Finding the right specialist for your skin concerns can feel overwhelming with internet searches revealing endless possibilities. However, it's important to understand that not all "dermatologists" are the same and many claiming to be dermatologists, skin experts, skin specialists or skin doctors are not actually Consultants i.e. they have not passed the most rigorous exams to be considered a proper skin specialist.

Since literally anyone can call themselves a dermatologist you must look for the title 'Consultant Dermatologist' which is a legally protected term.

Here is what you can do:

First things first

Check the GMC Specialist Register - This is the single most important thing to do. Every fully qualified Consultant Dermatologist in the UK must be on the General Medical Council's Specialist Register for Dermatology. If a doctor is not on the specialist register for dermatology they are not recognised as a specialist in the UK.

Go to the GMC Online Register.
Enter the doctor's name or 7-digit GMC number.
Confirm that the 'Specialist Register' section lists 'Dermatology'.

Next, check their qualifications

Look at the letters listed after their name. There are multiple degrees, accolades etc out there but when considering Consultant Dermatologists, if UK trained they must have:

MRCP: Membership of the Royal College of Physicians. This requires passing a number of demanding exams over several years and is a pre-requisite for entering specialist training in dermatology.

MRCP(Derm), CCT in Dermatology: These qualifications are awarded upon completion of a UK recognised-training program in dermatology.

Thirdly, check where they trained

Where a doctor trained is important. Training differs significantly from one country to another e.g. in some, the training program may be short, in others there may be very little skin cancer and dermatologists do not receive thorough training in diagnosis and skin surgery.

UK dermatology training programmes are one of the best in the World and ensure consultants are skilled in the full range of known conditions.

Check for an NHS Consultant post

Ask if the doctor has been appointed to a consultant post in an NHS hospital Consultants in NHS teaching hospitals are responsible for treating the most complex cases and training the next generation of dermatologists. Their skills are regularly updated and directly transferable to the private sector.

Finally, check their specialist interests

Dermatology is a broad field. Does the consultant have a declared area of expertise that matches your needs? You can usually find this on their personal or clinic website, and often on their NHS consultant profile page on the hospital's website. Their publications can also give a strong clue as to their main clinical and research interests.

Don't be fooled

It's also important to recognise tactics that can be misleading and falsely promise you are seeing 'the best'. Be cautious, especially with:

A fancy postcode or swanky clinic: A beautiful clinic in a prestigious location creates a good impression, but it says nothing about the Dermatologist - anyone can open a clinic on say, Harley Street even without medical qualifications. The most important factor should be in clinical training, expertise and patient safety rather than how they look.

Social media: there is little overlap between the skills to diagnose and treat complex skin conditions and how many followers someone has. Pumping out content and 'before and after' photos are not a reliable measure of quality.

Misleading titles like 'Skin Doctor': As previously mentioned 'dermatologist' is not a protected title, terms like 'skin doctor' or 'skin expert' can be used by individuals without any relevant training. A true expert in Dermatology is a fully qualified Consultant Dermatologist. Their expertise is built on years of rigorous medical training, not just short courses. Always check the GMC Specialist Register first.