Who is a dermatologist?
A dermatologist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating skin conditions and improving skin health and appearance. They are trained to care for the skin, hair, and nails.
Dermatologists diagnose and treat multiple skin conditions, including acne, skin cancer, rashes, etc. They also have immense knowledge about cosmetic treatments and procedures, which allows them to provide their patients with various options for improving the look and feel of their skin, such as Botox injections, dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, and more.
Dermatologists work in private practices, hospitals, and clinics. They listen to their patients ' concerns, conduct thorough exams, and develop customized treatment plans based on each individual's needs and goals.
Education and training of dermatologists
Aspirants must complete a four-year undergraduate degree. They then attend medical school for another four years. After graduating from medical school, they complete a dermatology residency program that typically lasts three years. During this time, they receive extensive training in diagnosing and treating skin, hair, and nail conditions. They also learn about the latest advancements in dermatology.
After completing their residency, dermatologists become licensed to practice medicine. They may also choose to become board-certified in dermatology by passing a rigorous examination. They may also complete a fellowship program to obtain additional training in a dermatology subspecialty. Furthermore, they must remain up-to-date on the latest research and advancements as medical knowledge and technology evolve.
Subspecialties in dermatology
Dermatology is a diverse field with many subspecialties, each focusing on specific areas of expertise. Some of the most common dermatology specialties include:
- Medical dermatology: This field focuses on identifying and treating skin ailments, such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, and psoriasis. These specialists can also identify symptoms on a person's skin that may be signs of other health conditions. For instance, sometimes itchy, dry skin can indicate kidney problems.
- Surgical dermatology: This field involves treating skin conditions, including removing skin cancers, moles, and other abnormal growths. Surgical dermatologists can also perform skin grafts and other reconstructive procedures.
- Pediatric dermatology: These doctors focus on diagnosing and treating skin conditions in children as they are trained to understand their unique needs.
- Dermatopathology: This field involves diagnosing skin conditions by examining skin samples under a microscope. Dermatopathologists play a critical role in diagnosing skin cancer and other skin conditions.
- Cosmetic dermatology: Cosmetic dermatologists focus on enhancing the appearance of the skin, hair, and nails. They can treat skin concerns that affect an individual's appearance, such as dark spots, hair loss, or wrinkles. They can also offer a range of treatments, including injectables, chemical peels, and laser therapy, to achieve one's desired appearance.
What are some conditions dermatologists treat?
There are more than 3,000 conditions a dermatologist is skilled in diagnosing and treating. Some common ailments that dermatologists can treat include the following:
- Acne
- Autoimmune diseases
- Eczema
- Dandruff
- Dermatitis
- Hemangioma
- Hives
- Itchy skin
- Psoriasis
- Rashes
- Skin cancer
- Skin infections
- Warts and moles
- Spider and varicose veins
- Scabies
- Hair loss
- Nail infections
- Xeroderma pigmentosum
While these are some common conditions a dermatologist can treat, it is best to visit them for an accurate diagnosis of your illness. You must inform the specialist about your symptoms, medical history, medications, and test results to help them reach an informed diagnosis.
What types of procedures can a dermatologist undertake?
Dermatologists can perform various procedures, from skin tag removals to skin cancer surgeries. Typically, they undertake the following:
- Biopsy procedures: These are performed to diagnose or eliminate skin cancer or other conditions.
- Chemical peels: These remove damaged skin, help generate new skin, and reduce signs of aging.
- Cosmetic injections: Botox or filler injections help reduce the appearance of sagging or wrinkly skin.
- Cryotherapy is a distinctive treatment that involves controlled exposure to freezing temperatures to treat skin conditions like skin tags, warts, and tumors.
- Dermabrasion: This is an exfoliating technique that reduces the appearance of acne, age spots, fine lines, precancerous skin patches, and scars.
- Laser therapy: It helps remove acne, blemishes, moles, sun spots, tattoos, unwanted hair, warts, and wrinkles.
- Mohs surgery: In this procedure, thin layers of tissue surrounding a tumor are extracted to treat skin cancer.
- Sclerotherapy: This procedure treats spider and varicose veins by injecting chemicals into damaged veins to diminish their appearance.
