Understanding Dermatologists and What They Do

A dermatologist is a physician trained to diagnose and treat nail, skin, and hair conditions and diseases. They also diagnose and treat diseases and disorders involving mucous membranes, the delicate tissues lining your eyelids, mouth, and nose. There are nearly 45 million dermatology visits annually in America. These visits are usually made to treat pigmentation or discoloration, skin rashes, acne, and skin lesions. Beyond these cosmetic and medical problems, dermatologists can also recognize the symptoms and signs of other severe underlying medical problems.

For example, health conditions like diabetes can cause changes in the appearance of your skin. Dermatologists may be the first providers to recognize the possibility that you have diabetes. Our experts on dermatopathology in Pittsburgh, PA, offer the following look at what dermatologists can do for you.

Dermatology at a glance

Dermatology is a unique medical area that focuses on diseases and conditions affecting your skin. This medicine area also includes diseases and conditions concerning your hair, nails, and the delicate lining of your mouth, nose, and eyelids. The largest organ of the human body is the skin. It contains blood vessels, pores, hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings, and other structures. Therefore, caring for your skin is critical to your overall health and wellbeing. While internal medicine practitioners and general physicians can treat and diagnose the same diseases and conditions, a dermatologist has a higher level of experience and understanding. Therefore, many primary physicians refer people to dermatologists for a specialized level of care.

What dermatologists do

The work of a dermatologist can be divided into three separate areas, including:

Cosmetic

Issues that affect your appearance can be diagnosed and treated by a dermatologist. These issues can include wrinkles, dark spots, and hair loss. In addition, many dermatology professionals can treat cosmetic problems with laser hair removal, chemical peels, and fillers.

Surgery

Most dermatology professionals can do minor surgery, like removing warts or moles and performing skin biopsies. Others earn specializations in more extensive surgical procedures like removing skin cancer or benign cysts.

Medical

Dermatologists can diagnose and treat your skin conditions and diseases. This includes conditions like acne, rosacea, and plaque psoriasis. In addition, dermatologists can identify skin symptoms that may signal other health problems. For example, kidney problems may be indicated by dry, itchy skin.

Conditions treated by dermatologists

Dermatology professionals can treat thousands of diseases and conditions that affect your nails, hair, or skin. The following are a few of the more common conditions they encounter and treat:

Nail issues

Nail separation, discoloration, and spots are common nail problems a dermatologist can treat.

Losing hair

Hereditary baldness can cause hair loss. However, conditions like hormonal changes, illness, and stress may also be culprits. A dermatologist can identify the underlying causes and treat them when possible.

Infections

Parasites, fungi, bacteria, and viruses can invade your skin and cause various skin infections. Dermatologists can assist with diagnosing these infections and determine the optimal treatment.

Dermatitis

This condition makes up various skin problems that cause irritation and inflammation. This can include allergic reactions, cradle cap, and eczema.

Skin Cancer

This disease can happen anywhere on the body. Your dermatologist can remove and monitor cancer cells to ensure it does not re-occur.

Acne

Depending on your acne’s severity, a dermatologist can treat it with chemical peels, light therapies, lasers, medications, and topical treatments. They can also remove larger cysts when required.

This is an overview of dermatology and how it serves patients. If you need a lab for dermatopathology in Pittsburgh, PA, contact us today to learn more about the services we have to offer.