Team of Healthcare Professionals

Family Physician (FP) or General Practitioner (GP) is your primary care physician. He or she may be able to answer most of your questions and monitor your condition, and will probably be the member of the treatment team with whom you will have the most contact.

Dermatologists specialize in skin conditions. Your family physician may refer you to a dermatologist if your plaque psoriasis is particularly difficult to diagnose or treat. See https://dermatology.ca for more information about dermatologists or to find a dermatologist practicing in your region.

Nurses and nurse practitioners assist your doctor with your care, and can be helpful to you in many ways. Nurses play an important role in patient education. They can explain or clarify what your doctor has told you, and answer questions you may have about your treatment. They may also offer suggestions on lifestyle changes that may make living with plaque psoriasis easier. Nurses can be an invaluable source of advice and support.

Psychologists can help with severe psychological distress that plaque psoriasis can cause in some people, particularly if patches are very obvious. A psychologist can help you find ways to cope emotionally with your psoriasis and can also provide family counselling.

Pharmacists can be a good source of information about the medications you take. Pharmacists can tell you how different drugs work, what side effects they may cause, and how different medications interact with each other.