Dermatologist... Full body skin exam

Very well said Jds4med

My feeling is that modesty has no place in health care.

Absolutely! I would rather be alive and potentially embarrassed than the alternative.

Jds4med,

First and foremost, CONGRATULATIONS and you said it all very well! Karma for you.

As for taking off all your clothes including underwear and laying under a sheet for a dermo skin check, this is done as routine for skin checks. It is in the best intrest of the patient as well as the provider. It allows for complete viewing of all the skin and makes it much easier to assess visually as well as tactfully any thickenings, thinning, indentation, color changes etc vs just having on view select areas currently being examined and evaluated.

*******

I have the following posted in an additional thread, though I feel it belongs here as well.

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.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.

~ Andie

I thought these story were made up, until i went to derm... he make strip to underware and take off underware for 2-3 minutes to check for mole.

This morning I had my semi-annual dermatology full body check, done by my nearby neighbor whom I see occasionally and who has had cocktails in my house. As always, she wanted to look at the buttocks and what she calls the "intra-gluteal cleft." This is neither exciying nor embarrassing to me, although I am definitely conscious of the rather unusual situation, and I wonder whether she is as well.

My six month follow up exam the nurse brings me into the exam room and has me confirm my name and date of birth for her records. She then asks if I am there for a full body exam? I thought I was just there for a follow up to some spots they froze on my face, but hell yeah I will opt in for a full body exam if she wants me to. She then hands me a folded up paper sheet and tells me to strip down to my underwear and sit on the table and the NP will be in shortly. She turns and leaves without asking any questions or confirming I understood her instructions. Little did she know, I am not wearing underwear!

I strip and sit unfolding only the first three folds of the paper sheet, leaving it long but thin and drape it over my lap. I sat there for about 10 minutes when the door opens, with no warning or sound. The NP walks in with her chart in one hand and an out stretched hand for me to shake. She asks if I have anything skin related that is bugging me today. I tell her of a spot that was a concern earlier in the week but as of today there is nothing to be seen or felt in that area, so it must have cleared up on its own. I also tell her of some dry itchy area on my arm and thighs. She then goes into her speech about proper sun care protection and blah blah blah... She starts going thru my hair with a stick talking about the weather as she moves from one side to the other. She moves onto my face and chest area, still chatting. She has me lift my arms, one at a time and inspects them front and back.

She then tells me the she wants me to lay back as she inspects my belly she moves the sheet down, way down my lap. I feel like I am exposed (And I like it!). She then bends down and looks at my upper thigh area, moving her finger back and forth as she scans. She lifts up the sheet and bunches it up over my penis and from what I can tell she is cupping my private area as she gathers up the paper sheet to get better look at whats underneath. I tell her we can remove the sheet. She tells me that's not necessary (of but it is!). I again tell her I do not mind. She then says fine and releases my penis and balls. I reach up with the opposite hand and drop the sheet on the floor next to me. She asks if there is any issue with the groin area. I tell her I get heat rashes from time to time. She goes down in between my legs and I spread them so she can get in closer. She lifts up my testicles and looks closer with her forehead magnifying glasses. She tells me she sees signs of a former rash and suggests a cream to help that clear up faster. She then looks down both legs, one at a time and then my feet and toes. She then asks me to roll over on my belly so she can look at my backside. She then says "where is your drape?" i tell her its no problem and its on the floor near the window. She says she will get a new one to leave that one where it is.

As I turn over, trying not to crumpled the paper sheet protecting the bed, I accidentally jammed my toes up the crack of her ass. I went to remove my foot but she must have been moving in the same direction as my foot was going, because it stayed there. I looked down my body and saw her bent over getting a new folded drape from the same location the nurse got the other one from. I told her I was sorry. She said not to worry about it. I laid on my belly and she draped my ass cheeks.

She continued on her scan of my skin pointing a few spots out to me asking if they itched. She then removes the sheet covering my ass and looks around. She places the sheet back on my ass and moves down my legs, looking one more time at my feet.

She instructs me to roll over and sit up. As I do the sheet falls off again and on the floor. She tells me she will be back in a minute and I can get dressed while I wait. She turns and opens the door as I stand up, naked still, and she leaves without closing the door. The nurse was in the room across the hall and looks over at me. I smile and motion that I will close the door. She smiles back.

I thought the whole process felt like maybe 3 minutes. I was in the room for over 45 minutes. I go back in another 6 months!

