At Your Appointment

Psoriasis Appointment Guide

Ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment. Answer two questions below to personalize your appointment guide.

• Has the doctor diagnosed you or your loved with with psoriasis?

  1. Yes, diagnosed
  2. No, undiagnosed
• Will this appointment be an in-office visit or an online/telehealth appointment?

  1. In-office visit
  2. Online/telehealth appointment

Submit

Top Questions Your Doctor May Ask You About Psoriasis If you’re having a telehealth appointment, it's helpful to keep these things in mind. Test your computer or smartphone to make sure you can log in without difficulties. Since the doctor can’t examine you in person, be very specific about your symptoms. Print this appointment guide or write down your questions so you remember what to ask, and consider having someone sit with you to listen in. Have your medicines with you so you can show the doctor the labels and doses, and if you are interested in a specific treatment, be sure to ask about it.

• Please describe the symptoms and issues you’re having that led you to schedule this online appointment. Start at the beginning of this current episode and tell me how and when things have changed and progressed.
• Have you experienced any joint pain or arthritis along with your psoriasis skin symptoms?
• What areas of your body are affected by psoriasis?
• Measuring with the palm of your hand, how many palms would it take to cover all the affected areas of your skin? (Each palm is about 1% of your body surface area.)
• How many psoriasis flares have you had? Did you notice anything that seemed to trigger those flares?
• Is your psoriasis negatively impacting your quality of life, such as limiting your ability to do activities or socially interact with others?
• Are you taking your psoriasis medications as directed?
• How long ago did you first start experiencing skin problems?
• Describe the skin problem. For example, do you experience itching, pain, redness, or thick, raised areas of skin?
• Have you experienced any joint pain or arthritis along with your skin symptoms?
• Do you have a family history of any of the following conditions: psoriasis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other auto-immune diseases?
• Do you notice anything that triggers your symptoms and makes them worse?
• On what areas of the body are your skin problems located?
• How well is your medication controlling your symptoms? Do you feel it is effective?
• What new symptoms are you experiencing?
• How satisfied are you with your current psoriasis treatment and management?

Top Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Psoriasis Many people forget to ask important questions at their doctor's appointments. You may want to print or write these questions down before your appointment so you remember to get the answers you need.

• Do my symptoms mean I have psoriasis?
• Could my symptoms be caused by another medical condition?
• What medications are available to improve my skin symptoms?
• What should I do if my skin symptoms get worse?
• Are there lifestyle changes I can make to improve my symptoms, such as exercise or dietary changes?
• Are there specific activities I should avoid?
• What are the best psoriasis treatment options for me?
• How would you categorize my psoriasis: mild, moderate or severe?
• How will I know if my treatment plan is working well or if it needs to be changed?
• How well am I doing with managing my psoriasis?
• How often do I need to make appointments for follow-up? What are you looking for when I have follow-up appointments?
• What should I do if my plaques, itching and other symptoms get worse?
• Are there other medications that would do a better job of controlling my symptoms?
• Do my new or different symptoms indicate that my psoriasis is getting worse?
• Am I getting the best results I can from my psoriasis treatment plan?

Print View All Questions

Was this helpful?

306