Sunday 28 September 2008

Acne - Selecting a Dermatologist

If you have acne, you probably need a dermatologist. The services of a dermatologist are rarely sought if the acne is mild and only occasional, but those with severe acne find that managing and preventing outbreaks is easier with the help of a good dermatologist.

In many cases, you can get a recommendation for a dermatologist from your regular health care professional. Some insurance companies will limit your choices to specific dermatologists as well. You can also ask friends for recommendations.

Once you've chosen a dermatologist, set up an appointment for a consultation. Arrive with a list of questions to ask, remembering that just because you've made an appointment, this does not mean that you are stuck with this particular dermatologist.

Obviously, you want to know how long the dermatologist has been in practice and which medical school he attended. You might also want to know what prompted him to choose the dermatologist specialty. In the event that you ever need any type of surgery that would be performed by a dermatologist, you will want to ask which hospital he has practicing privileges at as well.

As an acne patient, you will definitely want to know what his success rate is in the treatment of acne. Find out what acne related procedures he performs, and whether they are performed in the office or not as well. You may have other specific questions about his practice, or about how he might approach treatment of your acne.

Finally, contact the licensing agent that issued his license to practice dermatology. They will give you all of the information that they have on this dermatologist, including any information about complaints or malpractice suits.

Acne may not seem like a big deal to many people - until they have it. Once you have it, you want the best dermatologist that you can find to help you in the management and prevention of acne breakouts.

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