I have a female derm. Very embarrassing

I've went to the dermatologist a bit when I was younger because I kept getting a weird rash on my thigh. They would have me take my pants off (panties on) and give me a paper drape, then they would check that area and only that area. Maybe it was because I was young. I don't know. I've never gotten a full body check at the dermatologist, wouldn't mind it though.

I've went to the dermatologist a bit when I was younger because I kept getting a weird rash on my thigh. They would have me take my pants off (panties on) and give me a paper drape, then they would check that area and only that area. Maybe it was because I was young. I don't know. I've never gotten a full body check at the dermatologist, wouldn't mind it though.

You have to schedule one. As it takes time, it's not part of a routine visit.

I had one dermatologist that refused to answer routine questions during the full body exam. She said that they distracted her.

Just had my yearly exam. Assistant updated my info then told me to take off everything but underwear. She then got out a drape and set it on the counter and sort of shrugged and said I could use it if I needed it. I figured i was fine so i just left it there after I stripped to just my skivvies. Had to wait maybe 10 minutes until the assistant returned with the doctor. I like my dermatologist. She's a ginger like me so she "feels my pain" when it comes to skin cancer prevention. She was also wearing a kinda-hot leopard print dress which gave me a little tickle of excitement. She checked me all over, investigating spots that she'd removed in the past to make sure nothing was growing back. She peeked down the front of my skivvies but didn't poke around. She asked if there were any issues there, I said I didn't think so. She then had me stand and she checked my back and pulled my undies down in the back to check my rear end, no cheek-spreading or anything. She then bent over to check the backs of my legs, examining two spots on my calf that she'd flagged for monitoring last year. I couldn't help but notice that she was giving me a great view of her leopard-print-covered butt in the mirror when she bent down to take new photos of the spots. i snuck a few peeks but didnt want to look like a complete perv to the assistant who had come over to see the spots as well. She commented that I had some dry skin on my ankles and she'd write me an Rx for high-power lotion. We joked around a bit about past sunburns that we'd endured, seeing which of us has been torched the worst. All in all a good experience. With my family history of melanoma and my own history of abnormal biopsies it's important to get checked. Glad I've found a demo that I connect with.

Hi....

Well I had to return to to the dermatologist to follow-up and have a mole removed from my abdomen. When I arrived in the exam room the assistant said "we may as well do another skin check since it had been a while." She gave me a cloth gown and said "take everything off except your undershorts and put the gown on open to the back." I did as instructed and sat on the exam table waiting for the doctor. I was wearing small black briefs.

My (female) doctor came in and asked to see the mole she was going to remove, so I took the gown off my shoulders and it was then just sitting in my lap. She said "ok, now stand" (so she could look me over) I stood and then tossed the gown onto the chair. She looked me over quickly, asked me to turn around and pulled the back of my briefs out to look down (no way she could see anything that way).

The very quick exam done, she then stuck her head out of the room to call in her medical assistant to help with the mole removal. so there I am, two women in the room, and me standing there in just skimpy black briefs. She didn't offer me the gown back or say anything about it.

They asked me to lie down on the table and the assistant raised the table and made it flat automatically lifting me into position in the process. I felt like I was on the alter completely exposed wearing only small black briefs that left nothing to the imagination. The procedure was done quickly and the doctor left with the medical assistant remaining to bandage the wound. She took her time, and her arm brushed my briefs a few times, it seemed like it was on purpose. Then when she was done she was in no rush to leave, dawdling while cleaning up the medical tray. She watched me as I dressed...and she left as I was finishing up. Even though getting a mole removed is no fun, I have to admit, I enjoyed that feeling of being exposed.

Great memories....

I just had a mole check at a new dermatologist. My previous dermatologist was more of a “tell me what you think” type of a doctor; not the stern and control type. This new doctor is the more control type with a bedside manner.

Nurse takes me back to the exam room. She says, “Have a seat in the chair, and I will be right back”. Well, 25 minutes later, a different nurse comes into the room; asks me for the reason for the visit. I say, “Just a mole exam, as I have lots!” She goes over the charts via the website system as there is no paper folders anymore, and asks the what type of medication or any new changes etc. I say, “No, nothing has changed, nothing that I am aware of”.

“Ok, please undress to you shorts and I can give you a gown”

She goes outside of the door and then hands me a gown from the closet. I am impressed that it is a “cloth gown” not paper.

I really do not think the gowns are practical; they seem to be for modesty sake only, as after two minutes, the doctor is fussing with them around your neck and shoulders, etc.

I get undressed, but I leave the gown on the chair and step on the exam table in my underwear.

