Dermatologist in Latviawhere to get treatment, how to verify certification, what this doctor does

A dermatologist is the specialist for problems of the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes, and for suspected sexually transmitted infection. In Latvia the full specialty title is dermatologist and venereologist.

• Rashes, itching, redness and scaling
• Changes in moles and skin lesions, including suspected skin cancer
• Fungal disease of the skin, nails and hair
• Acne, psoriasis and chronic inflammatory skin disease
• Hair loss and nail damage
• Sexually transmitted infections

Skin changes can reflect not only local skin disease but also allergies, hormonal disorders, metabolic changes, autoimmune disease, infection or disease of the internal organs. See a dermatologist if you notice any change in existing moles, meaning they grow, change colour or develop irregular edges, or if new moles or skin lesions appear that change, itch, bleed or fail to heal.

Dermatovenereology in Latvia has no separate sub-specialties, but the areas of work differ in practice.

• General dermatologyWhat it covers: Diagnosis and treatment of skin diseaseWhen you'd go: Rashes, eczema, psoriasis, acne
• Dermato-oncologyWhat it covers: Assessment of moles and skin lesionsWhen you'd go: Changing moles, suspected skin cancer
• VenereologyWhat it covers: Diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infectionWhen you'd go: Discharge, ulcers, genital rashes
• Aesthetic dermatologyWhat it covers: Correcting skin condition, proceduresWhen you'd go: Skin ageing, scars, vascular lesions
• Paediatric dermatologyWhat it covers: Skin disease in childrenWhen you'd go: Atopic dermatitis, rashes in a child

Aesthetic dermatology has its own association in Latvia, and some dermatologists work across both areas.

• Six years of medical study and a doctor's degree, at RSU or the University of Latvia.
• Residency in dermatovenereology. The Ministry of Health's residency planning document lists the training length for this specialty as 3 years, delivered by both RSU and the University of Latvia. Programme page: RSU residency programme.
• The programme's stated aim is to prepare the doctor for certification in dermatovenereology in line with the specialty regulations.
• The certificate is valid for 5 years. Recertification requires 250 continuing education points, at least 60 per cent tied to the base specialty, plus a 48.38 EUR fee.
• Entry in the practitioners register must be renewed every 5 years.

• State-funded or private. Some providers offer state-funded consultations on referral; at others the dermatologist works privately only.
• Dermatoscopy. If mole checking is the goal, ask whether whole-body dermatoscopy is offered and on what equipment.
• Procedures on site. Cryodestruction, electrocoagulation, CO2 laser and biopsy are not available everywhere.
• Children. Not every dermatologist sees children, so check when booking.
• Second opinion. Patients may freely choose the doctor and institution. With a valid referral, a state-funded consultation can be taken at any provider delivering that service from state funds.

• Come without make-up and with unvarnished nails if the complaint involves the face or nails.
• Bring a list of current and previous medicines and skincare products, since some rashes are linked to them.
• If you have photographs showing how the rash or lesion looked earlier, bring them.
• At the visit the doctor assesses the skin, hair, nails or mucous membranes, and takes a history of symptoms, previous treatment, lifestyle factors and medication use.
• As needed the doctor performs dermatoscopy, takes swabs or scrapings, or orders a biopsy with histology.

In the public system, with a referral, a specialist visit costs 4.00 EUR. Private prices vary between providers, and procedures and tests are charged separately.

• Dermatovenereology, first consultationPrice EUR: 50.00Provider: Adoria
• Dermatovenereology, repeat consultationPrice EUR: 40.00Provider: Adoria
• Dermatoscopy, one lesionPrice EUR: 10.00Provider: Adoria
• Whole-body dermatoscopyPrice EUR: 45.00Provider: Adoria
• Cryodestruction, one lesionPrice EUR: from 15.00Provider: Adoria
• Taking a skin biopsyPrice EUR: 35.00Provider: Adoria
• Skin histologyPrice EUR: 45.00Provider: Adoria
• Dermatology, first consultation on regional outreachPrice EUR: 55.00Provider: Veselības centrs 4
• Optical dermatoscopy on regional outreachPrice EUR: 15.00Provider: Veselības centrs 4
• Patient co-payment for a specialist visitPrice EUR: 4.00Provider: NVD

Several organisations represent the field:

• Latvijas Dermatovenerologu asociācija, registration number 40008099872, registered address Pērses iela 14-3, Rīga, LV-1011, contact Andris Rubins, ldva.lv.
• Latvijas Dermatovenerologu biedrība, registration number 40008043154, registered address Ģertrūdes iela 32, Rīga, LV-1011, contact Māra Rone-Kupfere.
• Latvijas Estētiskās Dermatoloģijas asociācija, registration number 40008316290, registered address Pērses iela 14-2, Rīga, LV-1011, contact Dina Mihailova, ledamed.lv.

The field has both an "asociācija" and a "biedrība" with near-identical names, so when checking a doctor's membership, read the exact name.

Certificates are issued by the Certification Council of the Latvian Medical Association, founded in 1988. The sector regulator is the Health Inspectorate.

If you have doubts about the quality of care, raise them first with the institution's management, which must operate a complaints and suggestions system. If that does not resolve it, a written submission goes to the Health Inspectorate no later than two years after the alleged infringement, and is reviewed within 30 days, extendable to four months in complex cases. The procedure is set out on the Health Inspectorate site.