What is a dermatologist?

A dermatologist is also known as a skin doctor or skin care doctor. According to the AUC, a dermatologist is a doctor who is specially trained to find, prevent, and treat diseases of the skin, hair, nails, and nearby mucous membranes. Dermatology is the branch of medicine practiced by a dermatologist.

What training does a dermatologist have?

The AUC reports that most dermatologists receive 12 years of training before earning their titles. After earning their bachelor’s degrees, dermatology students complete four years of medical school, followed by a yearlong internship and three-year residency in dermatology. Dermatologists also have the option of continuing their education learning a subspecialty, adds the AUC.

What is a board-certified dermatologist?

A board-certified dermatologist is a skin doctor who has been certified by the American Board of Dermatology, the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, reports Stony Brook Medicine. It adds that a dermatologist who is board-certified has undergone rigorous residency training and is skilled at identifying skin lesions and other skin problems.

What does a dermatologist treat?

A dermatologist can treat a wide range of skin diseases and conditions, including signs of aging, reports Penn Medicine Dermatology. Common skin conditions that may be treated by a dermatologist include acne scars, skin discoloration, freckles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. The University of California San Francisco says a dermatologist may also treat connective tissue diseases, nail disorders, melanoma, warts, and drug allergies.

Why choose a board-certified dermatologist?

A board-certified dermatologist has received the highest level of dermatology education available, says Stony Brook Medicine. Choosing a dermatologist who is board-certified can ensure you are receiving quality care from a skin doctor who is trained and experienced to effectively treat your condition. Stony Brook Medicine states that a board-certified dermatologist has received a minimum of eight years of medical education and has spent between 12,000 to 16,000 hours caring for patients.

How much does a dermatologist make?

The average salary of a dermatologist ranges between $100,000 and $400,000, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. In a 2020 study published in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, researchers found that the average dermatologist’s salary in 2018 was $323,110 among women and $387,330 among men.

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About Dermatology

According to the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), a dermatologist specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases of the skin, hair, and nails, according to the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC). These doctors generally need about 12 years of schooling and education to earn their titles, adds AUC.

A dermatologist can treat more than 3,000 conditions that affect the skin, hair, and nails, reports the AUC. Common dermatological procedures, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), include acne scar removal, dermabrasion, and laser surgery for skin conditions such as port-wine stains, warts, and scars.

What is dermatology?

Dermatology is a medical specialty that involves treating and managing skin conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH adds that dermatology is one of the most diverse medical specialties that treats patients from all age groups who may have skin diseases that are inherited, inflammatory, environmental, occupational, and malignant.

Qualifications

People who want to be a dermatologist must earn a bachelor’s degree and complete four years of medical school, reports the AUC. Then, they must complete a one-year internship and a three-year residency in dermatology.

After earning their titles, dermatologists have the option to continue with their education and pursue a subspecialty. According to the AUC, dermatology subspecialties include cosmetic dermatology, dermatopathology, pediatric dermatology, and Mohs surgery.

Common conditions

Dermatologists can treat a wide range of skin conditions and diseases. According to Penn Medicine Dermatology, these conditions include acne, broken blood vessels, blemishes, discoloration, rosacea, and cancer. Fine lines, wrinkles, spider veins, and unwanted hair growth are other common conditions that can be treated by a skin care doctor.

Procedures

Dermatologists are trained to perform a large variety of skin, hair, and nail conditions. A skin doctor may combine procedures to help patients address their skin concerns or medical conditions.

Dermatologic procedures include:

Chemical peels, which use a chemical solution to improve the appearance and health of skin by removing damaged outer layers, reports URMC.
Cosmetic injections, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and add volume back to the face, reports the University of Utah Health.
Cryotherapy, which is a type of cold therapy that can destroy skin growths and lesions, reports the University of Utah Health.
Dermabrasion, which is a skin resurfacing procedure that can remove the top layer of skin to minimize fine lines and scarring, reports URMC.
Excision of lesions, which involves using a razor, scissors, and other devices to remove unwanted skin lesions, reports the NIH.
Hair removal or restoration, which involves removing unwanted hair and restoring hair that was lost to balding.
Laser surgery, which is surgery that can remove skin cancer and skin lesions using a laser, reports URMC.
Vein procedures, which focus on removing spider veins and varicose veins.
Tumescent liposuction, which involves injecting a medicated solution into areas with unwanted fat, and removing the fat using a suction device, reports the NIH.
Skin grafts and flaps, which involves removing skin from a part of the body to repair missing or damaged skin, reports the NIH.
Biopsies, which are a procedure in which a tissue sample is taken from the body and evaluated for diseases such as cancer.
PUVA, which is a type of UV radiation therapy used to treat conditions including psoriasis and vitiligo, reports the NIH.
Mohs surgery, which is a method of removing skin cancer without damaging surrounding healthy skin, reports the NIH.

