What she wants to tell you: Off-label uses of (certain) drugs are fine.
Patients don't realize that many common prescription drugs can do double duty. "Antihistamines work for some people with rosacea," says Debra Jaliman, MD, a Manhattan-based dermatologist and the author of Skin Rules. "I've also used Aczone, a prescription acne medication, for keratosis pilaris--better known as those little-bumps-on-the-arm." And then there's Botox, which Jaliman says can be a lifesaver for people who suffer from excessive sweating or migraines. Other creative uses: It can prevent a new scar from stretching and can even act like a temporary nose job. "An injection at the tip of the nose can give a bit of a lift," says Jaliman, "subtly changing your profile."
How to help her--and you: Ask! Bring up a related segment you saw on TV or an article you read (like this one).
What she wants to tell you: Book your mole scan before you show up, please.
"I offer skin checks to all of my patients," says Jennifer L. MacGregor, MD, a board certified dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City. She'll drop everything to look at a suspicious spot and will always make time f
