Dermatologist Job Description

Dermatologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat ailments of the
largest organ of the human body and advise patients on achieving healthy and
attractive skin. During patient visits, dermatologists take medical histories and
use a dermoscope, or magnifying or illuminated device, to detect abnormalities
or malignancies. They might use diagnostic techniques, such as biopsies, to
identify diseases and determine appropriate therapies. Areas of specialization
include cosmetic dermatology, pediatric dermatology, and dermatopathology
(also known as the study of skin diseases).

Degree Level Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

Degree Field(s) Biological sciences (for bachelor's degree) then medical school
Licensure/Certification Licensure required in all states; board certification voluntary
Experience 1-year internship, 3-year residency
Compassionate and patient; good communication,
Key Skills organizational, and problem-solving skills; detail-oriented and
manually dexterous
Job Outlook (2018-2028)* 7% growth (for physicians and surgeons in general)
Median Annual Salary
$251,327
(2019)**

Examples of Dermatologist job titles

 Board-Certified Dermatologist

 General Dermatologist

 Research Dermatologist

 Dermatologist (Mohs Surgeon)

 Cosmetic Dermatologist
Examples of Dermatologist responsibilities

 Use appropriate techniques to diagnose and treat skin

ailments

 Monitor the effectiveness of skin treatments and make

necessary improvements or changes

 Communicate with assistants and other team members to

ensure therapies are being administered properly

 Educate patients on the right ways to achieve healthy,

attractive skin

 Attend conferences to network with Dermatology

professionals and learn about new treatments and research

 Treat every patient with respect and compassion and ensure

compliance with current medical laws and ethics

 Evaluate patient through questions, examinations, symptom review, and medical

testing
 Examine patient skin for abnormalities or malignancies
 Requests and performs biopsies, sample tissue collections, or other tests as
needed
 Analyze patient test results
 Counsel and educate patients on hygiene, diet, and disease prevention
 Perform cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, laser resurfacing, and
microdermabrasion
 Set patient goals and discuss treatment plan
 Establish timelines, tasks, and medical needs of patients
  Develop treatment plans for medications or skin therapy to help patient reach
goal
 Prescribe medications, hormonal agents, or topical treatments, and monitor
patient intake
 Recommend surgeons or other further treatments for advanced skin diseases or
cancer
 Consult with surgeons on patient procedures
 Document patient records and progress including symptoms, medications, and
treatments
 Conduct research to better serve patients

Bachelor's Degree
Getting an undergraduate/bachelor's degree from a four-year university is the first step to becoming
a dermatologist. This can include pre-med courses in biology, organic chemistry, physics, and
general chemistry. Some students must also complete math and biochemistry coursework
depending on the medical school they wish to attend.

Step 3

Medical School
After completing an undergraduate/bachelor's degree, aspiring dermatologists need to take and
perform well on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). They must then attend a four-year
accredited medical school. A high undergraduate GPA is essential, as admission to medical school
is extremely competitive.

Step 4

Residency
Following medical school, aspiring dermatologists must complete a dermatology residency. A
residency in dermatology involves one year as an intern in either general surgery or internal
medicine, followed by three years of clinical residency in dermatology.

Step 5
Fellowship
After the completion of residency, many dermatologists choose to pursue further training in sub-
specialized fields such as cosmetic surgery, laser medicine, dermatopathology, phototherapy,
immunodermatology, or Moh's micrographic surgery. This is done through a one or two year
fellowship.

Step 6

Licensing/Certification
Dermatologists must obtain and keep a current license to practice. After successfully completing
medical school and dermatology residency, they are eligible to sit for the Dermatology Board
Examination (administered by the American Board of Dermatology (ABD)) and can finally be
deemed “board-certified”. Dermatologists who have completed a fellowship and passed the general
board examination can get further certification and take the appropriate Subspecialty Board
Examination through the ABD. To maintain board certification, a dermatologist must re-take and
pass the board examination every ten years, and complete continuing medical education (CME)
requirements throughout his or her career.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become a Dermatologist?

It can take up to 13 years to become a dermatologist. This includes time spent as an undergrad, in
medical school, and in residency. Medical school programs take four years to complete and include
courses such as cell biology, pathology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, immunology, and
pharmacology. Students also learn how to examine, interview, diagnose, and build positive
relationships with patients.

