Finding a Dermatologist for Your Needs

Psoriasis, Eczema, acne, and rashes are all skin ailments that might make you want to visit with a specialist. A general practitioner might be able to help the rashes but for more severe ailments seeing a dermatologist is the answer. There doesn't seem to be as many of these specialists around as there are other medical specialists so finding one that can help you might be a little tricky.

As with any specialist the first place you should check is with your insurance. Most insurance companies won't pay for a specialist unless you have either spoken to them about it or been referred by your physician. It's a way for them to control funds and insure that you aren't abusing your insurance. While it's frustrating to talk to some insurance companies, one quick call can net you a lot of information. You can not only find out what to do to get in to see a dermatologist but you can also get a list of those in your area that accept your insurance.

If you don't want to deal with your insurance company first you can always talk to your physician first. This actually may save you some time with your insurance by getting a referral from your general doctor. He can tell you which of the dermatologists in town are the best and his office manager might even be able to call and schedule you an appointment. If his office manager will do that for you, you'll most likely get in quicker than you would if you called and scheduled the appointment yourself. Your doctor can also send over a copy of your records which may save you some time as well.

If all else fails, you can always look up dermatologists in your area on your home computer. This will give you a list of doctors you can check out. You can use the internet to check out what other patients may think of the doctor's bedside manner and whether or not they would recommend him to others. Sometimes the doctor's website will list what type of insurance they accept so you can do a quick check and narrow down the potentials by excluding those who don't list your insurance carrier as one of the types they accept. Be forewarned, by calling and making an appointment yourself you may have to wait for a while to get in. Sometimes these types of doctors are booked solid which means you'll have to wait.

Like with any doctor, finding the right dermatologist for you is going to take some work. You'll need to find out who in your area will take your insurance, if your insurance requires a referral, and which one will treat you like you want to be treated. There are lots of reasons to go see this type of specialist but you need to have all your ducks in a row before you make your first appointment. If you are going to see one without a referral but you know your doctor has documented this problem in his notes make sure you take them with you.