Careers in Dermatology

Careers in Dermatology

A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in conditions involving the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists can identify and treat over 3,000 conditions. The skin is an amazing organ, and it requires several types of medical professional specialists to take care of and treat it. Because of the various areas of specialization, career opportunities in dermatology are vast. Including: pediatric dermatology, dermatologists that specialize in surgery, teledermatology, and cosmetic dermatology. There are also several professions within these main categories. For example, inside of surgical dermatology will be specialists in burns, cryosurgery and topical chemotherapy.

Pediatric Dermatology

When it comes to handling children, a special type of doctor is required. Children require the extra attention because unlike adults, they are not always able to say what is bothering them and they often cannot describe exactly what is wrong. Pediatric dermatologists specialize in understanding and taking care of children in a way that puts them at ease. They work in a kid-friendly environment and provide medical equipment that is less intimidating to children.

Becoming a pediatric dermatologist requires more education and very specific training. Some of the requirements include a bachelor’s degree, medical school, a 1-year internship, passing board exams, and Fellowship which is advanced medical study and training to learn how to understand and handle children.

It is most often that children between the ages of 12 and 15 see a pediatric dermatologist because at that point in their lives, they are beginning to battle acne. Children under the age of 12 are more likely to see a dermatologist for underlying conditions such as skin cancer, fungal infections or Eczema.

Surgical Dermatology

A dermatological surgeon is a board-certified physician who specializes in skin surgery. Nearly all dermatologic surgeons perform both medical and cosmetic surgery. Surgery is essential for the removal of skin cancer such as Melanoma and skin tumors. Mohs surgery is most often used to remove skin cancers on visible areas such as the head, neck, or hands. Whereas excisions may be used in areas less visible or in need of a broader removal of cells. The doctors who specialize in this area of dermatology have done additional schooling and have studied under an experienced surgeon. They are specifically trained to remove the cancerous tissue while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. They are also trained to analyze the lab specimens, make diagnosis, recommend specific therapies and close or reconstruct the wound.

There are also dermatologist surgeons who specialize specially in the cosmetic field. Some of these procedures include dermabrasion, eyelid surgery, scar treatments, hair replacement, and liposuction. In these procedures, the surgeon is focusing on leaving little to no scaring evidence from the procedure.

Teledermatology

Teledermatology covers a broad range of dermatology services that can be performed virtually. Dermatologists in this area use telecommunication devices to exchange medical information with their clients. This helps make sure people can see their dermatologist without physically going in for an appointment. While this type of medical service has become prevalent during the COVID pandemic, it has been offered as an acceptable form of diagnosis for several years. These services are invaluable for busy families and professionals, but also serves rural areas where travel may be difficult and even population dense urban areas where face to face appointments can be reserved for more sever ailments. It is probably one of the most common e-health and telemedicine used today.

Cosmetic Dermatology

We all want perfect skin, but unfortunately, few of us are blessed with it naturally. Cosmetic dermatologists specialize in surgeries, adjustments, or treatments in the cosmetic field. A cosmetic dermatologist requires a similar amount of training as any other career in the dermatology field. Graduation from an accredited medical school, completion of an internship, and submission of two letters of recommendation for board certification are all required. Some of the services they offer include:

• Correcting skin tone: Dermal fillers that are injected into the skin to help increase its youthful appearance.
• Smoothing wrinkles: Injecting Botox into the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
• Removing hair: Using laser hair removal treatments to reduce hair growth and ensure the new hair grows back thinner and lighter.
• Reducing Fat: Non-invasive fat removal that is intended to treat pockets of fat that can not be reduced on their own through normal diet and exercise.
• Removing Tattoos: The use of lasers that can get rid of tattoos efficiently and safely
• Treating Cellulite: Subcision or laser treatment to reduce the appearance of cellulite
• Treating acne: A large variety of treatments that can reduce or completely remove incidents of acne

Outside of the medical careers in the dermatology field, there are many other options such as receptionist jobs, physician assistant opportunities, and paid internships.

Physician assistants

Physician Assistants provide health care services under the supervision of board-certified doctors. They also evaluate, diagnose, and treat a broad variety of conditions. PAs are trained in dermatology in a variety of ways. Most often they are trained by a licensed dermatologist. They help with screening exams, preventive care, and education to families and other patients. Most of their time is spent talking to doctors and patients, which means that strong communication skills are important. Physician assistants must be exact in their work. Unlike licensed doctors, they are only required to graduate from a physician assistant program rather than a medical school. However, they are required to have a license to work. It takes about two years of training to become a physician assistant.

Are you looking to enter the dermatology arena? Here at Derick Dermatology, we have several job openings for doctors, receptionists, and assistants. Visit workforcenow.adp.com for more information.