Five minutes later, the doctor knocks and comes in. “How are you doing today? Nice to meet you.

He takes one look at me, and says, “Yes, you do have a lot of moles, but, not the worst I have seen”

We get to talking; he is wearing green scrubs, and his chest hair is protruding from the V-neck area. I am a body hair aficionado, so aroused already.

Then, out of the blue, a nurse comes in! She is assisting for the entry of the exam into the case as the doctor dictates.

I am totally bummed!

Well, the inspection proceeds; then the surprise. “Can you stand up?” I do.

“Can you turn around?” I do, and then the doctor, takes a hold of the band of my underwear and pulls them down. Examines the butt cheeks for moles.

“Everything looks fine”

He then pulls up the underwear and says “ok, can you turn and face me?”

I do as instructed. He then takes the band and pulls down my underwear and asks, “would you hold your “junk” and then move your “junk” to the left and then right.”

“Ok, looks fine, and pulls the underwear up again.”

At this point, there is a wet spot on my underwear and he just smiles!

“Ok, you can get dressed; he remains in the room and the nurse leaves. We chit chat as I am getting dressed. “See you in 6 months, as I would like to have you come in twice a year due to the amount of moles.”

I am hoping that next time, the nurse does not show up and he can ask more detailed questions.

Rew2010, interesting story until you claim that the doctor referred to your genitals as "junk" No professional physician would do that, ESPECIALLY with a new patient.

We drill into them in medical school to use high school level language and never resort to street language unless the patient just doesn't understand anything else.

My mole removal experience is below...

The doctors office called and the medical assistant said " the mole was "a typical" but the way she spoke it sounded like two words until I asked is that one or two words? So now i know it is 'atypical' I asked what that means and she said, "dont worry its not cancer or anything like that".....not the best explaination and she said I could come back in a year.

I googled atypical moles...and I am not sure if its very common or a more serious pre-cancerous concern.

Another six month check up completed this week. These exams keep getting better and better.

I entered the buildings elevator with about six other people. Only two floors were selected. When we reached the floor I was looking for I was followed out of the elevator by a very tall, blonde young woman that had been in the lobby with us. She follows very closely behind me passing all other offices. I open the door to the derm doctors and she is right behind me still. I allow her entry first, she tanks me. She checks in and the receptionist says someone will be right with her. I see she is not dressed in a maner that says she spent time getting ready this moring and am about to shed all my clothes anyway, so why bother look. I check in and can not think of anything else but we are about to be ushered into exam rooms and stripped of all our clothing, why cant we get examined together?

Anyway the okder of the two nurses on staff calls me in and sits me down in an exam room and goes over my history and current ailments. She is listening to me and reaches into the cabinet and pulls out a folded white paper sheet. I start to get even more excited. She instructs me to remove all my clothing, then she states I can choose to leave my under shorts on, if I want. I so wanted to tell her I was not wearing any. She leaves and I slowly undress. While sitting on the edge of the table I can hear people walking back and forth, talking.... I hope I am not there for long. Then there is a knock on the door, I wait two seconds to see the door know twist, nothing, so I call out a, Yes? The nurse comes back in, leaves the door wide open and asks me a few more questions, then leaves me. I checked the time while also looking out the huge office windows. One shade is mostly closed but the other is allowing some sunlight thru.

The doctor comes in and starts talking to me about my last visit. I tell her she is cheating by reading my file first. She stomps her feet and tells me that she rememberes all her patients and never forgets a face. She is very proud of this accomplishment, while I can't recall my own name from time to time. She goes over the notes the nurse made as well as notes form my last visits and follows up on them. She tells me she will to a complete head to toe exam of my skin and inspect any other concerns I have. She starts going thru my hair, both sides of the table and then goes to inspect my back and chest. Twice she touches and moves the paper sheet I have on my lap and down my legs. I then ask her if she is alright with me removing the drape. She sasy she does not care if I do or dont. So I wisk it off and put it on one of the chairs along the side wall of the exam room.