The National Resident Matching Program matches prospective dermatologists with a residency
(which takes three years to complete). Residents learn how to diagnose conditions of the skin, hair,
and nails and learn surgical techniques such as cryotherapy, biopsies, and excisions. Completing a
fellowship after residency is available for those who want to pursue specific specialties such as
immunodermatology, phototherapy, dermatopathology, cosmetic surgery, laser medicine, or Mohs
surgery.

Are Dermatologists happy?

According to Medscape’s 2014 Physician Lifestyle Report (a survey of more than 31,000 U.S.
physicians) dermatologists emerged as the specialists who are happiest both at home and at work.
At 53 percent, dermatologists topped the list by a considerable margin in reporting a high level of
happiness at work.
 Dermatology is a very good specialty to get into for a lot of reasons. The work schedule is very
'normal' compared to other medical careers (typically 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday),
the salary is excellent, the patients generally aren't in an emergency situation like they are in
oncology or medicine, and people are usually happy because they end up looking better and feeling
better.

Should I become a Dermatologist?

When you enter into the field of dermatology you can expect to reap rewards such as an extremely
good paycheque and a work schedule that doesn't have you tied to a desk for hours on end.
However, obtaining a medical degree in dermatology is a very long process and extremely
competitive.

If you think you'd love to learn about the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the skin, hair and
nails and would enjoy helping people regain their self-esteem, then dermatology may be a good
career to consider. As with any profession, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into
before you decide to commit to it.

PROS

 In demand career

 Exceptional work schedule compared to other medical careers

 Salary between $200,000-$500,000 per year

 Variety (dermatologists are trained in surgical & non-surgical procedures)

 Innovative and ever-changing treatments

 Great career for those who are friendly and have a good bedside manner

 Good for individuals that have compassion

 Flexibility of practice offers balance between career and personal life

 Income opportunities available outside of typical patient care

 Being able to have significant impact on psychological well-being of patients

 Most cases are not emergencies or time sensitive (like other medical careers)

CONS

 Length of study ranges from 10-15 years

 Cost of undergraduate and medical school can range from $225,000 to $525,000
 Difficult/competitive to match with a dermatology residency program

 Gruelling schedule through medical school and residency

 Pressure to have perfect skin throughout the career

 People asking to have their skin problems looked at outside of work

 Dermatology viewed as a “lighter” specialty in the physician community

 Sometimes the bearer of bad news

Bachelor's Degree
How to become a Dermatologist

Skin conditions are often associated with internal conditions and other external factors. Therefore,
dermatologists should be knowledgeable in fields such as genetics, oncology, mycology,
immunology, histology, bacteriology and others.

Dermatologists must train as a general doctor before undertaking postgraduate education in

dermatology, and also do an internship and a residency program. Training positions are generally
based in university teaching hospitals with periods at a general hospital. The competition for
residency programs is very competitive. In the United States, completing a residency program
qualifies a person as a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and in order to become a
Board Certified Dermatologist, an extensive examination must be completed.

ecome a Clinical Dermatologist: Education and Career

Roadmap
Learn how to become a clinical dermatologist. Research the education
requirements, training and licensure information and experience required for
starting a career in clinical dermatology.

Show Me Schools

View 10 Popular Schools »

Should I Become a Clinical Dermatologist?

Skin doctors, or clinical dermatologists, are trained to diagnose and treat a
variety of skin conditions, including pigment disorders, rosacea and acne. Duties
include examining skin, nails and hair for abnormalities; administering and
prescribing treatments; and performing skin-related surgical procedures,
including laser surgery and cryosurgery. A great deal of patience and tact is
often called for when working with patients who suffer from these types of
health issues.

Extensive schooling and training is required to become a dermatologist.

Undergraduate degrees generally take four years to complete, medical school
usually takes another four years, and a residency can take as long as four to
eight years, depending on the facility and residency program. Medical education
is generalized until the aspiring dermatologist's second year of residency, at
which point training focuses more on dermatology. State licensure is required.

Career Requirements
Degree
Doctor of Medicine
Level

Degree
Pre-med degrees can include chemistry, biology, or math
Field

Experience Internships and volunteer positions may advance education and career

Licensure Must pass state licensure exam. Board certification is not required, but preferred.

