Dermatologists help patients with the diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes. They can remove or heal blemishes such as birth marks or acne, and they can help with more serious conditions such as skin cancer, and they can also perform skin grafting techniques to help burn victims. Dermatologists not only help treat physical conditions of the skin, they also help with the emotional ones as well. Acne treatments and Botox injections can help people mentally deal with their skin issues.
What do dermatologists do?
According to the American Academic of Dermatology, dermatologists diagnose and treat over 3000 diseases of the skin, hair, and nails. Some of these diseases include acne, eczema, psoriasis, and skin cancer as well as many other skin diseases. Since a person’s skin is so visible, it is often a source of self esteem. Because of this, dermatologists focus a lot of their time to helping patients learn and practice preventative measures in order to keep their skin and nails looking healthy. Some regular practices that dermatologists employ are:
- Help improve the patient’s skin by removing growths, discoloration, and wrinkles
- Inform and prescribe medication to patients to help prevent acne and acne scars
- Perform a biopsy to confirm diagnosis of diseases
- Perform laser and light therapies that reduce the discoloration of skin
Work environment
Dermatologists generally work in a medical practice or clinic. Some may work in a hospital or in an academic setting. Work hours are generally during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. It is said that Dermatologists enjoy a much more relaxed working schedule than other doctors. It is common for a dermatologist to work only 30-35 hours per week. They are also not on their feet as long as other doctors such as surgeons.
Salary
Salaries for dermatologists are among the highest for all medical doctors. Pay can vary according to the type of practice they work in and whether or not they are specialty dermatologists. Pay can range from $100,000 to $500,000 per year.
- Entry Level (0-5 yrs): $194,000
- Mid Career (5-10 yrs): $206,000
- Experienced (10-20 yrs): $215,000
Source: Payscale
Education and training
For those that aspire to become a dermatologist, your preparation should start now. It is extremely important to do very well in school as becoming a dermatologist is competitive. One must obtain their bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, and they should major in the hard sciences such as biology, chemistry, or in specific pre-medical courses. Getting into any medical school in the United States is difficult, so make sure your GPA is high as well as the combined GPA of your science courses, as they are calculated separately on your medical school application.
MCAT
The MCAT is the entrance exam for medical schools all across the United States. The MCAT is a rigorous test that features three multiple choice sections. The test scores range from 3 to 45 with the top medical schools generally accepting scores in the mid 30s. It is common for students to study for months and even to take the MCAT two or three times before they are accepted into a medical school. For more information about preparing for the MCAT, visit the AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges) website. They have a trough of information about what materials to use while studying for the MCAT, when and where the test will take place, and a breakdown of the section scores.
