A dermatologist is a physician who is trained to evaluate and treat children and adults with benign and malignant disorders of the skin, hair, nails and adjacent mucous membranes. A dermatologist has had additional training and experience in the following:
- The diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, melanomas, moles, and other tumors of the skin.
- The management of contact dermatitis and other inflammatory skin disorders.
- The recognition of the skin manifestations of systemic and infectious diseases.
- Interpretation of skin biopsies.
- Surgical techniques used in dermatology.
Dermatologists also manage cosmetic disorders of the skin, including hair loss, scars, and the skin changes associated with aging.
Dermatopathologist: A dermatopathologist is an expert in the microscopic diagnosis of diseases of the skin. This entails the examination and interpretation of specially prepared tissue sections, cellular scrapings, and smears of skin lesions by means of light microscopy, electron microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy.
Pediatric Dermatologist: A pediatric dermatologist is a dermatologist who has additional training and expertise in the evaluation and management of skin diseases which occur more commonly or exclusively in children. Examples include: all types of birthmarks, neonatal dermatology, genetic diseases of the skin, pediatric infections or inflammatory processes and skin diseases in children with complex medical conditions requiring coordinated multispecialty care.
