Dr Álvaro González Cantero
Dermatologist specialising in psoriasis in Madrid (Spain)
Comprehensive management of psoriasis and other immune-mediated skin diseases, including complex cases and comorbidities, with access to advanced clinical research.
Ramón y Cajal University Hospital
Grupo Pedro Jaén
International online consultations
Highly specialised, comprehensive care
A comprehensive approach to understanding and treating psoriasis
Psoriasis is not always limited to plaques on the skin, nor can it always be effectively controlled with standard treatment approaches. For many patients, a broader assessment is required, taking into account not only visible skin lesions and their impact on quality of life, but also other aspects of health that may be affected.
I am a dermatologist and researcher specialising in psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases including hidradenitis suppurativa, atopic dermatitis, acne and rosacea. My approach is based on a comprehensive model of care that allows both mild and moderate cases that may be difficult to manage in everyday life, and severe or complex cases requiring more advanced strategies and medication, to be addressed with greater precision.
My work combines clinical experience, a comprehensive view of each patient, advanced treatments, university teaching and active research. This approach guides my work as Head of the Psoriasis and Inflammatory Skin Diseases Unit at Grupo Pedro Jaén and at the ICMR dermatology research centre (International Center for Medical Research). It also underpins my clinical and research activity at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital.
In recent years, I have also been involved in a research programme that goes beyond controlling psoriasis and is focused on finding a definitive cure for the disease.
The aim is for each patient to achieve clear skin while maintaining good overall health.
Beyond the skin
When may this approach be particularly helpful?
The Psoriasis and Inflammatory Skin Diseases Unit is particularly suited to patients in any of the following situations:
- Mild or moderate psoriasis that is not fully controlled.
- Poor response to previous treatments.
- Complex or severe psoriasis.
- Recently diagnosed psoriasis.
- Questions about whether treatment should be changed or intensified.
- The need for a specialist second opinion.
- Concerns about the impact of psoriasis on general health.
- Interest in assessing innovative treatment options or clinical trials.
Not every patient needs the same approach. A fundamental part of our work is therefore to identify what each individual needs and at what stage of their disease.
Specialist clinical judgement
Access to advanced treatments
Effective psoriasis management is not simply about having a wide range of therapeutic options available. It also requires knowing which treatment may be most appropriate for each patient and when it should be used. Depending on the characteristics of each case, at the Grupo Pedro Jaén Psoriasis Unit we assess different treatment options, including:
- Carefully tailored topical treatments.
- Treatment optimisation and patient education.
- Phototherapy.
- Systemic treatments.
- Biological therapies.
- Other options for localised, resistant or particularly complex cases.
In more difficult cases, the difference often lies not only in having access to advanced treatments, but in selecting the right treatment, adjusting it at the appropriate time, changing strategy when necessary and incorporating the patient’s overall clinical situation into every decision.
Research
Clinical trials and access to research
My clinical practice is closely linked to clinical research in psoriasis and inflammatory skin diseases.
I lead a research programme in psoriasis and inflammatory skin diseases at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital and am Director General of ICMR, the dermatology research centre of Fundación Pedro Jaén. Through this work, I participate in projects focusing on psoriasis, its comorbidities and comprehensive patient assessment, as well as studies investigating innovative therapies for psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases.
This combination of research and advanced clinical practice enables me, where appropriate, to assess both access to clinical trials and the use of the most advanced treatment strategies already available. The aim is for patients to benefit not only from the medicine of the future, but also from the best possible evidence-based care available today.
Other conditions
Inflammatory skin diseases
Although psoriasis is my main area of specialised practice, at the Psoriasis and Inflammatory Skin Diseases Unit we apply the same clinical and research model to other complex inflammatory skin conditions.
These include, in particular:
- Hidradenitis suppurativa
- Atopic dermatitis
As with psoriasis, I believe that effective management of these conditions requires specific expertise, a comprehensive view of the patient, diagnostic accuracy, sound therapeutic judgement and individualised follow-up. This enables care to be more precisely tailored both to the skin disease itself and to the patient’s overall health.