Warm bedside manner, attention to detail, communication skills, patience, critical

Key Skills
thinking skills, strong leadership skills, quick thinking, manual dexterity

Salary $201,936 (2015 median annual salary for all dermatologists)

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Academy of Dermatology,

Cleveland Clinic, Payscale.com

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Aspiring dermatologists are required to attend an undergraduate school before
they can apply to medical school. Although some schools offer pre-med
programs, there is no specific major required by medical schools. At minimum,
students must take inorganic and organic chemistry, biology and physics.
Although most who apply to medical school have bachelor's degrees, some have
advanced degrees.
Success Tips:

 Complete an American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)

application. Most medical schools use the AMCAS application as their
main method of receiving applications for first-year students. This
standardized application allows students to complete one online
application to submit to any number of medical schools. Transfer
applicants and students with advanced standing can contact medical
schools directly to find out how to apply.
 Get involved in activities while earning a bachelor's degree. Most medical
schools prefer applicants who have a record of participating in
extracurricular activities since this demonstrates commitment and
leadership. Volunteering at a hospital or local clinic can demonstrate
similar qualities while allowing students to gain healthcare experience.

Step 2: Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a major requirement for getting
into medical school. The MCAT is a standardized, multiple choice test that is
divided into three sections, including biological sciences, physical sciences and
verbal reasoning. Most students take the exam the year before applying to
medical school. Although most students take the MCAT in the spring or summer
of their junior year, the most important factor is that they be prepared for the
exam.

Step 3: Go to Medical School

Medical school generally takes four years to complete. Students spend the first
two years taking lecture and laboratory classes in subjects such as psychology,
anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology and medical ethics. During the
final two years, students work under the supervision of experienced doctors in a
clinic or hospital setting. Students rotate among specialties such as
dermatology, family practice, internal medicine, psychiatry, surgery and
pediatrics. This provides students with supervised experience in treating
patients and diagnosing illnesses in various specialties.

Step 4: Earn a Medical License

All physicians in the United States are required to be licensed in the state in
which they practice. Licensure requirements vary from state to state, but
generally include graduating from medical school and completing an accredited
residency program in the doctor's specialty. Doctors also must take and pass
either the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or the Comprehensive
Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). Individuals can take
parts one and two of these three-part exams while in medical school. The third
and final part is taken after graduating.
Success Tip:

 Complete continuing education requirements. Most states require doctors

to complete a set number of continuing education units or hours before
renewing their medical licenses. Licensed doctors should check with their
state to determine how many hours are needed and what types of courses
can be taken to fulfill the requirement.

Step 5: Complete an Internship and a Residency Program

After completing one year of broad clinical training in an internship, aspiring
dermatologists are eligible to enter an accredited dermatology residency
program. Dermatology residencies offer a combination of education and hands-
on experience in all areas that are pertinent to dermatology. The American
Academy of Dermatology (AAD) mandates for each year of residency, about 75%
of that time must be spent on activities related to direct dermatologic patient
care. Examples include patient consultations, inpatient rounds and attending
clinical conferences. Training is designed to teach basic professionalism, the
fundamentals of forming a differential diagnoses, principles of wound care,
diagnostic procedures such as skin scrapings and the ability to perform
dermatological surgical procedures, including electrosurgery and skin biopsies.

A dermatology residency typically takes three years to complete and admission

is highly competitive. The American Medical Association estimates that there
are about 100 dermatology residency programs in the U.S. Each program has 1-3
open spots and usually receives at least 250 applications.

Step 6: Consider Pursuing Board Certification

Although board certification is not required, board certification offers a
competitive edge and increases opportunities for employment. After completing
a residency program, licensed clinical dermatologists may choose to undergo
examinations to earn voluntary board certification. The American Board of
Dermatology, Inc. and the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology are the
two boards that grant certification to dermatologists in the U.S.

Success Tip:

 Keep up-to-date with advancements in the field. Board-certified

dermatologists must re-take the board examinations every 10 years to
demonstrate competency in the latest advancements in dermatology.
Clinical dermatologists can keep abreast of the latest advancements in
the field by attending conferences, completing advanced education
courses and reading dermatology-specific medical journals.

Next: View Schools

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18 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became a

Dermatologist
You will feel pressure to have perfect skin.

as told to KATE BECKMAN

SEP 18, 2015

GETTY IMAGES

Skincare is having a major moment right now. Whether you're poking

around on YouTube or scrolling on Instagram, chances are you'll come
across an advertisement for a trendy new skincare product or a video
detailing your favorite influencer's skincare routine. If you're completely
fascinated by all things skin, then dermatology could be the career for
you.

However, it's important to note the differences between so-called "skin

experts" and actual certified dermatologists. "In this day and age,
everybody is pretending to be a skin expert," says board-certified
dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian. "There's also a rise in people
becoming what we call providers, which is like this bundled ambiguous
group of people that see patients. This includes nurse practitioners,
physician assistants and people that used to be called mid-levels that
now also sometimes get called dermatologists and are not
dermatologists."

