Dermatology

Dermatology is a branch of medicine that deals with the skin ("dermis" in Latin) and its various diseases. Dermatologists go to medical school, then spend 4 additional years in residency. More education--1 or 2 more years of post-residency--is available to those who want to specialize in a specific field, such as cosmetic surgery or laser medicine.

Dermatology is broken up into several sub-specialities: cosmetic dermatology (including liposuction and face lifts); pediatric dermatology (hereditary skin diseases); Mohs surgery (a method of reconstructive surgery invented by Dr. Frederick Mohs); immunodermatology (immune-related skin conditions, such as lupus); and dermatopathology (a combination of pathology and dermatology).

Dermatologists employ a wide range of therapies in their practice. These include, but are not limited to: cryosurgery therapies to treat warts and certain skin cancers; topical therapies, such as medicinal creams and salves; laser tattoo removal; hair transplantation; and photodynamic therapies to treat precancerous skin conditions.

The most common problems dermatologists face are various forms of rashes. Generically called dermatitis, or inflammation of the skin, these can be caused by excessive acne, chicken pox, eczema and certain food allergies, among many other possible factors.

Dermatology is one of the most competitive medical fields. The Dermatology Online Journal reports that new residencies in dermatology have been at an all-time high in the past 5 years, with more medical-school graduates choosing to specialize in the field than in any other branch of medicine.