Rosacea Help: How To Prepare For Your Doctor Appointment
A FREE download to help you prepare for - and take notes during - your appointment
One of the reasons I continue to talk about rosacea online is because I remember how stressful, lonely, expensive, and confusing my early rosacea journey was. Every time I sit down to write an article, or share a photo, I think ‘What did I want to know when I was first diagnosed? What did I need to see? What support would’ve made a tangible difference?’
So here’s a big and important topic: how to prepare for your rosacea appointment with your doctor or HCP (Healthcare Professional).
I have been banging the drum for self-advocacy for rosaceans for a long time. Rosacea is such a misunderstood condition and – unfortunately – just because someone’s a HCP it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are knowledgeable in every single condition, or that they are up to date with their knowledge. I always recommend that rosaceans do a lot of research for themselves, whether that’s sites like rosacea.org, peer-support groups like mine HERE, or patient-led sites like the one you’re reading now. If you go into your appointment armed with knowledge you are in a better position to ask questions, direct the conversation to best serve you, and push back if you need to.
Talking to your doctor about rosacea: everything you need to know
Let’s get into this, starting with the basics:
Why do I need to go to the doctor about my rosacea?
It is very important that you get an official diagnosis. Firstly, you need to make sure that what you have is rosacea: there’s a chance that your skin condition could be something completely different and that, if undiagnosed, could get worse or cause more issues. Secondly, your doctor can give you access to not only other experts who can help, but also medication that may lessen the severity of your symptoms.
Why do I need to prepare for my doctor’s appointment?
I can only speak to my experience in the UK, but appointments with doctors are pretty short. There’s a lot to cover and, not only a lot of information to provide but also to take in in a short amount of time.
From past experience – and from talking to thousands of rosaceans over the years – I know that it can be tempting to focus solely on the physical symptoms and either downplay or ignore the psychological symptoms completely.
But please remember that if something is affecting your mood, happiness, anxiety-levels etc, it is absolutely worth mentioning. Rosacea is a condition that is exacerbated by stress and emotions, so your mental health is an important (I would say integral) piece of the puzzle.
Hopefully this free download will help you to gather your thoughts pre-appointment and also help to guide your conversation once you are in your appointment.
Some things to remember when you’re getting ready for your appointment:
PREPARE
Write down what you want to say and practice it. Make sure you have photos of your skin to back up your point. I’ve been in the situation where my skin behaves perfectly on the day of my appointment so it helps to have proof. Avoid using words like ‘just’ and ‘only’. Do not minimise it. State your symptoms honestly without hyperbole.
RECORD YOUR APPOINTMENTS
The free download available at the bottom of the page has lots of space to take notes, but audio recording your appointment is particularly helpful when you are being given information about your condition, medication, or next steps. When I get upset my brain gets very foggy, so it’s great to have something you can revisit when you feel less emotional. Be sure to mention to your doctor/derm that you will be audio recording the meeting for your own personal use.
THE MIND IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE BODY
My biggest trigger is stress, so the impact of my rosacea is equal parts physical and psychological. If your skin makes you sad, if it affects your day-to-day life, or makes you feel anxious/depressed/suicidal this needs to be mentioned.
There are people you can talk to over the phone or online if you feel overwhelmed. You are not alone.
YOU ARE IMPORTANT
I can understand the concern that a skin condition is not viewed as life threatening. But please remember that when you go to the doctors, you are triaged: this means that there is no one sat in the waiting room choking on a marble, or waiting for their life-saving chemo, while you talk about your skin. Your skin is the largest organ on your body and if there is something wrong with it, you deserve to be seen, treated, and spoken to with respect.
MAKE UP WASHES OFF
I have had many appointments where either I have removed my make up in the room, or the doctor/dermatologist has done it for me. You absolutely do not have to turn up to the appointment barefaced and no one should ask you to if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.
Take a bottle of micellar water and some cotton pads in your bag and your make up will be off in 10 seconds max. You can do it while you’re introducing yourself and chatting through the issue at hand.
THERE IS HOPE
When it comes to rosacea there is currently no cure but that doesn’t mean there is no hope. There are many things that you can do to calm your symptoms and manage your skin.
