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Intro to Dermatology

  • Writer: Leilani W
    Leilani W
  • Aug 8, 2025
  • 5 min read

Updated: Sep 2, 2025

I think the best way to start this blog is by answering the main question: What even is dermatology?


Today, I’ll be diving into what dermatology focuses on — from the several specialties to the education needed to become a dermatologist.


What is Dermatology?


By definition, dermatology is "the medical discipline that is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the skin, hair, and nails in both children and adults". Dermatologists are those who specialize in dermatology.


So what exactly do dermatologists do? Well, for starters, they diagnose and treat skin conditions using specific tests or examinations, and then treat them with medicines, light therapy, minor surgery, or cosmetic techniques.


Some more specific tasks dermatologists perform include:

  • Dermoscopy – Using dermatoscope (a handheld device with a magnifying lens and light) to identify and diagnose skin lesions (abnormal changes or damage to the skin).

  • Microbiology samples – Swabbing lesions with fluid or exudate (ooze that leaks from wounds) to check for bacterial or viral infections.

  • Skin scraping – Collecting surface skin cells by scraping a disposable scalpel blade at a 90° angle for fungal testing.

  • Skin biopsy – Removing a small sample of skin under local anesthesia for histopathological examination (microscopic study of tissue to diagnose disease). Different methods include shave biopsy (a thin layer of skin is shaved off), punch biopsy (a small, round piece of skin is removed using a punch tool, kind of like a cookie cutter), and excision biopsy (an entire lump or area is surgically removed)

  • Intralesional steroid injection – Injecting steroids (medicines that reduce inflammation and swelling in the body) directly into the skin to treat hypertrophic scars (thick, raised scars that stay within the injury area), keloid scars (thick scars that grow beyond the injury site), acne cysts (large, painful acne bumps filled with pus), vitiligo (patches of skin that lose color), and alopecia (hair loss, sometimes in patches).

  • Phototherapy – Using narrow-band ultraviolet (UV) light (helps calm and heal certain skin problems through controlled light exposure) to treat conditions like eczema (skin condition causing red, itchy, and inflamed patches), psoriasis (chronic skin disease with thick, scaly, red patches), vitiligo, and severe itching.

  • Research in dermatology – Studying skin conditions and treatments to advance the field and find better ways to help patients.


Examples of common conditions dermatologists treat:

  • acne

  • eczema

  • alopecia (hair loss)

  • nail fungus

  • psoriasis

  • rosacea

  • and skin cancer

(I'll be going in depth in each of these later on!)


Specialties in Dermatology


So, I'm going to be honest here — as I was researching information for this section, I kept getting mixed results on the "4 main branches" and the "subspecialties" that fall under them. What I've included here is my main estimate based on what most resources agree on:


Main Branches in Dermatology (broad practice areas):

  • Medical Dermatology – deals with diagnosing and treating skin diseases, like dermatitis (itchy inflammation of the skin), acne, eczema, psoriasis, and infections, in both adults and children.

  • Surgical Dermatology – involves procedures to treat skin disorders, like biopsies, lesion removal, and skin cancer surgery.

  • Cosmetic Dermatology – focuses on improving appearance through wrinkle treatments, chemical peels, laser therapy, etc.

  • Dermatopathology – combines dermatology and pathology (the study of diseases), focusing on examinations under the microscope and diagnosing skin disorders.

Subspecialties (focused areas within the branches):

  • Pediatric Dermatology – falls under medical dermatology; focuses on diagnosing and treating children, newborns, and infants.

  • Mohs Surgery – falls under surgical dermatology; performs a specific surgery (Mohs surgery) solely to remove skin cancer.

  • Immunodermatology – usually falls under medical dermatology; studies how the immune system interacts with the skin and treats immune-related skin conditions.


Steps to Becoming a Dermatologist


Dermatologists, like many other careers in the medical field, take several years of study. I actually asked my dermatologist how long it took him, and he said about 12 years. 12 years!  Pretty overwhelming in hindsight, but in the end, all the hard work will be worth it.


  1. College or University:

    In your chosen college or university, there are certain classes you'll have to take that medical schools require — like math, physics, chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, anatomy, and English. Not only do you have to get good grades in your classes (usually Bs or higher), but med schools also look at extracurricular activities like volunteering, leadership roles, research, and shadowing.

  2. MCAT:

    Aka, the Medical College Admissions Test, is the exam that all students who aspire to go into the medical field dread. It is required by all U.S. med schools and it is very important to score well. The exam spans for 8 hours and the maximum score is 528. It includes four sections — Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.

  3. Medical School:

    If you want to become a dermatologist you need to be accepted to an allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) medical school. Med school lasts four years: the first two focus on classroom learning, the last two on clinical rotations in hospitals. Also, there are two national board examinations that you have to pass.

  4. Internship and Residency:

    During the last year of med school, you'll have to submit applications and attend interviews for several different residency programs based on your chosen career (in this case dermatology). Once you're matched into a residency training program, you'll complete a one-year internship followed by a three-year dermatology residency where you'll specialize in skin medicine, surgery, and research. These programs are known for being very competitive.

  5. Board Certification:

    Not necessarily required to obtain a professional medical license, but it is highly desirable by employers because it shows one's expertise.

  6. Fellowship (optional):

    Some dermatologists choose extra training in subspecialties (the ones mentioned earlier), but it’s not required to find a job.


So, if you add up all of the years — 4 years in college/university, 4 years in medical school, 1 year of an internship, 3 years of residency, and 1+ years of a fellowship (optional) — to become a dermatologist it takes at least 12 years.


Final Thoughts


Dermatology is a career that has proven to be extremely rewarding. Despite being notoriously competitive and requiring many years of education, it has several benefits. It's among the higher-paying jobs in the medical field, averaging around $400,000 yearly. It also offers greater flexibility compared to more demanding roles, such as surgeons, leading to many dermatologists having a healthy work-life balance. The demand for dermatology is still growing as people become more aware of the importance of skin health, seek more aesthetic treatments, and as the aging population increases. Dermatology plays a vital role in helping us maintain and improve skin health, bringing many benefits to people and society.



Modern, white dermatology clinic including a comfortable patient chair, rolling doctor’s chair, and specialized equipment.
Modern, white dermatology clinic including a comfortable patient chair, rolling doctor’s chair, and specialized equipment.


Sources

What is Dermatology?

Specialties in Dermatology

Education to Become a Dermatologist

Final Thoughts

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1 Comment

Vinicius Wagner
Vinicius Wagner
Aug 25, 2025

Loved it!

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