Dermatologists

Career summary

#3/18/19 lh

Dermatologists treat patients of all ages. They treat anything from fungus or bacterial infections of the skin, to cancer. They also treat common skin problems, such as acne and eczema. In addition to medical treatment of skin conditions, dermatologists may also do aesthetic procedures. These procedures are for patients who wish to improve skin tone and decrease signs of aging. Some of these treatments may include laser treatment, botox injections, or collagen injections.

Dermatologists ask patients questions to learn about their medical history. They gather information such as pain experienced, diet, time under the sun, and use of cosmetics. They examine patients' skin under good lighting. They may order lab tests or perform a biopsy before making a diagnosis.

After making a diagnosis, dermatologists explain test results and review treatment options with patients. If more than one treatment is available, they help patients decide which option to choose.

Sometimes dermatologists perform minor surgery on patients, such as removing cancerous or unhealthy lesions from the skin. Most minor surgeries are performed in the doctor's office. Dermatologists monitor a patient's condition and make changes in the treatment if needed.

Dermatologists share similar tasks with other types of physicians, they:

• Assign tasks to nurses and other health care workers
• Consult with other health care professionals
• Oversee the business aspects of running an office
• Keep detailed records about each patient
• Write reports for insurance companies and government agencies

Some dermatologists teach at medical schools. They may also do research on procedures and treatments for skin disease. Advances in medicine require dermatologists to update their skills regularly.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Allergists and Immunologists
• Anesthesiologists
• Family and General Practitioners
• Internists
• Naturopathic Physicians
• Nurse Practitioners
• Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Pediatricians
• Pharmacists
• Physician Assistants
• Podiatrists
• Psychiatrists
• Surgeons
• University and College Teachers

Military careers

• Physicians and Surgeons

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to dermatologists.

• Conduct skin examinations.
• Record patients' health histories.
• Diagnose and treat various skin conditions, including different types of skin cancer, psoriasis, and acne.
• Counsel patients on healthy skin care, such as sun protection and self-examinations.
• Perform biopsies, skin surgery, and dermabrasion.
• Prescribe medicines and creams.
• Recommend diagnostic tests based on symptoms and a patient's health history.
• Provide consultation to other health professionals.
• Refer patients to specialists, if needed.
• Read medical literature, talk with colleagues, and attend conferences to keep skills up to date.
• May conduct clinical research.

Common work activities

Dermatologists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Document and record information
• Assist and care for others
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Get information needed to do the job
• Analyze data or information
• Evaluate information against standards
• Process information
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Teach others
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Perform administrative tasks
• Perform for or work with the public
• Handle and move objects
• Use computers
• Develop and build teams
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Think creatively
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, dermatologists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a very high level of social interaction. They interact with medical staff and patients throughout their day.
• Are extremely responsible for the health and safety of patients.
• Are greatly responsible for the work done by other medical staff.
• Sometimes are placed in conflict situations in which others may be unpleasant or rude.
• Communicate by telephone, letters, and in person on a daily basis. They also write e-mail.
• Usually work as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Constantly wear safety attire in the course of the day. Gloves and masks protect from the diseases and infections of patients.
• Work indoors.
• Occasionally are exposed to contaminants and hazardous situations.
• Come into close physical contact with patients.

Work performance

• Must be very exact and accurate when performing the job. Errors can impact the health of patients.
• Repeat the same physical and mental tasks.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that substantially impact patients and their families.
• Make nearly all their decisions and set their daily tasks and goals independently.
• Work in a moderately competitive, stressful atmosphere where they must meet daily deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Usually work more than 40 hours per week.
• Generally work a set schedule.
• May be on-call, which means available to work on short notice to handle emergencies.

Physical demands

Dermatologists frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for dermatologists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for dermatologists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.

Skills and abilities

Dermatologists need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.

Use math and science

• Use scientific methods to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Persuade others to approach things differently.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Teach others how to do something.

Perceive and visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Medicine
• Osteopathic Medicine

Other programs of study to consider

• Biomedical Sciences, General
• Pre-Medicine

Training

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.

Education after high school

To become a dermatologist, you must complete medical school. Medical schools grant a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. You spend the first two years of medical school in classrooms and labs. You study anatomy, biochemistry, and medicines. You also learn how to take a medical history, examine patients, and make a diagnosis. During the next two years, you work in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of physicians.

You need a bachelor's degree to get into medical school. While you do not need to be a pre-medicine or science major, these programs are good preparation. If you earn a liberal arts degree, be sure to take courses in physics, biology, and chemistry.

Work experience

It takes 12 to 14 years to become a dermatologist. It's a good idea to decide early if dermatology is the right specialty for you. Volunteer to work in a dermatology office while still in college. Take a paid position as a medical assistant in a dermatology practice. Talk to people in this field and find out what they like about it and what skills and qualities are necessary. A helpful dermatologist may allow you to shadow them for a day or a couple of weeks. This will help you determine if this specialty is right for you.

