Just about anyone can benefit from seeing a dermatologist. However, it’s also a very personal decision, and with that comes the question of how do you find the right one for you? Considering how dermatologists can help teens and adults control acne, improve the appearance of their skin, and prevent skin cancer, it’s important to find someone that you are comfortable with.
If you’ve never thought about finding a dermatologist, then you might not know what to look for. This can get pretty overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve created a list of tips to help you find the right dermatologist for you and your needs.
Top Tips To Finding The Right Dermatologist
Get Referrals
The very first thing to do is start with a referral list for primary care doctor. You can also ask family, friends, and other healthcare providers for their recommendations. Once you have a list, you need to take the time to research the doctor’s credentials and experience. As you start to lower your list to a few names, call each office to see if they are accepting new patients.
Research The Dermatologist’s credentials
Board certification is one of the most important factors to consider when you’re finding a dermatologist. This is going to tell you that the doctor has the necessary training, skills, and experience to provide you with the proper treatment and dermatology. It’s also going to confirm that the dermatologist has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. If you find that the dermatologist you’re looking at has these claims that it is in your best interest to find someone else.
Consider Experience
Experience matters when you’re facing issues with the appearance or the health of your skin, hair, or nails. The more experience a dermatologist has with a condition like yours, the better your outcome is likely to be. When you schedule your consultation is important to ask the dermatologist how many patients they’ve worked with that have your specific condition or one like yours. If you know you need a specific procedure, then you should ask how many times the doctor has performed this procedure and find out the complication rates. The better the results, the more favorable outcome is.
Consider Gender
It might sound silly but is important to feel comfortable with your dermatologist’s gender because you need to be openly discussing personal information. If you are not comfortable with your dermatologist, you will not get the most out of your treatment. Also, your own gender is important to consider when it comes to dermatology. Some dermatologists are more skilled at caring for women than they are for men and vice versa. You should ask your dermatologist about his or her recent training and experience specifically related to your condition androgen.
Read Patient Reviews
Before you settle on the dermatologist, you should see what people have to say about them. A good way to do this is to look at patient reviews because often they’re going to be honest and upfront about how they were treated and how their experience went. This is also going to reflect how scheduling appointments went, what the wait times were like, what the office environment was like, and if the staff were friendly. This is going to give you a good insight about whether this dermatologist is going to be the right one for you.