A dermatologist is a doctor that specialist in treating skin, hair, nail, and mucous membrane disorders and diseases.
What is a Dermatologist |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are 54 million creditable visits to dermatologists each year. Treatment of the primary causes of these visits includes:
- skin lesions
- acne
- skin rashes
- discoloration or pigmentation
Beyond these medical and cosmetic issues, a dermatologist can also help recognize the signs & symptoms of serious underlying health problems.
For example, a condition like diabetes can cause symptoms that affect the texture of your skin. A dermatologist may be the first healthcare provider to recognize the signs.
This article will take a closer look at what a dermatologist can treat and the procedures they perform. If you want to know when it might be time to make an appointment to see a dermatologist, we have that covered too.
What is Dermatology?
The root term for dermatology is dermis or dermis. It comes from the Greek word derma, which means skin or skin.
Dermatology is a specialized area of medicine that focuses on conditions affecting your skin. In addition to your skin, dermatology also includes conditions that affect your nails, hair, and the delicate lining of your eyelids, nose, and mouth.
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Your skin is the largest organ of your body. It contains nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles, pores, blood vessels, and many other structures. Taking care of it is important for your overall health.
While general practitioners and internal medicine practitioners may be able to diagnose and treat these similar conditions, a dermatologist has a deeper understanding and more experience. Many primary care physicians will refer their patients to dermatologists for specialized care.
What do dermatologists do?
The work of a dermatologist can generally be divided into three areas. It also includes:
- Medical. A dermatologist can diagnose & treat conditions affecting your skin. This includes conditions such as plaque psoriasis, rosacea, and acne. A dermatologist can also identify symptoms on your skin that may be signs of other health conditions. For example, itchy, dry skin can sometimes indicate problems with your kidneys.
- Surgery. Many dermatologists perform minor surgeries, such as removing the wart or wart or performing a skin biopsy. Other dermatologists will specialize in more extensive surgery. These procedures may include the removal of benign cysts or skin cancer.
- Cosmetics. A dermatologist can treat skin problems affecting your appearance. This may include hair loss, dark spots, or wrinkles. Many dermatologists are also trained to perform cosmetic treatments. These include fillers, chemical peels, and laser hair removal.
What types of conditions do dermatologists treat?
- Acne. Depending on the severity of your acne, a dermatologist may treat the condition with topical treatments, medication, laser, or other light treatments, chemical peels, or removal of large cysts.
- Skin Cancer. Skin cancer can occur anywhere in your body. A dermatologist can remove the cancer cells and monitor you to make sure it doesn't come back.
- Dermatitis. Dermatitis covers a variety of skin conditions that cause inflammation and irritation. This can include eczema, cradle cap, and allergies.
- Infection. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can all find their way into your skin and cause a variety of skin infections. A dermatologist can help diagnose the cause of the infection and determine treatment.
- Hair Loss. Hair loss can be due to hereditary baldness. Conditions such as stress, illness, and hormonal changes can also affect hair loss. A dermatologist can determine the underlying cause and help treat it, if possible.
- Nail Problem. Blemishes, discoloration, and stripping of nails are common nail problems that are treated by a dermatologist.
What kind of procedures do they do?
Dermatologists can perform a variety of procedures, from minor procedures such as skin tag removal to more involved ones such as skin cancer surgery.
Some procedures that dermatologists perform regularly include:
- Biopsy. A dermatologist may perform a variety of biopsy procedures to diagnose or rule out skin cancer or other conditions.
- Laser Therapy. Laser therapy can be used to remove warts, warts, sun spots, tattoos, acne scars, blemishes, wrinkles, or unwanted hair.
- Surgical excision. A dermatologist can perform surgery to remove growths such as moles, skin tags, and sores. This is usually done with local anesthesia so that you do not feel pain.
- Cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is a unique treatment that involves controlled exposure to extremely cold temperatures. It can be used to treat skin conditions such as warts, skin tags, and certain tumors.
- Sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a procedure that helps to treat spider and varicose veins. It involves injecting chemicals into the damaged vein which helps to reduce the appearance of this type of vein.
- Mohs Surgery. This type of skin cancer surgery removes the thin layers of tissue around the tumor. Between each removal, the doctor examines the skin for signs of additional cancer cells. When no more cancer cells are found, they stop removing tissue.
- Chemical Peels. Chemical peels remove damaged skin. Peels can help rejuvenate new skin and reduce signs of aging.
- Cosmetic Injections. A dermatologist can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and loose skin by injecting Botox or fillers during an office visit.
- Dermabrasion. This exfoliating technique can reduce the appearance of fine lines, age spots, acne scars, and earlier patches of skin.
- Tumescent Liposuction. Dermatologists use liposuction to remove unwanted fat from targeted areas of your body.
When to see a dermatologist
If you have skin that may be prone to skin cancer, you may want to have an annual skin checkup with a dermatologist. During this appointment, the dermatologist will carefully examine your skin for warning signs of skin cancer.
If you're concerned about your skin condition & don't already have a dermatologist, you can find doctors in your area through Healthcare.
If you're not sure whether you need an annual skin checkup, ask your primary care doctor for their recommendation.
If something related to your skin or hair is bothering you, a dermatologist can help diagnose & treatment the condition. This may include:
- skin rash or skin irritation
- itchy, flaky, or scaly skin
- acne
- skin blemishes or discoloration
- moles, warts, or other skin growths
- Varicose veins
- signs of aging, such as wrinkles, sun damage, or loose skin
- hair loss or hair loss
- nail problems
Dermatology is a specialized area of medicine that focuses on conditions affecting your skin. In addition to your skin, dermatology also focuses on conditions that affect your nails, hair, and the lining of your eyelids, nose, and mouth.
A dermatologist is a highly trained doctor who can help diagnose and treat a variety of conditions related to the skin, hair, and nails. These doctors use many different procedures, treatments, and medications to help treat specific skin conditions or improve the appearance of your skin.
A dermatologist can take care of the health of your skin and help you avoid skin problems later in life, such as premature aging or skin damage. Regular check-ups with a dermatologist can also help reduce the risk of more serious conditions, such as skin cancer.
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