How to Choose the Right Dermatologist?

Almost anyone can benefit from consulting a dermatologist. A dermatologist can help teens and adults control acne, improve the look of their skin, and prevent may other skin problems. 

Choosing the right dermatologist is an important and personal decision. So, how do you find the best dermatologist who is right for you? 

Here are some necessary factors to keep in mind:

Get referrals

Begin with a referral list of a dermatologist. Collect it from your primary care doctor, family and friend. Spend some time researching the doctor’s credentials and experience on trustworthy websites.

Create a list of a few names; call each dermatologist’s clinic to see if they are accepting new patients. Ask the receptionist for a consulting appointment to meet and interview the dermatologist.

Read patient reviews

Read what other people have to say about a doctor. It can provide a lot of information on how the doctor practises medicine and how well their treatments work. 

Patient reviews usually reflect a person’s experience with booking appointments, wait times, clinic environment, and clinic staff cooperation. You can learn how well people trust a doctor. Also, how much time the doctor spends with their patients.

Research the dermatologist’s credentials

Board certification is the most important factors to consider when you are looking for the right dermatologist. It confirms that a doctor has the required training, skills and experience to provide treatment in dermatology.

Also, make sure that the dermatologist has no record of malpractice or disciplinary actions. You can find the dermatologist’s medical school, training hospital, certifications, and malpractice on your state’s website.

Consider the dermatologist’s experience

Experience matters when you are facing problems with the look or health of your skin, nails or hairs. A highly experienced dermatologist can provide you with better results. Furthermore, dermatologists are skilled in some specific conditions. Training in a subspecialty like skin cancer surgery or hair and nail disorders is precious to find out about.

Find out how many patients with your specific issue has the dermatologist treated. If you know you require a particular procedure, find out how many of such procedures the doctor has performed. Also, find out about complications that occurred for the doctor and which might occur for yourself.

Consider gender

You have to feel comfortable with your dermatologist’s gender because you will have to discuss personal information openly. Most dermatologists are becoming more skilled in caring differently for women and men. Find out about the recent training and experience of the dermatologist concerning your condition and your gender.

Evaluate communication style

Pick a dermatologist who makes you feel comfortable when talking. Also, a dermatologist who provides you with all the information you need. When you first meet the dermatologist notice these points:

• Ask a question and notice how they respond. 

• Do they welcome your questions and answer them in ways that you can understand? 

• During the visit, did you feel rushed or engaged? 

• Did they show interest in getting to know you?

Find a dermatologist who will consider your treatment preferences. Also, they will help you in your decision-making process.

After-hours care

You should never feel left in the dark about your treatment. Whether you are experiencing an allergic reaction or you have a pressing question about your treatment.

You should always have a way to reach the dermatologist during evenings and weekends. A good dermatologist will usually have on-call service for emergencies after hours. 

Some dermatologists have answering services that pass messages. Also, they may leave an urgent contact number on the clinic’s answering machine. Instead of finding yourself out of luck after 5 pm on weekdays or weekends, find a dermatologist who will be there for you.

Evaluate after your First Appointment

Just because you have been to a single appointment does not mean you are locked into this doctor-patient relationship forever.

Ask yourself these questions during and after your appointment:

• Was the dermatologist listening to your problems?

• Did you feel encouraged to share all the information with the dermatologist?

• Did the dermatologist examine you thoroughly?

• Were you able to ask questions — and did you get the answers to — all of your questions?

• Did the dermatologist give you many treatment choices, giving you a useful overview of the risks and success rate of each?

• And if necessary, were you convinced enough to schedule a follow-up appointment?

If all the answers to these questions were positive, then you can go for the dermatologist. Besides, all the above tips, make sure the dermatologist also fits in your budget. If they do not fit in your budget, you can move on to the next best choice.