When to call your dermatologist, plastic surgeon or doctor?

I think I'm having a side effect of a treatment at my dermatologist's office. When should I call?

Dear readers and friends –  Please pay close attention to this!!  An online site is never, ever a substitute for calling your doctor. If you are having a side effect after treatment, a reaction that you’re not sure about, panicking or worrying about something  more than a little,  you need to call your doctor!!! More on finding a good doctor.

Call right away for anything that could be serious. If it’s a more routine question, waiting a day or two or three could be fine, but only you can determine that. And if you have lost faith in or don’t communicate well with your doctor, then it might be time to seek a second opinion.  

This is also why I really advocate against going to "clinics" for any procedure if there isn’t a board certified doctor (in the appropriate specialty) on site full time or close to it. If you have a problem, a "weekend certified technician" is not going to be able to help you. There are some things where cheaper is not better.

 Dr.  I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

  • All our content is written and researched by myself.
  • My medical office in Seattle has treated thousands of patients for 15+ years.
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One of the best investments in your skin is your daily skincare. Why? Because you can prevent many problems with blotchy skin color, lack of glow, texture, some types of acne, and fine lines with good skincare products. You can also correct some of these problems with effective skincare products. Great skincare is often more expensive because quality ingredients are expensive. Some companies spend on research/development which benefits all of us and adds to the cost. Are they worth it? In general - yes! I have handpicked some of what I consider to be the best skin care products, and offer them for sale on SkinTour's shop. This is based on my team and I's testing and research at our clinic. Many of the products are in my own regimen. What could be better than using skin care products a dermatologist uses?!