How to choose a dermatologist in Puerto Rico

Disclaimer: Informational directory only. Puerto Rico Experts does not give medical advice, and a listing is not a referral, recommendation or endorsement of any physician. Confirm credentials and whether the physician accepts your health plan directly with the office. In an emergency, call 911.

Before booking an appointment, spend a few minutes verifying credentials, coverage and logistics. This guide explains how to do it with official sources. It is general information: it is not medical advice or a recommendation of any physician.

1. Confirm the person is a licensed physician

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing conditions of the skin, hair and nails. In Puerto Rico, the license to practice medicine is granted by the Board of Licensing and Medical Discipline (Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica) of the Department of Health. You can confirm it free of charge in the ORCPS license verification page (in Spanish): search by name and last names or by license number, then check the specialty, the status, the expiration date and the “¿Tiene restricción?” (has a restriction?) column. The official notice on that page says that having a restriction does not imply the professional is unable to practice; for more information it asks you to email soportejuntasexaminadoras@salud.pr.gov. Detailed steps are in the guide How to confirm your doctor is licensed.

2. Check board certification

Board certification is a credential separate from the license. According to ABMS Certification Matters, a free service of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the 24 ABMS Member Boards require doctors to keep up with education, training and examinations. There you can search the doctor by last name (the only required field) and see whether the certification is valid and whether the doctor is “actively maintaining certification”. Licensed doctors who are not certified by one of those 24 boards are not included on that site. In dermatology, the AAD explains that the letters FAAD (“Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology”) tell you the dermatologist is board certified. Puerto Rico Experts does not verify board certification; each listing says so.

3. Look for dermatologists

The AAD offers Find a Dermatologist, where you can check whether a dermatologist is an FAAD. In our directory, the dermatology page (within Doctors) lists dermatologists with an active license in the Junta's public search. Each listing shows the license number, the status, the expiration date, the specialty on the Junta record and the date we checked it, next to the “✓ License checked with the regulator” badge.

4. Confirm your health plan

Call the office and ask whether it accepts your specific plan, and confirm it with your insurer too, because plan acceptance changes. Our directory has the “Accepts your health plan” filter; each listing cites the source of the data (what the provider or the insurer's directory states), which we do not verify. Write down who confirms the coverage and the date.

5. Check logistics and prepare for the visit

Find out the town and distance, office hours, whether telehealth is offered, whether the practice accepts new patients and the wait for an appointment. Bring your plan card, an ID and a list of the medications you use, and write down your questions. If something does not convince you, you may seek a second opinion.