When you can't shake a cough or you're experiencing an abnormal breakout, a doctor's job is to not only diagnose you, but to help prescribe you the right concoction of medicine to overcome the illness ASAP.
However, if you come back complaining that you're still not over the hump, it's important to be honest when your doctor asks how often you took the pills or how you applied the cream.
"If you are not truthful about whether you are actually using your medications, then we cannot accurately gauge if they are or are not working for you," explains US dermatologist Dr Joshua Zeichner. He explains that often when patients come back for their follow-up appointment, he quizzes them on how they specifically have been using a topical medication.
"It may come out that they used them for a week and gave up, are only spot treating and not applying to the full face as directed, or didn't even fill the prescription at all.
Acne medications only work if you use them properly and for an adequate amount of time," he says. And while Dr Zeichner specialises in acne and skin care, the same logic applies to all prescriptions.
"You are not helping yourself if you are not using them, and you are certainly not helping yourself if you aren't being honest about not using them when speaking to your doctor," he adds.
If you’re older and on medication, you are at risk from the major problem of over-prescribing.
