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Dermatologists
Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.
Other titles employers use
Board Certified Dermatologist · Dermatologist MD (Dermatologist Medical Doctor) · Dermatologist Physician · Dermatopathologist · Doctor · MD (Medical Doctor) · Mohs Micrographic Surgeon · Mohs Surgeon
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Conduct complete skin examinations.
- Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.
- Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.
- Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.
- Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
- Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, practical and helping work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
Subjects to know
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.5 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.1 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 5.0 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.5 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 88%
- A two-year degree 6%
- A master's degree 5%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Video conferencing software
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Word processing software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Electronic mail software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 1,490
- Job openings each year
- 60
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 14.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,490 | 60 | 14.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 640 | 20 | 3.2% |
| Colorado | 610 | 20 | 7.0% |
| Minnesota | 480 | 10 | 2.1% |
| Michigan | 420 | 10 | 2.4% |
| Indiana | 410 | 10 | 2.5% |
| Arizona | 390 | 20 | 18.2% |
| New Jersey | 380 | 10 | 5.6% |
| North Carolina | 380 | 10 | 11.8% |
| Georgia | 350 | 10 | 12.9% |
| Ohio | 340 | 10 | −2.9% |
| Kentucky | 320 | 10 | 3.2% |
| Oklahoma | 300 | 10 | — |
| Illinois | 290 | 10 | — |
| Tennessee | 250 | 10 | 19.0% |
| Massachusetts | 230 | 10 | 4.5% |
| Oregon | 140 | 10 | 7.7% |
| Iowa | 120 | 0 | 9.1% |
| Wisconsin | 120 | 0 | 9.1% |
| Montana | 110 | 0 | 10.0% |
| Nevada | 110 | 0 | — |
| Alabama | 100 | 0 | 11.1% |
| Maryland | 100 | 0 | — |
| South Carolina | 90 | 0 | 12.5% |
| Connecticut | 60 | 0 | — |
| Delaware | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Missouri | 50 | 0 | — |
| Maine | 40 | 0 | — |
| South Dakota | 40 | 0 | — |
| Mississippi | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.