On-the-job training

While in medical school, you spend two years working as an intern in a hospital or clinic. As an intern, you rotate through internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics, oncology, and other hospital departments.

After medical school, you complete a residency program in dermatology. Residency lasts up to five years. After your residency, you take additional exams to become board certified.

Military training

The military provides advanced training for doctors. However, it does not provide the initial training to become a doctor. Scholarships for advanced medical training are available in return for a required period of military service.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Child Development
• Computer Applications
• Food and Nutrition
• Foreign Language
• Introduction to Health Care
• Nursing
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Many dermatologists begin work in a group practice or clinic. Some go to work for the hospital where they complete their residency.

Employers look for applicants who are inquisitive, compassionate, and patient. It is important to have good communication skills and be an effective decision-maker. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are also important.

Costs to workers

Dermatologists who join professional associations may pay membership fees and annual dues. They may also attend courses, seminars, and workshops to update their knowledge and keep up to date on changes in their field.

Dermatologists who have borrowed money to pay school expenses have large debt payments for the first few years after graduation. The average debt for medical students who graduated in 2017 was $190,694 with 83% percent owing at least $100,000. Malpractice insurance is expensive. To enter private practice, practitioners must invest in equipment, office space, and staffing costs. Estimated costs range from $75,000 to $100,000 or more.

#Updated AMA debt ifno with 2015 data 4/4/16 using 2015_debt_fact_card.pdf on AAMC website, cj. Updated link for source of debt data & updated info 3/26/18, cj. https://members.aamc.org/iweb/upload/2017%20Debt%20Fact%20Card.pdf

Licensing/certification

In Washington, dermatologists must be licensed by the Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission as either medical or osteopathic doctors. In addition, dermatologists are board certified by the American Board of Dermatology.

General licensing requirements include:

• a good moral character;
• physical and mental capability to safely perform the duties of a physician;
• completion of a four-year doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine program at an approved medical school;
• one year (osteopathic physician) or two years (medical physician) approved post-graduate training;
• completion of four- (medical physician) or seven- (osteopathic physician) clock hours AIDS education; and
• passing a national written exam.

For more information on the US Medical Licensing Exam, call 215.590.9500 or go to the National Board of Medical Examiners  website.

Osteopathic doctors must complete 150 hours of continuing education every three years and medical doctors must complete 200 hours of continuing education every four years.

Licensing fees vary ranging from $491 (medical physicians) to $391 (osteopathic physicians) for the application. The annual renewal fee for osteopathic physicians is $441 and the biannual renewal fee for medical physicians is $657. The combined fee for an application and state exam for osteopathic practitioners is $516. The licensing and the renewal fees generally include an access fee for health-related online library journals and publications and a Washington physician health program surcharge.

For more information on medical doctors, contact:

Washington Medical Commission 
PO Box 47866
Olympia, WA 98504-7866
360.236.2750

For information on osteopathic doctors, contact:

Washington State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery 
PO Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7865
360.236.4700

#Checked licensing info 3/17/10, cj. Updated url 6/11/12 cj. Checked licensing info, osteo fees changed, 3/3/14 cj.  No change to licensing section 4/4/16 or 3/26/18 cj. 3/18/19 lh

Wages

Wages vary by employer, years of experience, and hours worked. The doctor's skill, personality, and professional reputation also affect wages. Self-employed dermatologists generally earn more than those who are not self-employed.

Dermatologists usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and a retirement plan. Dermatologists who are self-employed must provide their own insurance and retirement plan.

National wage information is not available specifically for dermatologists. However, they are part of the larger group of "all other physicians and surgeons."

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Doctors' offices
• Hospitals
• Federal, state, and local government agencies

National outlook

Much of the demand for dermatologists will be a result of a growing population. As the population grows, the number of people in need of care from dermatologists will increase. In addition, an aging population will increase the number of people with conditions that require treatment from dermatologists.

Employment and outlook information is not available specifically for dermatologists. However, they are part of the larger group of "all other physicians and surgeons."

Other resources

American Academy of Dermatology 
PO Box 4014
Schaumburg, IL 60168
866.503.7546

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine 
5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301.968.4100

American Board of Dermatology 
2 Wells Avenue
Newton, MA 02459

American Medical Association 

American Medical Association - Medical Student Section 

American Osteopathic Association 
142 East Ontario Street
Chicago, IL 60611
800.621.1773
312.202.8000

American Society for Dermatologic Surgery 

American Society of Dermatology 
PO Box 9013
Port St. Lucie, FL 34985-9013
561.873.8335

Aspiring Docs Website from the American Association of Medical Colleges 

The Student Doctor Network 

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Investigative (Science)

O*Net  occupation

• Dermatologists (29-1069.02) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupation

• Dermatologist (070.101-018) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Physician

Holland occupational cluster

• Investigative/Social/Realistic

COPSystem

• Science Professional
• Service Professional