If you're interested pursuing dermatology, Dr. Nazarian and board-

certified derm Dr. Terri P. Morris shared some words of wisdom
with Cosmopolitan readers who are curious about what it takes to enter
the field.

Dr. Nazarian has privately practiced dermatology for almost a decade.

She currently works at New York City's Schweiger Dermatology Group,
and works part-time for Mount Sinai Medical Center's Department of
Dermatology.

Terri P. Morris, M.D., Ph.D is a dermatologist with her own practice at

The Dermatology Center in Virginia.

Below, 18 things you should know before becoming a dermatologist.

1. You don't need to focus on dermatology from the

beginning. I went to college and majored in microbiology and then
went to graduate school because, originally, I had only wanted to do
research in a lab. But as I went through graduate school, I wanted to do
clinical research with patients, and in order to do that, I needed to go to
medical school. I wanted to do multiple sclerosis research and go into
neurology, but I never wanted to practice clinical medicine. I did my first
neurology rotation at the very beginning of my last year of medical
school and I found it so depressing. I did two more neurology rotations
thinking somewhere else, things would be better, but it just was a very
depressing specialty and I didn't think I would be able to do that as a
career. Because of my background in research, I did a rotation with a
dermatologist — who was also an immunologist — doing age research,
and he said I should go into dermatology because it's a fun specialty. I
found that in derm, I could do a lot of different things and still use my
research background while working with patients.

2. A lot of people want to be in this field, so you will need to

find a way to stand out if you want this as a career. Dermatology
is a really good specialty for a lot of reasons. You work pretty normal
hours (I work 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday), your
patients generally aren't dying all the time like they are in oncology or
medicine, and people are usually pretty happy because you're making
them look better and feel better. It's a lifestyle you can't really beat, so it's
a very competitive residency to get. The best thing people can do is do
dermatology rotations during medical school. After medical school, if
you really know derm is what you want to do, you have to be persistent.
Visit the residency programs, spend time at the local universities, go to
conferences. There are a lot of people who don't get into a residency the
first year they apply, so they do a year of medicine or a year of surgery,
and then apply again to do dermatology.

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3. Establishing relationships with patients is key to making

your job enjoyable. I've been in practice about 18 years. I have
patients who have followed me for those 18 years and I have patients I
see once. I have patients who tell me I feel like I'm family and I know all
about their families because I've known them for so long. I prefer the
patients I've known longer versus the ones who are in and out, and I
never see again.

4. The work people want done won't be as extreme as you

expected. We have a lot of people who want bigger lips, but they're
worried they'll look like a lot of those actresses you see on TV. We
thought we would have a lot of people coming in wanting Kylie Jenner
lips, but most people that we see, if they mention her, specifically say
that they don't want their lips to end up like Kylie Jenner's.
5. You will feel pressure to have perfect skin throughout your
career. I really feel that in cosmetics dermatology, I have to try to look
the best I can look. Because if I don't, how are patients going to believe
that I can make them look better? I can use any prescription or non-
prescription creams that I want. I think most of the people in our clinic
use the products that we have. Everyone who works there pretty much
gets something, whether it's Botox or laser treatment. We always need
test patients for new products or techniques, so we do Botox or fillers on
the staff. And most of the time, we don't pay at all.

6. Your patients in cosmetic dermatology will be younger than

you'd think. It's less common, but I do have a couple of people in their
20s who come in for Botox. Sometimes they're people who are out
looking for jobs — if you're someone that frowns all the time, it's not a
good look when you're interviewing for a position. The biggest thing with
people in their 30s is preventing wrinkles instead of getting rid of them.
You can't stop yourself from frowning or wrinkling your forehead,
because that's just a habit that people can't turn off. So they start getting
Botox preventatively and it works. I have a few that come in in their 20s
because they never want to have a wrinkle, so they start early.

7. People will ask you to look at their skin problems — outside

of work. I don't mind my family and friends asking, but I do mind when
I see my patients out in public and they ask me to look at lesions. One of
the worst experiences I've had was at a Mother's Day buffet at a country
club. This woman brought her daughter over and rolled up her sleeves
and asked me to look at a mole. I was with my mother, my mother-in-
law, and all my friends. I also had a guy in a bank pull up his shirt to
show me a mole. That kind of stuff really bugs me. When that happens, I
tell them they need to make an appointment, that I really need to look in
better lighting and use a little scope that lets me see pigment. I would
never give an opinion without documenting what I see.

