Dermatology is the medical specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. The skin is the body’s largest organ, and the field has developed a high degree of specialization. Recognizing the different types of dermatologists allows patients to align their specific skin concern with a provider who has the most focused expertise, ensuring targeted care.
Medical and General Dermatology
The general dermatologist serves as the primary practitioner for most patients seeking care for common, non-surgical skin conditions. This foundational practice involves diagnosing and managing a wide array of disorders that affect the skin’s health and function. Patients visit this specialist for chronic inflammatory conditions, which require ongoing management through topical, oral, or light-based therapies.
General dermatologists treat conditions like acne, which involves balancing oil production with bacterial control and reducing inflammation. They also manage disorders such as eczema (atopic dermatitis), a chronic condition characterized by skin barrier dysfunction leading to dryness and itching. Another common focus is psoriasis, an autoimmune disease causing thick, scaly patches on the skin’s surface. Rosacea, a disorder causing facial redness and bumps, is also managed through medical treatments aimed at reducing inflammation and vascular reactivity.
Surgical Dermatology
Surgical dermatologists specialize in the removal of abnormal skin growths and the repair of the resulting defects, often using minimally invasive techniques. A primary focus of this specialization is the treatment of skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. These specialists perform excisions, which involve cutting out the cancerous tissue along with a margin of healthy-appearing skin.
The most precise technique in this field is Mohs micrographic surgery, which is the standard of care for skin cancers in high-risk or cosmetically sensitive areas. In Mohs surgery, the cancerous tissue is removed layer by layer, immediately examined, and mapped. This ensures all cancerous roots are removed while preserving the maximum amount of healthy surrounding tissue. Surgical dermatologists also excise large or complex benign lesions, such as deep cysts and subcutaneous lipomas.
Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dermatology
Cosmetic and aesthetic dermatologists concentrate on improving the appearance of the skin, hair, and nails, often addressing changes related to aging, sun exposure, or superficial imperfections. Their procedures are generally elective and are aimed at enhancing texture, tone, and contour. This specialty employs a variety of minimally invasive techniques to rejuvenate and refine the skin’s surface.
This specialty utilizes several minimally invasive techniques. These include:
- Injecting neurotoxins to temporarily relax facial muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles.
- Using dermal fillers to restore lost volume and enhance facial contours.
- Performing resurfacing procedures, including chemical peels and microdermabrasion, to exfoliate the top layers of skin.
- Utilizing specialized laser therapies for targeted treatments like hair removal, reducing hyperpigmentation, or minimizing fine lines.
Pediatric Dermatology
Pediatric dermatologists focus entirely on the skin, hair, and nail conditions that affect infants, children, and adolescents. The skin of a developing child requires specialized knowledge because it differs significantly from adult skin in structure, function, and reaction to disease and treatment. These specialists are trained to manage both common skin issues and rare disorders that specifically manifest in childhood.
A significant portion of their practice involves conditions present from birth, such as birthmarks and infantile hemangiomas, which are vascular growths requiring careful monitoring. They also manage common conditions like eczema, which can be particularly severe and challenging in infants, requiring age-appropriate medication doses. Pediatric dermatologists have expertise in diagnosing unique genetic skin disorders and viral infections, ensuring treatments are tailored to the developing biology of the young patient.