Your skin is your largest organ and a huge part of your overall health. 

Whether you want to look amazing at your next event or improve and safeguard your health, choosing a dermatologist that’s the right fit for you is essential.

You not only want to make sure that they are qualified and skilled, but also someone you feel comfortable with. 

Because your skin is such a visible part of you, it’s important that you make an educated decision. 

Find someone you trust (and knows what they’re doing).

1. Listen to how they approach your initial consult  

At your initial consultation, listen to what your dermatologist has to say, and pay attention to how they approach your treatment options. 

Do they make the appointment about you?

Do they listen to your goals, concerns, and answer your questions?

Better yet, do they go into detail when they answer your questions, and make sure that you can understand the process, risks, and potential outcomes?

Do they spend time explaining why they would suggest a certain treatment, or do they seem like they’re trying to sell you on some new product they just got in?

Look for a dermatologist who will listen to your concerns, but will also manage your expectations. Not all procedures are right for everyone, and they should explain in detail why they do or do not recommend a procedure. 

2. Read their biography and look up their website 

This step is mostly on you.

Do your due diligence and make sure that when your dermatologist says they are “board certified in dermatology” that they actually are.

Ask the following questions.

Where did they go to school? Where did they complete their residency? Where did they complete their fellowship? Have they conducted research or contributed to their field? Are they an expert?

You can double check their credentials by going to <aad.com/findadermatologist>. 

Bonus points for finding a dermatologist who specializes in any treatments you’re interested in. 

3. If you have to wait to book your first consultation, consider that a good sign

No one wants to wait weeks just to book a consultation. 

You want to look amazing RIGHT NOW. 

It’s actually not that difficult to get an appointment with a dermatologist, especially in an area like NYC. There are many options, and you are almost guaranteed to be able to book an appointment at one medical office if another is booked.

However, like I mentioned in my previous point, you don’t want just any dermatologist. You want the dermatologist you researched. I would encourage you to be patient if there is a wait to book an appointment. 

Having to wait to get into see the dermatologist you want to see is usually a good sign. 

It means that they are busy.

Really busy.

And that means that they not only have patients booking appointments, but REPEAT patients booking appointments. They have patients who continue to see them for all of their skin health concerns. 

They’re probably worth the wait. 

4. Make sure you choose the right type of dermatologist

It’s important to match your concerns to the specialization of your doctor. 

This saves you time, and money as you don’t end up booking consultations with a doctor who isn’t able to perform the treatment you want. 

A general dermatologist will treat acne, rashes, and rosacea. They will also do skin checks for questionable moles, and are a great place to start for general medical concerns. 

If you are looking for anything related to laser treatments, botox, fillers, or chemical peels, look for a cosmetic dermatologist. 

5. Find a dermatologist who says no 

I cannot stress this enough, and it seems ridiculous that I even have to mention it, but you should find a doctor that says no to you.

If being told no is not something you’re into, then I guarantee that you can go and find someone who will perform whatever procedure you want.

But a great dermatologist won’t. 

And don’t you want to work with someone great? 

Remember that while you’re there to get the results you want, your dermatologist is a highly trained medical professional and knows what’s going to work best in every situation.