns than patients whose melanoma recurs in the first three years.

As Andie has previously stated prevention and early detection and treatment is essential. According to the study “Fortunately, the vast majority of melanoma patients who remain disease free longer than 10 years will not have a recurrence,” Dr. Faries said. “However, patients should be aware that persistent or unexplained symptoms anywhere in the body might indicate a recurrence of their melanoma, and they should return to their physician to make sure the symptoms are not related.”

Even when symptoms are absent, Dr. Faries recommended that patients get an annual clinical examination with their melanoma physician or primary care physician.

Dr. Faries recommended that patients get an annual clinical examination with their melanoma physician or primary care physician.

Interesting. In the US, under Medicare, my PCP is just a coordinator. To get a full skin exam, I need to go to the dermatologist. Isn't great when the government works to save money?

That's very interesting, I've never heard of an exam like that. So she's just naked the entire time - even when the doctor is examining, say, her back or her arms or another neutral part? Is that standard procedure or was he just more thorough than most....?

In addition to full body dermo checks, for those who are melanoma survivors, a head to toe full body PET scan is done as routine every 6 months for the first 3-5yrs and then once a year. The frequency the PETS are done are also based on the patient history, family history, risk, type of melanoma and the treatment(s) they received as well as places it has or may metastasize to.

Why a PET scan vs an MRI or CT? Cancer cells are drawn, attracted to sugar. Cancer cells LOVE sugar. The radioactive sugar prep the patient is given is full of radioactive sugar. If there are cancer cells present, it shows up on the scan. There is a chance of false positives with this test, though for the most part this is one of the most affective tools for detecting cancer where it is not visually seen or felt with physical hands on examination. Lymphatic mapping is used as a tool, generally when cancer is already found and it is suspected to have traveled into the lymph ducts, nodes and or vessels of the lymphatic system. The test results also determine what course of treatment is needed.

I totally agree with your wife. I also feel that it would be more embarressing for a dermo to check me out partly dressed. It would feel as if we were doing something secretive and embarressing. This happened to me once and I know the feeling.

My wife's dermatologist is a guy. I hope he is very thorough.

Bravo Andie - well said. I am also a melanoma survivor and get my complete examination with my dermatologist every year. I am more than happy to strip down and have every part of my body examined. Due diligence is how my melanoma was found on the side of my leg and a yearly dermatology exam because I had other atypical moles removed in the past. Fortunately and because I was careful getting checked annually, my Stage 0 (earliest stage) was cured by a simple wide excision. I was only 36 years old at the time. Be sun smart and get checked.

JDS4med, I think your mistaken when you state that under medicare, a PCP cant do a skin exam because they are just a coordinator. While PCP's are coordinators under the "medical Home" model, nothing in the affordable care act prevents/limits the primary care doctor's ability to perform a full skin exam. The reason that most PCP don't perform full skin exams is because countless studies have concluded that they are not as good at distinguishing problem skin lesions from benign skin lesions. Consequently, many pcp refer to dermatologist not because of government interference, but because they want to save more lives.

Jags2012,

Congratulations!

I could go into vast greater detail about skin checks, skin cancer, melanoma, diagnoses, staging, lymph mapping, mole mapping, treatment, prevention, wide excisions to obtain clean margins, wound vacs, skin grafts, reconstructive surgery etc etc etc.

Hey, just read this for the first time. I would be interested in talking to someone about a derm exam and what all happens. I will be going for one of these at some point in the near future as I worked outside (a decent amount in a swim suit) all summer. I did use sunscreen but obviously want to be safe. I know how important it is and potential consequences of not having a skin check so please no lectures or emphasis on that. I am shy about having my body checked and would prefer just to chat about what happens at these appointments and ask my questions to better mentally prepare myself and have no surprises come exam time. Thanks!