Dermatology: Introducing the concept of Dermatology & the journey to become a Dermatologist
By: Shania Ali
Dermatology is the study of skin and is a branch of medicine that specializes in treating skin, hair, and nails. The skin is the most visible and largest organ of the body; it protects your other organs, acts as a barrier against bacteria & injury, and is the first line of defense against disease. However, sometimes skin diseases find their way in. Some commonly-observed skin disorders are:
- Fungal infections
- Skin cancer
- Dermatitis
- Warts
- Psoriasis
- Hand dermatitis
- Acne
- Atopic eczema
- Cold sores
Dermatologists are concerned with the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of diseases within the skin, hair, nails, etc. and can have patients of all ages, ranging from newborns to seniors. They can identify and treat more than 3000 skin conditions. The journey to become a dermatologist is rigorous but certainly worth the hard work. Before choosing dermatology as a career path, you need to be willing to commit to it, so you must be sure that dermatology is right for you. Once you choose dermatology as a career path, here are the following steps:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree from a four year university (must include pre-med courses in biology, organic chemistry, physics, and general chemistry)
- Take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and attend four years of medical school while maintaining a high GPA to become a medical doctor
- Apply for a dermatology residency program, which involves one year as an intern in either general surgery or internal medicine, followed by three years of clinical residency in dermatology
- Complete one (or two) year of fellowship (further training in desired field)
- Become board certified and obtain a license to practice
- Consider career opportunities with experience
Overall, it takes about 12 years of education and training to become a certified dermatologist. Some necessary key skills and qualities of a successful dermatologist are:
- Academic strength
- Excellent communication
- Stamina
- Comfort with bodily functions
Types of Dermatologists
By: Manisha Asrani
Dermatology is the science that is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the skin, hair and nails. The field of medicine runs significantly deep, and this of course applies to dermatology. While all types of dermatologists focus on skin care, each specialize in a different aspect of the field. Today, I will be talking about four main types of dermatologists.
First off, pediatric dermatologists. As the job title implies, pediatric dermatologists are specifically trained to work with children experiencing skin issues. Because children respond differently to specific treatment types when compared to adults, they require specific care from a trained pediatric dermatologist. Pediatric dermatologists deal with several various skin conditions, such as dermatitis caused by allergic reactions, acne, birthmarks, warts, and hives. Additionally, they also provide care for children who suffer from skin conditions congenital in nature. The equipment and supplies that a pediatric dermatologist works with are specifically designed for use in child patient cases.
The next type of dermatologists we are going to talk about is dermatopathologists. This doctor specializes in finding out where the various forms of skin diseases come from. Vastly trained in pathology, a dermatopathologist receives regular skin and tissue samples from patients currently in consultation with cosmetic dermatologists. Upon receiving the sample, the dermatopathologist scrutinizes it under a microscope before performing certain examinations in order to locate the exact problem with the skin. Dermatopathologists don’t commonly work with patients directly; they work in laboratories, engaging in testing and research. Due to their contributions to the field, dermatopathologists are critical components to dermatology.
Immunodermatologists specialize in examining how the immune system interacts with the skin. Skin conditions such as contact dermatitis and eczema are related to the immune system, thus falling under immunodermatologists’ expertise. Among the various tasks of an immunodermatologist is the development for solutions to skin diseases that are closely related to the immune system. Like dermatopathologists, immunodermatologists work mostly in laboratory settings, performing experiments built to assess how the immune system and skin will react in response to various substances.
Lastly, cosmetic dermatologists. Unlike immunodermatologists, cosmetic dermatologists are among the most visible doctors in the field of dermatology. They specialize in a range of different tasks centered on aesthetics, such as laser hair removal, treating cases of severe acne, or tightening the skin with certain injections. In extreme cases, cosmetic dermatologists can potentially perform surgery in order to reduce the outbreak of scars on patients. Though a relatively broad field, cosmetic dermatologists have the option of specializing in specific areas, such as skin rejuvenation or hair removal. If symptoms of potentially serious conditions such as skin cancer are noticed in cosmetic dermatological consultations, the cosmetic dermatologist will normally work closely with dermatopathologists in order to identify the precise skin issue.
As we can see, there are many different types of dermatologists, but they all have the same goal! There are a couple other types of doctors involved in dermatology, but this is just an overview.
Work Cited:
Dermatology: Introducing the concept of Dermatology & the journey to become a Dermatologist
“What Is a Dermatologist?” American Academy of Dermatology, www.aad.org/public/fad/what-is-a-derm .
CareerExplorer. “How to Become a Dermatologist.” ‐ CareerExplorer, CareerExplorer, 14 Nov. 2019, www.careerexplorer.com/careers/dermatologist/how-to-become/ .
Andrew Colucci, MD. “How to Become a Dermatologist: School and Salary Facts.” Innerbody, Innerbody Research, 13 Dec. 2018, www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/how-to-become-a-dermatologist.html .
Andrew Colucci, MD. “How to Become a Dermatologist: School and Salary Facts.” Innerbody, Innerbody Research, 13 Dec. 2018, www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/how-to-become-a-dermatologist.html .
Types of Dermatologists
Admin. “Exploring The 4 Different Branches Of Dermatology.” Academic Alliance In
Dermatology, Academic Alliance In Dermatology, 25 July 2019, www.academicallderm.com/dermatology-blog/2019/7/24/exploring-the-4-different-branches-of-dermatology.
“Immunodermatology.” Department of Dermatology, 6 July 2020,
http://www.med.unc.edu/derm/lab-services/immunodermatology/.
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