During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Cracked skin. These may include a physical examination or other medical tests. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
Why: to determine if acute or chronic.
Why: may assist in helping determine cause e.g. cracks between the toes may suggest tinea pedis; dry scaly cracked skin on legs of elderly especially in winter suggest asteatotic eczema; on heels suggest keratoderma climactericum; hands and wrists may suggest scabies; in flexures such as front of elbow and behind knee suggest dermatitis; on scalp may suggest psoriasis vulgaris.
Why: may suggest scabies, tinea.
Why: e.g. cosmetics, soaps, clothes detergent, foods.
Why: may suggest atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Why: e.g. asthma, hay fever - may suggest atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Why: e.g. diuretics may predispose to asteatotic eczema.
Why: e.g. atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. These may include:
Why: may suggest asteatotic eczema, tinea, scabies, dyshidrotic eczematous dermatitis (pompholyx), atopic detmatitis, contact dermatitis.
What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2009 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved.