Dermatology Resources

Treatments & Services

Dermatologists treat disorders of the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. There are many reasons why someone will seek care from a dermatologist, such as a skin tag, troublesome mole, or a chronic rash that just won’t go away. Dermatologists can also diagnose and treat conditions like eczema, rosacea, acne, and psoriasis. Additionally, they can check patients for skin cancer by performing biopsies on questionable patches of skin.

However, some patients go to the dermatologist purely for aesthetic reasons. Dermatologists can provide cosmetic services like dermal fillers, Botox, chemical peels, and laser surgery to remove wrinkles, scars, and unwanted hair. They can also perform certain kinds of facelifts and blepharoplasty to eliminate sagging eyelids.

Dermatologists often provide new patients with a full skin examination to check for problems and get an idea of the patient’s condition. During this exam, they’ll look for issues and then decide what the next course of action should be.

Insurance & Cost

A dermatologist is a specialist doctor, meaning they provide a specific sort of care. If you have insurance, you’ll probably need to pay a specialist co-pay when you visit a dermatologist. Usually, this co-pay ranges from $10 to $60. In some cases, you may even need a referral from your primary care doctor or insurance can refuse to pay for your services.

If the dermatologist performs any additional testing at your exam, this isn’t covered by the co-pay and will be billed separately to your insurance. Your insurance may have negotiated fees they’ll charge you, but otherwise, except to be handed 10% to 20% of the bill, depending on your co-pay.

If you don’t have insurance, a standard dermatologist visit can cost $100 to $200. You’ll also need to pay for any prescriptions or procedures, although some dermatologists have a sliding fee scale to help.

Appointments

In many areas, dermatologists are in high demand because of all the age-reversing cosmetic services they provide. Therefore, it can be tricky to book an appointment on your own. In fact, you’ll probably have to make an appointment a couple of months in advance. To counteract this long wait time, use Solv. Solv helps you book same-day appointments with the top dermatologists in your area, all through an easy-to-use online system.

When you go to the appointment, it shouldn’t take up too much of your day. A standard skin exam usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, and even if you need additional testing, your

appointment shouldn’t exceed an hour. Unless you have a skin condition that requires follow-up, many dermatologists recommend patients return for a check every one to two years.

Typically, dermatologists have standard business hours, though many have started staying open later or on the weekends to accommodate the demand for their services.

Dermatologists FAQs

What is a dermatologist?
A dermatologist is also known as a skin doctor or skin care doctor. According to the AUC, a dermatologist is a doctor who is specially trained to find, prevent, and treat diseases of the skin, hair, nails, and nearby mucous membranes. Dermatology is the branch of medicine practiced by a dermatologist.
What training does a dermatologist have?
The AUC reports that most dermatologists receive 12 years of training before earning their titles. After earning their bachelor’s degrees, dermatology students complete four years of medical school, followed by a yearlong internship and three-year residency in dermatology. Dermatologists also have the option of continuing their education learning a subspecialty, adds the AUC.
What is a board-certified dermatologist?
A board-certified dermatologist is a skin doctor who has been certified by the American Board of Dermatology, the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, reports Stony Brook Medicine. It adds that a dermatologist who is board-certified has undergone rigorous residency training and is skilled at identifying skin lesions and other skin problems.
What does a dermatologist treat?
A dermatologist can treat a wide range of skin diseases and conditions, including signs of aging, reports Penn Medicine Dermatology. Common skin conditions that may be treated by a dermatologist include acne scars, skin discoloration, freckles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. The University of California San Francisco says a dermatologist may also treat connective tissue diseases, nail disorders, melanoma, warts, and drug allergies.
Why choose a board-certified dermatologist?
A board-certified dermatologist has received the highest level of dermatology education available, says Stony Brook Medicine. Choosing a dermatologist who is board-certified can ensure you are receiving quality care from a skin doctor who is trained and experienced to effectively treat your condition. Stony Brook Medicine states that a board-certified dermatologist has received a minimum of eight years of medical education and has spent between 12,000 to 16,000 hours caring for patients.
How much does a dermatologist make?
The average salary of a dermatologist ranges between $100,000 and $400,000, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. In a 2020 study published in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, researchers found that the average dermatologist’s salary in 2018 was $323,110 among women and $387,330 among men.
Where can I find a dermatologist?
Try finding a local dermatologist by going to your internet search engine and typing “dermatologist near me” into the search field. An easier way to find a top-rated, board-certified dermatologist is to use Solv. Go to Solv, type “dermatologist” into the search field, then enter your location. Next, specify when you want to see a skin doctor. Solv will provide you with a list of high-quality dermatologists in your area who offer same-day and next-day appointments. Contact the dermatologist to make an appointment, or book an appointment directly from the website using Solv’s platform.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Rob Rohatsch, MD

Updated on Oct 25, 2024

Sources

Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.