I am now, again fully naked in an exam room with a female doctor. She scans my legs after asking me to lie back. She continues her exam and asks me to roll over. As I am doing this I recall the last time when she asked me to roll over and as I did my foot was jammed in the crack of her ass as she bent over to get another paper sheet to cover me with after ther one I had on dropped to the floor. I made a point to not repeat that again. Anyway she starts talking to me and I stop rolling over and look at her as she is telling me something about skin care. She finishes and rolls her finger around to instruct me to roll over. She goes right to my butt cheeks and spreads them. First the left side, thewn the right, then both cheeks together as she scans down the crack of my ass moving her hands along. She then asks me to spread my legs wide and taps my cheeck as she walsk down the table. She touches my foot and tell sme to roll over again and show her the bump on my penis I told the nurse about. She then asks me to lift my penis up for her and show her the spot. I do so and she keeps telling me she does not see any bump. I again point the area out by telling her right at the tip. She reaches her left hand out and prevents my penis from going to her left. I release my hold and she grabs it right up (with gloves on) and stretches the meatus opening looking and searching. She sees it and asks if that was what I was talking about. I tell her yes, thats it. She snaps her head down to get her headband magnifing glasses in front of her eyes and proceeds to adjust and seperate my penis. Like a pro, I might ad. She looks, tilts her head. looks some more and sasy she is not sure what it is but she wants to have her associate doctor to take a look at it as well and see what he says about it. She then looks at my face, still holding my penis, and says thats not an admission that something is wrong, do not be alarmed. She stands back up, still holding my penios in her hands. She twists and turns it looking for other bumps. She then tells me to sit up. I thought about reaching out and grabbing the paper sheet then thought, no, lets see if I can hold this out some more.

I sit up and she goes into telling me the other doctor is away on vacation and asks me what would be a good time for me to come back in the next few weeks or so. We carry on our conversation, me still very much naked. She then says before she goes she wants to collect a sample from my toes to see if I have an infection she noticed while looking at my fedet. She goes thru a few drawers and cabniets and pulls out her supplies. I reach under me and pull out the extention on the table and she tells me I dont have to lie back, she will just stand there and take a scrapping righ there. I tell her I was only going ot lift my leg out for her. She turns her back to me and takes her scrapping. She then tells me to get up and get dressed. I stand up and put my socks on, one at a time, and in no rush. She collects her paperwork, the slide she made her scrappings on and open the door but tries to keep it as closed as possible. I see she is having trouble so I tell her, 'let me get that for you'. She thanks me as she walks into the hallway. A nurse comes from the opposite side room and walks up to the doctor to grab the slide from her. I stand there for half a second and close the door. I think I saw the younger nurse smile at me.

I am going back next week!

Andy,

Thanks, i will stop by for a copy. Imasked for them to email it but she said they dont do that. Also after the stiches were removed the line opend the form a circle.....oh well.

My first full in 18 years skin checkup is today. Haven't had one since I was 18. Male doctor. I looked for a female doctor in the area, but couldn't find one. Not that I'm too particular. Anyway, I'll report back after.

The first time I had a full body exam I was in my 30s. This was my first time with this female dermatologist. I was nervous on several accounts. I was shave smooth from my nose my toes and I had no tan lines. It was spring so my tan was not very dark. The nurse led me to the examining room and handed me a paper gown and told me to take off everything and put it on. I undressed and sat down at the end of the examining table. The doctor knocked once and came in. We talked about my medical history and then she began her exam starting with my head. When she came to my shoulders, she pulled the gown down to my waist and inspected my torso and arms. Then she placed her hand on my back and laid me back the table and extended it under my feet. She pulled the gown up away from my legs exposing my genitals. She pulled my scrotum and pen is aside as necessary to exam between my legs. She replace the gown and examined my legs. When she was done with the front she had me roll over and she examined my my back including between my butt cheeks. This was all a bit embarrassing but she was completely professional. She asked to see me again in October because I think she wanted to see how tan I was going to get during the summer.

I discussd about Skin checkups and afterwards i decided to get one. This was when I was around 30. I was very nervous when I had the appointment and was hoping that my intie part would not be chcked or if so just with a short look.

After I entered the exam room, the doc asked my to undress. I did up to my Brief, but he smiled a bit and ask me to undress fully, as Skin is everywhere. I think I got red then!

At the end he examined me very detilled, but quick so the exam was not bad, Anyway very emberassing for me!

My regular dermatologist moved away, so my physician referred me to a new one for my annual skin exam. After filling out the new patient paper work, an assistant took me back to a room. She asked the usual questions while filling out my chart. When she was done, she told me to get undressed except for my underwear and asked if I'd like a paper drape for my lap. I told her that I was fine without it, and she left saying the doctor would be in shortly.

The doctor came in a few minutes later and introduced herself. She started the exam, occasionally taking a measurement and marking it down in the chart. When she got to areas near my underwear, she'd pull them aside slightly. This happened a few times.

