You may wonder which doctor you should see to treat your psoriasis. Most primary care physicians have some experience with psoriasis and can easily manage a simple case, which requires only topical treatment of small areas. What do you do when your whole body is covered or when you have painful psoriatic arthritis associated with your psoriasis, though? What type of doctor is well-versed in the use of biologic drugs, methotrexate and other strong medicines?
When your psoriasis reaches a point where your primary care physician is no longer comfortable treating you, ask to be referred to a qualified dermatologist in your community. A dermatologist is a physician who has completed specialized training in skin diseases after completing medical school. For most MDs, this means three years of intensive hospital-based training. Many dermatologists treat the full spectrum of skin diseases, but there are also centers dedicated to psoriasis treatment.
For those patients with severe psoriatic arthritis who are not responsive to their dermatologist's treatment, referral to a rheumatologist may be useful. Rheumatologists specialize in the treatment of arthritis and may have access to intravenous medications, such as Remicade, while most dermatologists do not.
Finding a qualified dermatologist is as easy as visiting the website for the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Fellows of the AAD have completed a dermatology residency and passed the examination of the American Board of Dermatology. Their physician-referral page is located here.