8. Dermatology encompasses way more than dealing with

acne. We do see a lot of acne patients, but we probably see far more skin
cancer patients than we do acne patients. A lot of people see dermatology
as an easy specialty because the patients aren't having heart problems,
lung problems, or kidney problems. But being a good dermatologist can
be difficult. You get people with melanomas with poor survival rates. If
people have a blistering disorder for years or they're having recurrent
rashes, taking the time to figure out the cause and try to help them get
their life under control makes it more difficult and for me, more
interesting.

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9. Having a background in research can help you become a

better physician. My career path is a little different than a lot of
doctors' because I went to graduate school, and I would say a majority go
straight to medical school after undergrad. I could have started all of this
earlier, but I really do think [research] made me a better physician. It
helped me get into derm in the first place because it really set me apart
while I was applying. But it's also helped me in my approach to patients.
The time I spent in research during graduate school has definitely
impacted my approach to figuring out the cause of rashes and the best
way to control them, instead of just giving a cream or a shot to make
them feel better as a temporary solution.

10. You will have to deliver awful, life-changing news more

often than you'd think. A patient recently came in for us to take a cyst
off his scalp, and as soon as I saw it, I thought, This isn't a cyst. So we
took a piece of it, and it came back as metastatic cancer from colon
cancer. Even though the majority of skin cancer patients are older, we
see patients in their 20s and 30s with melanoma or basal cell cancers.
Those are probably the two most common that we see in younger
patients. I never give those diagnoses over the phone. I always want to
have more time with the patients and have [next steps] lined up for
them.

11. No matter how long you're in this specialty, there will still
be things that shock you. Dermatology is a very visual specialty. I had
a patient who was a little boy and he was born as a collodion baby —
when they're born, they almost look like they're wrapped in plastic wrap
— and the skin on his face was so tight and inflamed that it pulled his
lower eyelids down. His skin is red and it just peels off, and he just flakes
all the time. As an infant, there were some mistakes made in the hospital
and he lost his hand. But you can't ever let your "oh my god" reaction to
patients that are dripping and oozing stuff show. You just can't.
13. It's better to be honest with patients if you know you can't
help them. Rather than tell people it's going to be OK when you know
it's not going to get better, just assure them that you will be there to help
them manage the disease along the way. Psoriasis, for example, is so
common, and there's a reason it's referred to as the "heartbreak of
psoriasis": for most people it doesn't get better. I think just being there to
let them know you're on their side and that you're going to do whatever
you can to make it better is the best thing you can do.

14. Just because a skin condition might not be life-threatening

doesn't mean your work can't change lives. I recently had a young
woman with one of the worst cases of psoriasis that I've ever seen. She
had it since she was maybe 8 or 10 years old, and her entire body is
covered, and it really affects everything about her life. She had decided to
never have children because she never wanted to have a child that had to
go through what she went through. When I met her, she was really bad
and we had been through so many drugs and nothing seemed to work for
her. I called [other experts] and talked to them about different treatment
options for her and finally — finally — we have her on a drug and she's
clear. She came in just about two weeks ago and she is a different person.
That is really a good feeling, because it is life-changing for her to be able
to wear shorts and to be able to wear short sleeves without having to
cover up all year.

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15. It takes over a decade to become a dermatologist. Like any

medical professional, becoming a dermatologist requires years of
schooling. Aside from earning your bachelor's degree, you must attend
an additional four years of medical school. After passing several major
exams, you then apply to a residency, which takes another four years to
complete. Some people choose to focus on sub-specialties within the
field, such as cosmetic or surgical dermatology. In that case, it takes
another year or two to complete a fellowship. All in all, expect a bare
minimum of 12 years of schooling before becoming a certified
dermatologist.

16. You don't need to major in anything specific to become a

dermatologist. While many people who plan to attend medical school
will major in biology or chemistry in undergrad, it isn't a requirement.
"This is the time to study things other than medicine as well," says Dr.
Nazarian. "If you're interested in dermatology, I do think it helps to have
psychology, I think it helps to have anthropology and I think that a little
bit of art helps if you're going to go into cosmetic dermatology."
Whatever you choose to major in, however, you should keep in mind that
you will need to take certain pre-requisite classes in order to apply to
medical school.

17. It doesn't matter what kind of bachelor's degree you

have. Whether you earn a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts or
Bachelor of Fine Arts, you still have a shot at becoming a dermatologist.
You just need the grades and test scores to get into medical school.

