How do I prepare for my first dermatology appointment for psoriasis?

Psoriasis can look different from one day to the next, so photos taken on bad days can help show what your skin is usually like. It can help to note where it appears, including your scalp and nails, what you have already tried, and how it affects sleep, work or how you feel. If you have noticed any joint pain, stiffness or swelling, it is worth mentioning too, even if it seems unrelated. Two or three questions, most important first, are a good place to start.

Worth noting down

  • Where it appears, including your scalp, nails and skin folds.
  • When it started, and whether it comes and goes.
  • Anything that seems to set it off, such as stress, illness or the weather.
  • Everything you have tried, including creams and shampoos, and how they went.
  • How it affects your sleep, your work, or how you feel about your skin.

Photos

  • Take photos on bad days, in good light, so you can show what it is usually like.
  • Note the date on each one.

Questions you could ask

  • What are the options from here, and what happens next?
  • How long should I give something before we look at it again?
  • What should I do if it gets worse before my next appointment?
  • Is there a nurse or helpline I can contact?

Worth mentioning

  • Any joint pain, stiffness or swelling, even if it seems unrelated.
  • How it is affecting your mood or sleep. It is fine to talk about this.

My dermatology appointment

  • Where it appears, including scalp and nails
  • When it started, and what seems to set it off
  • Everything I have tried, and how it went
  • Photos from bad days, with dates
  • Any joint pain, stiffness or swelling
  • My top question, first
  • What happens next, written down before I leave
Make my one-page summary

The summary takes a couple of minutes, needs no account, and nothing is saved.

About the condition itself

Written by Mark Dunbavan, founder of Noori. Last reviewed 8 October 2026.

Noori keeps a record of your symptoms between appointments, so this summary can fill itself in, and can introduce you to a UK-registered nutritionist who works with people with skin conditions. About NooriSee who is taking clients