Preparing for an appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. He or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist) or hormone problems (endocrinologist). Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well-prepared for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, you may want to list answers to the following questions:

• Has anyone in your family ever had this problem?
• Does diabetes run in your family?
• Have you ever had problems with your ovaries, adrenal glands or thyroid?
• What medications and supplements do you take on a regular basis?
• Have you ever had to take high doses of prednisone for more than a week?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

• When did your symptoms begin?
• Have they gotten worse?
• What areas of your body are affected?
• Have you ever had cancer?