Talking with Your Doctor

If you have psoriasis, you may already be seeing a doctor such as a dermatologist to help treat your skin condition. If you are not already doing so, you may want to see a dermatologist about your condition.

Whether you are seeing a dermatologist or primary care physician for your psoriasis, it is important to remember that their goals are the same — to help you manage your symptoms and achieve skin clearance.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your symptoms, the most appropriate type of treatment for you, and any other concerns you may have about your condition.

Questions for your doctor

Below is a set of questions you may wish to ask your dermatologist. Print these questions and take them to your next appointment. Pick one or two questions from each section to ask your dermatologist. By preparing yourself and considering what you wish to discuss prior to your appointment, you can have a more thorough conversation about your symptoms and how to best manage psoriasis.

About your condition

• What causes this to happen to my skin?
• If I have psoriasis, does that mean my children will develop it?
• I don't have psoriasis, but someone in my family does. Does this mean I will develop it? Is there anything I can do to avoid getting it?
• If I decide to have a child, will my psoriasis get worse during my pregnancy?
• Is there something about my lifestyle or diet that has caused me to develop psoriasis?
• Can the flaking and shedding that I sometimes leave behind transmit the disease to my spouse/children/family, etc.?

Managing your symptoms

• How frequently should I expect to experience psoriatic symptoms?
• What can I do day-to-day to avoid or lessen the intensity of future psoriatic breakouts?
• Am I at a higher risk for skin infections during psoriatic breakouts? How can I protect my skin against infection while it is itchy, swollen, and flaking?

Treatment

• What treatment is appropriate for my type of psoriasis?
• My psoriasis is often a source of frustration and embarrassment. What can I do to achieve the best skin clearance possible?
• What are the benefits and risks of the various medical treatments?

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

• Since I have psoriasis, how likely is it that I will develop symptoms of psoriatic arthritis?
• I sometimes have pain in my joints during a psoriasis breakout? Could I have psoriatic arthritis?
• I sometimes have pain in my joints, but not while I am experiencing the skin symptoms. Could that be a sign of psoriatic arthritis?

Click here to learn about treatment options for psoriasis.