Dermatology covers nearly everything related to the hair, nails and skin. When you notice any abnormalities or something that concerns you that you may want checked, you must start somewhere. Knowing where to begin is the first step in how to find a trustworthy dermatologist. 

Referrals are the easiest way to find a dermatologist without having to do a lot of the leg work yourself. If you already have a trusted general practitioner, start by asking your primary care doctor for reputable suggestions on who to see for your dermatological needs. Referrals from friends and family are helpful too to find someone reputable in your area. You can always search online reviews and read patient testimonials. The next most important factor in selecting a dermatologist is to search for a doctor that has the acronym FAAD after their name. FAAD stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and tells you that the dermatologist is board-certified. Being board certified means that a doctor has undergone countless hours and additional years of education and extensive training in their field. You can trust that the care you receive from the dermatologist comes from someone who has proven dedication to their specialty because of thoroughly tested experience.  

Once you have found a list of dermatologists who have been personally referred and are board-certified, it is time to schedule a consultation, possibly with multiple doctors, to get a feel for them personally. All the research you have accumulated will not establish trust in a doctor-patient relationship. Patients can define trust in different ways. One patient may want a dermatologist that spends time detailing the root causes of the issue and all the options in treating the issues and another patient may be most concerned about cost and what is or is not covered by insurance. Personality types may be a factor in what you need from your experience. It may also be important to you to discover what dermatologist you are seeing-if your needs are medical, cosmetic or surgical. You may require multiple treatments which means finding a doctor that will take time to listen to you and allow you to feel heard will be key in finding a trustworthy dermatologist. 

At THE CENTER for Advanced Dermatology, we invite you to come in to get to know our team. We hope that you will find our dermatologists and support staff to be trustworthy in addressing your dermatology needs. For an appointment, call 602-867-7546 or schedule online at WEBSITE.