5 Pro Tips for Finding the Best Psoriasis Specialist in Vienna, Virginia
Managing your psoriasis is difficult and frustrating at best and can be seemingly impossible at worst. Who can you turn to for support when dealing with this condition?
Here’s how a psoriasis specialist in Vienna, Virginia can help, plus how to find the best one by utilizing five easy tips!
How Do I Find a Good Psoriasis Specialist?
Finding a specialist who fully understands the ins and outs of psoriasis is no easy task. Many doctors aren’t equipped with the proper knowledge to treat it. Start with these five tips to find a psoriasis specialist that’s right for you.
- Get a Referral From Your Primary Care Provider (PCP)
It is more than likely that your primary care provider doesn’t really know how to deal with psoriasis. If that’s your current situation, or you’re seeking additional expert advice, ask your PCP for a referral to a psoriasis specialist. Psoriasis is a chronic condition, so it’s important that you make a psoriasis specialist part of your primary care team.
- Search Within Your Insurance Network
An easy way to cut the stress of your search is by looking within your insurance network. This ensures that you’re covered when visiting a psoriasis specialist and gives you an idea of the providers near you.
Not all psoriasis treatments are covered by insurance, however. In the event you’re not sure that treatment will be covered, call your insurance or talk with your specialist. If you don’t have insurance, look at specialists in your area or use one of the many databases. If you’re without coverage and seeking diagnosis and / or treatment, don’t forget to discuss costs and financing with your specialist.
- Talk With Other Psoriasis Patients
Finding a psoriasis support group not only makes living with this condition a little bit easier, it can also point you towards a good psoriasis specialist. If you know someone living with psoriasis, or happen across a psoriasis-centric group, ask them where they’re receiving professional treatment.
- Interview Your Psoriasis Specialist
When you find a psoriasis doctor, take the time to interview them. Ask how many similar cases to yours they’ve handled, the treatments they often prescribe, the success rate of those treatments, side effects and how they’re managed, and other helpful information you need to make a sound decision.
Questions play an important role in determining if this psoriasis specialist is right for you, so feel free to jot some down on your phone or a notebook before your appointment.
- Make Sure Your Psoriasis Specialist Has the Right Credentials
The world is full of information and, more importantly, people claiming to have all the right answers. This is why you need to be careful when selecting a good specialist. Look for a specialist who has the necessary credentials, training, and licenses to be treating psoriasis. Check to be sure they’re board certified and find out what advanced training they have in this condition.
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition believed to be caused by issues with the immune system. This condition causes inflammation in the body, resulting in scales and raised plaques that may burn, itch, or sting. These scales and plaques can look and feel different for everyone. Other health conditions are common as a result of psoriasis, including psoriatic arthritis, which is characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling in your joints.
Symptoms of psoriasis can begin at any age for any gender and any skin color, but it typically begins at the ages 15 to 25. Psoriasis symptoms consist of a burning sensation, cracked or dry skin that may even bleed, itching, small scaly spots, and / or soreness. Rashes are a very common part of psoriasis, and they look different depending on the person.
Psoriasis rashes can look like spots of scaling that are dandruff-like in nature or major eruptions that cover a lot of the body. They are varying in color, size, and shape. There are differnt types of psoriasis, and they can occur anywhere on the body. Most commonly, it is found on the palms, soles of feet, elbows, knees, face, scalp, and low back.
What Is a Psoriasis Specialist?
A dermatologist, a doctor that specializes in conditions relating to the hair, skin, and nails, is typically the best psoriasis specialist in Vienna, Virginia. Your psoriasis care team may include multiple types of doctors, but a dermatologist is more often than not part of it.
Psoriasis specialists are exactly what they sound like: specialists that diagnose and treat psoriasis. This looks different for everyone and ultimately depends on the severity of your psoriasis, previous and current management techniques, your overall health, and more.
Can a Psoriasis Specialist Cure My Psoriasis?
Unfortunately, there’s no cure for psoriasis at this time, only ways to manage the condition. This often includes long-term management, making it so that your psoriasis flares are non-existent for long periods of time, or at least not nearly what they used to be.
So, while a psoriasis specialist cannot cure your psoriasis, they can and will help you to identify triggers, develop a treatment plan based on them and other factors, and help you cope with your psoriasis on a long-term basis.
Your Search for the Very Best Psoriasis Specialist in Vienna, Virginia Ends Here
Dr. Yousefi is the area’s top dermatologist specializing in psoriasis, delivering personalized treatment and advice for all of her patients. Interested in booking an appointment?
Contact us today at 703-255-5070 to schedule today and receive treatment that really works! It’s time to reclaim your quality of life!