Dr Álvaro González Cantero
Consultations at Grupo Pedro Jaén
Different consultation options
In-person consultations in Madrid, second opinions and online consultations
Consultations are available in person in Madrid or online, allowing me to assess patients living in other parts of Spain or abroad.
When a case requires it, patients benefit not only from my clinical judgement but also from the clinical, research and organisational support of the medical institutions in which I work.
If you are looking for a highly specialised assessment of psoriasis, including consideration of comorbidities, experience in complex cases and potential access to advanced clinical research, you can choose the consultation format that best suits your circumstances.
Second opinion consultation
Particularly suitable for patients with diagnostic uncertainty, incomplete disease control or a need to review important treatment decisions.
Online consultation
Designed for patients living outside Madrid, elsewhere in Spain or abroad.
International patients
Access to specialist assessment, current research and advanced treatment options for patients from around the world.
Dermatologist specialising in psoriasis in Madrid (Spain)
Dr Álvarez González Cantero
Professional career and international experience
As a specialist dedicated to psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases, I believe that the highest standards of patient care are achieved by combining highly specialised clinical practice, a comprehensive view of the patient, active research and university teaching.
My career has focused particularly on psoriasis, combining clinical care, research and leadership of specialist programmes.
This approach enables me to manage both complex cases and situations in which the disease is not adequately controlled or requires a broader assessment of associated comorbidities.
Dr Álvaro González Cantero
Medical registration number: 454505859
Director of psoriasis research programmes at Grupo Pedro Jaén and Ramón y Cajal University Hospital
I lead research programmes focused on psoriasis and its comorbidities, with a particular interest in developing methods that allow patients to be assessed more comprehensively and associated risks to be detected at an early stage, including psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease and other conditions related to systemic inflammation.
This research activity is carried out within Grupo Pedro Jaén and Ramón y Cajal University Hospital and is supported by collaboration with internationally recognised researchers and centres.
I am also Scientific Director of the International Center for Medical Research (ICMR), the dermatology research centre of Fundación Pedro Jaén. At ICMR, we conduct studies and clinical trials in psoriasis and other inflammatory and immune-mediated dermatological diseases, including hidradenitis suppurativa, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, notalgia paraesthetica and alopecia areata.
University teaching and academic activity
Alongside my clinical and research work, I teach as an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria.
University teaching forms part of my commitment to sharing medical knowledge and contributing to the training of future healthcare professionals.
It also reinforces an approach to clinical practice based on continuous study, scientific updating and the rigorous application of medical knowledge.
Membership of scientific societies
I am a member of national and international scientific organisations related to dermatology, psoriasis and clinical research, including the International Psoriasis Council, the Psoriasis Working Group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, the National Psoriasis Foundation, the European Rare and Severe Psoriasis Network, the Ibero-Latin American College of Dermatology and the European Society of Cardiology.
I am also a Councillor of the International Psoriasis Council, an international organisation dedicated to advancing knowledge, research and clinical management of psoriasis.
Training in the United States and ongoing collaboration with international researchers
I completed my doctoral thesis on psoriasis and furthered my training through two placements at leading centres in the United States: Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia.
I also maintain continuous scientific activity through conferences, publications and research projects, as well as regular collaboration and exchange with internationally recognised researchers and dermatologists specialising in psoriasis. This allows me to maintain an up-to-date perspective on the disease, its treatments, associated comorbidities and the most relevant areas of ongoing research.
Research grants, awards and publications in leading medical journals
In recent years, I have received research grants, awards and distinctions related to dermatology, psoriasis and clinical research. My scientific work has resulted in publications in leading national and international journals, as well as presentations and communications at major scientific conferences.
This research background reinforces the rigorous standards I apply to my work and is particularly valuable for patients who require highly specialised care, whether because of the complexity of their condition or the need for a comprehensive assessment of their disease.
Founder of The Psoriasis Revolution
Together with Fundación Pedro Jaén, I lead The Psoriasis Revolution, an initiative created to provide patients and the wider public with clear, rigorous and accessible information about the latest advances, treatments and knowledge relating to psoriasis.
