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First Dermatologist Appointment - Help

Posted by Rebekka Michel on May 1, 2014 at 7:27am in Main

My daughter has her first dermatologist appointment on May 20th...

Are there any particular questions I should ask? If they don't have experience with Vitiligo should I ask if there is a doctor in our area that does? (Our pediatrician referred us to her because she has experience with younger children).

What should I do if the doctor tells us there is nothing they can do? It took me over a month to get this appointment... Should I ask for a specific prescription to see if it helps while I wait to see a different dermatologist? (My daughter's first spot popped up a month ago, and since then we have had four more appear and growing, so I really want to try to react asap)

Do I insist on blood tests and everything to be checked for autoimmune disorders, ect?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially if your a parent that treated a child.

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Replies

  • Andrey May 2, 2014 at 10:38am

    Ask for thyroid gland check and ask what amino acid is responsible for the skin pigmentation . They not gonna know it i bet my pants :) . If the doc doesnt know it then its a waste of time talking to him any further ., 

    You daughter will be fine , those spots mean nothing , will disappear . It happened to me nothing to worry about really . 

  • Sonia May 1, 2014 at 2:20pm

    I found vitiligosupport.org helpful, in particular this link:

    http://www.vitiligosupport.org/justforparents.cfm

    Best of luck,

    Sonia

    • Rebekka Michel > Sonia May 2, 2014 at 1:08am

      Great link! Thank you! I was reading that website before, and didn't see the questions for a dermatologist! Greatly appreciate it!

  • Shifa May 1, 2014 at 1:12pm

    do you have a children's hospital with a dermatology department close by?

    • Rebekka Michel > Shifa May 1, 2014 at 1:27pm

      Thanks guys! I will ask about the allergy test too... I have been breastfeeding, I will work on my diet as well.

      I do have a children's hospital with a dermatology department near... I originally asked to be referred to them, but my pediatrician said that "he" couldn't unless it was life threatening, but that the next dermatologist should be able to. So it is just another thing I have to wait for ugh. Free health care is nice, but the waiting game is not.

  • Shifa May 1, 2014 at 1:10pm

    @Rebekka...if i remember correctly your daughter is very young and you said you are nursing her.  IN that case its probably a good idea to pay attention to your diet.  Try to eliminate the common allergens...diary and gluten.  It may be any other thing.  allergies may be responsible.....

    I personally think other than doing her bloodwork there is much more you can do. Maybe you and daughter can visit an allergist.  At that age allergies may be responsible.

    • Shifa > Shifa May 1, 2014 at 1:50pm
      Also did she get any vaccine shots? She might be allergic to a shot? Before her first spot did she get a shot or get sick or anything ? Allergens could be detergent or anything else that post people are my afected. Also peanuts and any tree nuts are big ones. If possible pay attention to vaccines as all. Do you supplement at all? formula could be another allergen. do you have pets...hope you see where I'm going with this...play detective...and good luck!
      • Rebekka Michel > Shifa May 1, 2014 at 2:01pm

        Thank you! We don't have any pets. Or supplement... The first one appeared over a month after her first vaccination at 2 months... she was cranky afterwards, but no more then my other two children. I will keep an eye on it though.

        I don't eat a lot dairy myself, and I have been trying to lose the baby weight so I haven't really been eating that unhealthy... although I am not sure about the gluten since I do still eat carbs. I will try to eliminate that as well.

        Thank you for all the tips... I will push for an allergy test too!

    • Annie Carignan > Shifa May 1, 2014 at 1:20pm

      You are right about the allergie test, I'm seeing the dermatologist in 2 weeks and I want to ask him for that.

      • Rebekka Michel > Annie Carignan May 1, 2014 at 1:29pm

        I do like sweet things. I will try to cut those out. We have been using coconut oil since she was first diagnosed... no help yet. But at least it is natural and not much of an issue to apply.

        Thank you for the advice!

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