Learn About Dermatologists: Diseases They Treat and When to see one?

What is a Dermatologist?

Dermatologist is a doctor who has received special training to treat adults and children with benign and malignant disorders of the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. They can diagnose skin cancer, skin allergies, and other skin conditions and disorders. They also treat these skin problems and look for underlying causes.

How does a doctor become Dermatologists?

To become a dermatologist, a person must first complete medical school. After graduating, they spend one year’s internship in general medical practice, before going on to complete a three-year residency in dermatology. If they choose to do a subspecialty, they must complete a fellowship in that specialty area.

What are the common diseases treated by Dermatologists?

Dermatologists treat a variety of skin disorders and diseases. They not only diagnose the disease but also find the best treatment option for the patient. Some of the most common diseases treated by dermatologists include:

• Acne
• Atopic dermatitis
• Cold sores
• Contact dermatitis
• Eczema
• Hair loss
• Hives
• Impetigo
• Moles
• Melanoma
• Ringworm
• Warts
• Vitiligo

What are the diagnostic tests and procedures ordered by a Dermatologist?

Dermatologists always want to be sure about the type of disease they are dealing with, so they might order tests or conduct procedures to find the causes of a patient’s symptoms. Some of the most common diagnostic tests that dermatologists do include:

• Patch Testing: The dermatologist will test small patches of the skin to determine the cause of the disorder or to test a treatment.
• Skin Testing: This is a way for dermatologists to test for allergies.
• Mole Testing: The dermatologists checks the moles to determine if they are cancerous or precancerous.
• Biopsies: These tests involve cutting away a small piece of skin to test it for cancer or other skin disorders.
• Cultures: Dermatologists will take small samples from a patient’s hair, nails, or skin to test for diseases and disorders.

Intradermal Tests: Small injections of allergens are made into the skin to determine if a person is allergic to certain things.

What are the different types of Dermatologists?

All dermatologists received education and training in the medical and surgical treatment of skin and nail diseases. Some dermatologists spend additional 1-2 years in training for further specialization.

• Dermatopathologist: A Dermatophatologist makes a microscopic diagnosis of diseases of the skin. He or she will take samples or scrapes from the skin and identify them under a microscope.
• Pediatric Dermatologist: A pediatric dermatologist has had further training and is capable of diagnosing and treating skin disorder that more commonly affect children.
• Cosmetic Dermatologist: They have more training in cosmetic and surgical procedures like Hair transplant, liposuction, skin cancer surgery.

How do Dermatologists treat skin disorders?

• Topical Treatment: Many dermatologists prefer to use topical treatments to treat skin disorders. Disorders, like eczema and psoriasis, cancerous lesions, and skin cancers, and cosmetic concerns, such as wrinkles and acne scars, can be treated with steroid creams and other topical medication that can repair the damage to the skin and prevent other disorders from appearing.
• Systemic Treatments: Oral and injectable medications are often used to treat skin disorders that are widespread, severe, or not responding to other treatments. Systematic treatments include steroids and antibiotics. Systematic treatments are also sometimes used with topical treatments to treat the disorder more ways at once.
• Skin Surgery: Some skin disorders, such as benign lesions, non-cancerous moles, lipomas, cysts, and cancerous masses, require skin surgery. In most cases, dermatologists will attempt other treatments before surgery. If other treatments do not work or are not an option, they will do skin surgery to treat the disease.
• Hair Treatment: Dermatologists often treat hair loss with hair transplants. They use laser hair epilation or electrolysis for patients who desire hair removal.
• Laser Treatment: Laser surgery is sometimes used to treat tumors, warts, moles, tattoos, birthmarks, scars, wrinkles, and unwanted hair.
• Vein Therapy: Some dermatologists treat varicose veins or spider veins. A solution is injected into the veins that causes them to shut so they appear thinner and are less likely to show or cause problems.

When should you see a Dermatologist?

Because dermatologists treat a wide range of disorders, you may need to see one for several reasons. Some of these reasons include:

• Skin lesions
• Hair loss
• Nail fungus
• Warts
• Rosacea
• Moles
• Psoriasis
• Eczema
• Rashes
• Dry Skin
• Brittle nails
• Vitiligo
• Acne
• Unwanted body hair
• Severe sunburns
• Symptoms of skin cancer

Additional Resources:

• American Academy of Dermatology