I told her I have moles that are covered by my underwear and asked if it would be okay for me to take them off. She said that would be fine. While I removed my underwear, she went over to the counter a put on gloves. The doctor had me lay back and she examined my penis and crotch. She then had me turn over and spread my cheeks and examined my buttocks. The rest of the exam was finished while I remained nude.

After the doctor had finished taking her notes, she recommended that I get a set of medical photos taken to make it easier to track changes in my skin. She doesn't do that in her office, but a nearby university does. I called my insurance to make sure it's covered. It is, so I set up an appointment. The dermatologist wants to follow up after the pictures are taken.

Sometimes you just have to make it known you want a full exam. Most doctors are fine with it.

~ Momofcutecat

A dermatologist once did a full skin exam on me in the search of abnormalities, especially malignant melanomas arising from "beauty marks". I don't recall anything much embarrassing, I think she had a look at my buttocks but not at the genitalia.

I had my first full body exam a couple of years ago. I really need to go again since I have a fair number of moles and my family has a history of skin cancer.

During my last exam I was undressed to my underwear and provided a gown. This was done behind a curtain while the female doctor and nurse waited. I was examined head to toe. While my back was being examined, she asked if it was ok if she could check my backside. I said ok and she lowered my boxer briefs and asked my to stand with my legs further apart. I wasn't asked to bend over but she spread my cheeks which I wasn't expecting.

She then proceeds with the exam. After examining my chest and stomach she asked again if it was ok to check my lower abdomen. Again, I gave permission and she lowered my underwear slightly exposing a fair amount of my pubic hair and hips.

After that she examined the front of my legs and then asked if she could take a look at my genitals. I'm pretty modest but at this point she had already seen practically everything so I gave the ok.

She lowered my underwear herself and then quickly but thoroughly checked my pubic hair, all surfaced of my penis, and all surfaces of my scrotum. She was finished with the exam after that.

The doctor was so professional and mild-mannered throughout that even the intimate portions of the exam felt relatively comfortable. I appreciate that she asked for my consent at the intimate points even though I was fully prepared to show everything. My doing that, she was thorough but allowed me to feel safe and in control.

I have this done every year ... better safe than sorry. True, fully naked as the Doc examines every square inch of my body, including genitals and rectum. YOU DO NOT WANT SKIN CANCER! So chill, take you clothes off, and hope everything is OK.

Having survived melanoma, I'm on a 6 month schedule. Please, doctor, look everywhere and save my life.

Are dermatologists and there staff suppose to be cold and rude? I have what I believe is eczema and got to see a dermatologist on Monday for it. I got thee early and filled out the paperwork and waited for my name to be called. my appointment was at 2:10 and finally got called back at 2:15. The nurse took me back to a room and asked if I finished the paperwork and I said yes I did and she took it and said put the gown on and out the door she went. My first impression was how rude. I waited and waited and finally at like 2:40 the NP that was to see me finally came in. she asked like 3 questions and that was it. She looked at my problem areas for like less then 5 minutes, then went to get a doctor to come in and have a look as well. He came in and they talked and agreed on a treatment plan for me. The NP said ok we are going to give you a cream to use, and told me to use a different shampoo. Then she was like do not scratch. Then she said you can get dressed and leave when you are ready. She said no follow up needed, just use the cream we gave you and be merry more or less. I got no patient education at all. They did not even explain to me what eczema was or how to avoid it, or like what things to avoid like hot water, harsh clothing. I left there feeling really confused as I got no education at all on my condition. I was just wondering if it was normal for dermatologists and there staff to be cold and rude? Everyone is telling me to get a new dermatologist but as I tell them there is no other dermatologists that take my insurance so I am screwed as far as that goes.

Mom, I would call your insurance provider and tell them about your experience. Tell them you were completely unsatisfied with your experience.

Mom, I would seriously call your insurance and ask them who you should go see. I would kind of demand it.

my appointment was at 2:10 and finally got called back at 2:15.

Finally? 5 minutes later? I don't see why a 5 min difference is anything to even notice, let alone fret about. Maybe your watches weren't synchronized.

Sorry to say but people should not have unrealistic expectations about how long they wait to see the doctor. You could only imagine what can happen to delay us. The waiting time can be several hours in my ED. Of course if you have a heart attack you will get in immediately. All this is good compared to the county hospital where a twelve hour wait is not uncommon.

Momofcutecat, from what you have expressed in a few threads, you seem to have a tremendously high frequency of bad experiences with health care providers.

Why do you think that is?