About Dermatology Careers
A dermatologist is trained to diagnose and treat pediatric and adult patients with benign and malignant disorders of the skin, mouth, external genitalia, hair and nails, as well as a number of sexually transmitted diseases. The dermatologist has had additional training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, melanomas, moles, and other tumors of the skin, the management of contact dermatitis, and other allergic and nonallergic skin disorders, and in the recognition of the skin manifestations of systemic (including internal malignancy) and infectious diseases.
Dermatologists have special training in dermatopathology--the diagnosis of skin diseases including infectious, immunologic, degenerative, and neoplastic--and in the surgical techniques used in dermatology. There are different types of dermatology. What types of treatments and procedures a dermatologist may perform depends on what they choose to focus on. Some basic procedures include: hair transplantation or removal, tattoo removal, cosmetic injections, laser therapy for skin conditions, phototherapy, liposuction, radiation therapy, allergy testing, distribution of antibiotics or injections, photodynamic therapy for skin cancer, and skin grafting. At the time, there is a shortage of physicians in the dermatologist specialization.
Median Salary: $308,000 per year
Projected Growth: 12% from 2014-2024
