Your GP will generally be your first point of contact. GPs can prescribe medication for you, coordinate your treatment, or refer you for assessment by hospital specialists.

Your GP will decide whether you require a referral to a dermatologist. You are entitled to ask for a referral, however the final decision will always be based on what your GP feels is clinically necessary.

Try and arrive 10 or 15 minutes earlier than your appointment time and allow plenty of time for your appointment, as sometimes other appointments can overrun, or your healthcare professional may be called away to an emergency.

The following tests maybe used in a dermatology clinic.

At the end of your first appointment, you will be told if you require further tests, or a follow-up appointment.