How Your Dermatologist Can Help With Your STD Treatment
Over 20 million people discover they have a new case of STDs each year. That number is on the rise. If you are uncomfortable talking to your pediatrician, primary care doctor, or even gynecologist about STDs, try scheduling an appointment with your dermatologist instead.
Which is correct - VD, STD, or STI?
VD (venereal disease), STD (sexually transmitted disease), and STI (sexually transmitted infection) are all acronyms for similar medical issues. VD is an older, all-encompassing term that is no longer used. STI refers to an infection where the patient is still asymptomatic while STD is used once the condition has developed into a full-blown disease.
Which STDs cause skin conditions?
There are many STDs that cause skin conditions, including:
- Herpes simplex virus. HSV-1 causes sores around the mouth area and HSV-2 causes genital sores. There is no cure for herpes, but your doctor can prescribe medicine to help alleviate the symptoms and any associated pain.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can be passed both through sexual contact and through normal, everyday skin-to-skin contact. HPV can cause genital warts in both men and women. It can also develop into cancer. Luckily, there is a vaccine that helps fight the strain of HPV that causes genital warts.
- Syphilis. Common symptoms of a syphilis infection include small, round sores or a red rash near the mouth, genitals, or anus. This bacterial infection requires treatment with antibiotics to prevent more severe infections of the brain, heart issues, and death.
- Scabies. This tiny mite burrows into an infected person's skin leaving a raised trail. While it falls under the term STD and can be transmitted sexually, another common place to get scabies is in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities due to close quarters.
In most cases, your dermatologist can help you treat both the infection and the resulting skin conditions.
Can a dermatologist diagnose an STD?
Dermatologists are medical doctors and, as such, can diagnose STDs. Dermatologists can prescribe the recommended antibiotics to help treat the underlying infection of an STD as well as medicines to heal your skin and relieve your pain.
Are there any cosmetic procedures that can help with STDs?
Once the outbreak and underlying infection have been successfully treated, your dermatologist can help further with cosmetic procedures. STDs can wreak havoc on your skin, leaving discolored skin, scarring, and, in severe cases, a changed appearance of the genital area. Your dermatologist can treat the changes or refer you to a cosmetic surgeon who can help further.
If you are going to be sexually active, use a condom. If you suspect an STI or STD, contact a medical professional as soon as possible for help and STD treatment.
Share