How to Find a Dermatologist Near Your Daughter or Son's College

When your child is headed off to college, there’s a lot to think about — and plan for. While making that to-do list of things they’ll need — like sheets and pillows and dorm room furnishings — remember to put “dermatologist” on the list.

Although it may be easy to overlook, it’s important that you know how to find a physician near your son or daughter’s college. You’ll also want to make sure that they are getting a qualified and experienced dermatologist who can treat whatever they need help for — whether it’s eczema, acne, psoriasis or another skin condition.

“Many people don’t realize how much education it takes to become a dermatologist,” says Dr. Breck Thrash, a board-certified dermatologist at U.S. Dermatology Partners South Hulen in Fort Worth, Texas. “But in addition to a college degree and four years of medical school, we also serve a one-year internship and do a minimum of three years’ residency.”

Dermatologists are familiar with a wide range of conditions; in fact, they diagnose and treat more than 3,000 conditions. When looking for a dermatologist, there are a few boxes you’ll want to check off the list:

Make sure they are board certified. Look for the FAAD designation, which stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Don’t trust certifications from other organizations, which are not officially recognized by the American Academy of Dermatology and don’t have the same standards.
Look for someone with experience in treating your college student’s condition. Some dermatologists have treatment specialties that they prefer, so look for someone who understands your specific needs.
Find a dermatologist near the college or university your child is attending. Making sure they are conveniently located near the college will make it easier for your son or daughter to keep appointments.

College Students’ Skin Needs Special Treatments

Even if your son or daughter has not had to see a dermatologist regularly in the past, it’s a good idea to locate a doctor who they can see if they have a flare-up of a skin condition.

“One of the most common conditions we see with college students is acne,” Dr. Thrash says. “Students are often living away from home for the first time, which is exciting but can also be a source of stress. This stress, in combination with a change in sleep patterns, significantly places students at a risk for more breakouts.”

Add to that the fact that college students aren’t known for their healthy diets, or for getting the proper amount of sleep, and you’re adding more stressors for their skin. They may not be cleaning their skin as often or as they should and may pick up bad habits like sleeping in their makeup or skipping the sunscreen.

“Seeing a dermatologist can not only help them treat whatever problem they’re having with their skin, but it can also serve as a reminder of the preventative things they should be doing for their skin,” Dr. Thrash says.

Other conditions that can affect college students, particularly when they’re under stress, include eczema, psoriasis, hives, dandruff and more.

“All of these conditions can be treated, and there’s no reason for a college student to suffer with them,” Dr. Thrash says. “Having to live with these conditions can be hard on them, both emotionally and physically. By treating early and effectively, we can hopefully avoid any damage to their self-esteem.”

Finding the Right Dermatologist Near College

U.S. Dermatology Partners’ large network of providers makes it easier for you to find the right care provider at a location that is convenient for your college student. With practices in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia, finding a board-certified practitioner near your child’s college is fairly effortless.

When you send your son or daughter to a U.S. Dermatology Partners provider, you’ll have complete assurance that your child is in good hands. Our doctors carry the high standards required for providing the expert care that we are committed to giving each patient, and our integrated network means that your electronic records are available to any of the doctors in our network. That means each care provider will have access to the information he or she needs to continue and further treatment of your college student’s skin.

As you begin to look for the right dermatologist for your son or daughter, here are the U.S. Dermatology Partners providers located near colleges that can offer top-notch skincare.