If you want to try other options (trigger management, diet change, etc) before trying medication, that is your right and your doctor should support you and provide assistance.
THERE ARE ALWAYS OTHER DOCTORS
You are absolutely within your rights to ask to see a different doctor to continue your care. If you feel like you aren’t being taken seriously, ask for someone else. If they don’t seem to know much about your condition, ask for a referral to a dermatologist. If you think they are dismissing you or not listening, then say that to them. Stand up for yourself. Push back if you don’t agree with what they’re saying (this is where your preparation comes in!) Complain about them if necessary. If no one ever complains about people who are terrible at their job, they will never be reprimanded and will continue to make people unhappy. Medical professionals are there to help you and if they aren’t doing their job properly, you have the right to tell someone.
Free download: what you need to know
Now that we’ve gone through the basics, let’s talk about the free download I’ve created for you. It should be pretty self-explanatory but - just in case - I’ve listed all of the sections underneath the download link and I have included notes to help you understand them. If anything is unclear, or you think anything is missing, please let me know.
I’ve designed the document to be printed double-sided. SIDE A is to be completed by you before your appointment, as it covers everything you might want to share with your doctor. SIDE B is to be filled in during your appointment, as it serves as a prompt for talking points and has space for your notes.
If you have any issues with the download, just let me know and I’ll try to help.
HCP appointment discussion guide – notes for use
If you’ve had a look at the HCP appointment discussion guide and you’re a bit confused about some terminology or how to fill it out, this section is for you.
Physical symptoms
Redness – permanent (your face is always red and you struggle to identify flare ups or flushes because of this)
Redness – intermittent (your redness comes and goes)
Visible veins (also known as thread veins, spider veins)
Burning; itching; swelling; tight skin
Eye irritation (burning, stinging, irritating, bloodshot, watery, blurry vision)
Pain
Enlarged pores (sometimes described as ‘orange-peel skin’)
Thickening skin (most common on the nose, but can appear elsewhere on the face)
Dry skin; oily skin
How long have you had symptoms?
This can be the length of time you think you’ve had rosacea overall, or just how long the symptoms have been bothering you.
Face chart
Colour in the illustration or shade to show the pattern of your rosacea and where it is more severe.
Triggers
Things to consider/discuss: You can discuss suspected and confirmed triggers with your HCP. If you’re struggling to identify your triggers, THIS POST will help.
Emotional impact of rosacea
Things to consider/discuss: what is the impact of your rosacea on: confidence and self esteem; work; intimate relationships; social life; hobbies; mental health. Be honest with them about the impact and tell them if you need support in this area.
Skincare
Things to discuss/consider: What skincare are you using at the moment? What would your HCP recommend that you add to or remove from your routine?
What have you tried already? Other things to mention?
Things to consider/discuss: Tell them about any trigger management you’ve already been doing (diet, temperature control, stress reduction, skincare changes, sun exposure, reduce alcohol intake etc.)
Medication
IMPORTANT: Think about if you want medication – it’s okay if you don’t!
Things to consider/discuss: Have you tried any medications for your rosacea previously? What are the medication options available to you? What are the side effects? What to expect? What is a realistic timeframe for changes? Will things get worse before they get better? Where does it fit into your skincare routine? Can it be used long-term?
Laser
Things to consider/discuss: Are you a good candidate? Are you eligible? Different kinds of laser? What to expect? Can they do it or do you need to be referred?
If you would like to read up on lasers for rosacea, THIS ARTICLE will help.
What’s next?
Things to consider/discuss: Do you need another in-person appointment? When? Will you need/can you have a follow up call? Will you need a repeat prescription?
Additional support
Things to consider/discuss: Do you need or can they give you a dermatologist referral? Do they have any further information to provide (leaflets, websites)? Can they recommend any support networks (online or in-person)?
I hope you found this article useful and that the download helps you to make your appointment stress-free and comprehensive.
I have have two other free downloads for you to use, which you can find here:
If you have any general suggestions for topics or questions to add to the document (perhaps questions or topics that came up before or during your appointment) please let me know in the comments below and I can edit the document as time goes on.