18. Your patients' problems are more than skin deep. It's
important to remember that the skin itself reflects what's happening on
the inside. "I don't think I realized how much of psych there was in
dermatology," says Dr. Nazarian. "I think that sometimes you see a lot of
psychiatric diseases manifesting in dermatology whether it be picking
out of anxiety or malnourishment because of depression or drug abuse."
As a dermatologist, you need to know how to interpret how physical or
mental ailments may affect the skin. If you choose to specialize in
dermatology in medical school, chances are you're also learning about a
lot of internal medicine. "Skin itself is an extension of everything else
and so I find myself diagnosing a lot of things that are not just skin,"
explains Dr. Nazarian. "It goes so much deeper than what you see on the
outside."

Terri P. Morris, M.D., Ph.D is a board-certified dermatologist with her

own practice in Virgina.

Rachel Nazarian, M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist who practices

at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. She also serves as
a faculty member at Mount Sinai Medical Center's Department of
Dermatology.

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Do Not Sell My InfoBiggest disadvantage: So many un- or underqualified people

want to do your job. There is at least one internist in my community that calls herself a
dermatologist yet she has no residency training in dermatology. There is a cardiologist (!) in
my town that runs a skin care clinic. He knows nothing about skin but employees a bunch of
part-time nurses and aestheticians who run his “dermatology practice.” There’s a preventive
medicine physician who runs a skin and skin surgery clinic. His only stated qualification is
that he once did a medical school rotation in dermatology.

It’s crazy. If I opened up a neurosurgery clinic (and I do have an undergraduate degree in

neuroscience), that is legal in the United States. Any licensed physician can call him- or
herself whatever they want. And the general public knows little to nothing about
qualifications except that you’re a doctor. Board certification and residency training are lost
on the public.

Also, I’ve had patients tell me, “I guess I should go to my real doctor for that problem.”
What? I, like most dermatologists was at the top of my medical school class and patients
seem to think we’re glorified aestheticians. Not sure who to blame for this one.

Overall, the benefits far outweigh the downside. I’m happy with my practice and my patients
and I feel like I make a difference. I save a life from melanoma weekly. I do 8–12 skin cancer
surgeries weekly. I treat debilitating autoimmune diseases that no other specialty knows
 anything about. It is rewarding both personally and financially. People will discount how
their internist treats their hypertension or type 2 diabetes because they can’t see their
hypertension or diabetes. But patients are usually really grateful when I fix something on
their skin—an organ they look at every day.

8.1k views · View 19 Upvoters

Related QuestionsMore Answers Below

 Should I become a dermatologist?

 Why do some doctors choose to be dermatologists?
 What is the average salary of a dermatologist?
 How long does it take to become a dermatologist?
 Why is dermatology such a popular residency choice among medical students?

Pooya Jazayeri, Board Certified Anesthesiologist

Answered Jun 24, 2016 · Author has 2.1k answers and 7.4m answer views

Having to spend your nights and weekends with your loved ones instead of saving lives in
the hospital. Wondering which brokerage firm will give you the best financial advice.

Seriously, though, I can think of a few. The dermatologists were the top students in medical
school, but they are not well respected by other physicians, who feel the job is too cushy.
For example, I'm an anesthesiologist. I work long hours, nights, weekends, etc. I make
moment to moment decisions that impact a patient’s survival. I'm exposed to blood and
body fluid pathogens and radiation daily. So if the respect of yo...

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Eva Graham, Medical esthetician / laser technician

Answered Dec 24, 2016 · Author has 250 answers and 708k answer views

I don't see many. Quite contrary, there are not emergencies in the hospitals, flexible hours,
….Cosmetic dermatology is specially lucrative.

Its kind of sad, many dermatologists are focusing on cosmetic enhancements, Botox
treatments, fillers….rather then what is their original calling.Skin problems. Other thing, skin
reflects whats going on in the body. Good dermatologist respects it. But many just playing
guessing game with prescriptions medications and creams. If one doesn't work, prescribe
other one.

Understandably offering cosmetic enhancements ,is considerably better paid then

diagnosis...

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ERMATOLOGISTS - PREPARATION
To work as a dermatologist, you typically need to:

 have a high school diploma or equivalent;

 complete a bachelor's degree;
 graduate from medical school;
 complete an internship;
 pass a state licensing exam;
 complete a residency program in dermatology; and
 pass additional exams to become board certified.