- Surgical excisions: These can be performed to remove growths like lesions, moles, and skin tags and are usually carried out with local anesthesia so the patient does not feel any pain.
- Tumescent liposuction is a procedure dermatologists use to remove unwanted fat from specific body areas.
How do dermatologists diagnose basal cell carcinoma?
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a prevalent form of skin cancer in the USA. It arises from the basal cells in the epidermis, typically caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. When you visit a dermatologist near you, they may first discuss your general health history, symptoms, and medications. Next, they will carefully examine the unusual or suspected spots on the skin for signs of cancer.
Dermatologists may recommend additional tests, such as a skin biopsy, for an effective disease diagnosis. It is a simple procedure in which the doctor first numbs the area and removes a skin patch for a detailed microscopic analysis. The analysis helps determine whether the patch has cancer cells.
The presence of cancer cells confirms basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The doctor may conduct further screenings to identify the type of BCC and how deep it has grown or spread into the body. Dermatologists carefully consider the findings before creating an appropriate treatment plan.
How do dermatologists treat basal cell carcinoma?
Doctors can effectively treat BCC in the early stages with surgical removal procedures. The type of surgical procedure used mainly depends on the type of BCC, its location, and its depth. The different surgical approaches include the following:
- Excision: Dermatologists cut out the cancer-affected area and parts of the normal-looking skin surrounding it. This normal-looking skin may contain stray cancer cells, and removing it eliminates the risk of a cancer resurgence.
- Radiation therapy: If prescribed for basal cell carcinoma, you'll need to visit a hospital or treatment center to receive radiation sessions, typically spread over several weeks. Radiation may also be used as a follow-up treatment for aggressive basal cell carcinoma to help eliminate any remaining cancer cells.
- Electrodesiccation and curettage procedure: Dermatologists first scrape the BCC cells from the surface using the curettage procedure. Then, they use the electrodesiccation technique to kill the stray cancer cells. Doctors recommend this surgical removal procedure when the BCC develops in a leg, arm, or trunk.
Finding the best dermatologists near you in Nashville, Tennessee
A dermatologist can provide quality care to improve your health. If you're experiencing skin, hair, or nail issues, seeking expert advice from a doctor with extensive knowledge and expertise is essential. However, finding one may be challenging. Zocdoc can help you in this endeavor by creating a repository of the best dermatologists in Nashville, Tennessee. Zocdoc also empowers you to make informed decisions while choosing your specialist. It gives you access to highly skilled specialists who can provide quality care.
To begin, create a free account on Zocdoc. Enter the symptoms or specialty, location, and preferred date. Once you enter, an extensive list of doctors matching your criteria will appear. You can further narrow them down using advanced filters such as gender, hospital affiliations, languages they speak, and whether or not they treat patients.
To find a provider who accepts your insurance, enter your insurance details—such as your provider and plan—into the Zocdoc search. This will help you locate in-network providers who accept your coverage. You can find accurate results from in-network dermatologists near you. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information related to insurance.
You can learn more about the specialists through their profile pages, which include their brief introduction, education, specializations, location, board certification, and more. You can also rely on past patient-verified reviews to make an informed decision. You can book video appointments and in-person visits on Zocdoc. Look for the purple video icon on the specialist's profiles or filter the video appointment selection.
Using Zocdoc, booking an appointment with the best dermatologists becomes simple, secure, and free.
Skin cancer and dermatology statistics in Tennessee and the USA
As reported by the National Psoriasis Foundation, as of 2021, over 8 million Americans had psoriasis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights that in 2021, the age-adjusted rate of skin melanoma was around 19.1 per 100,000 people in Tennessee. The number of new cases reported was around 1,602 in Tennessee. As per the same report, in 2022, the age-adjusted death rate of melanomas of the skin was nearly 2.3 per 100,000 people in Tennessee.
Access to quality dermatology care and services is essential to maintaining good health by combating skin cancer and other issues. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that Tennessee had around 210 active dermatologists in 2023.
Sources
WebMD
Healthline
Verywell Health
Cleveland Clinic
National Psoriasis Foundation
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American Academy of Dermatology Association[1]
American Academy of Dermatology Association[2]
