Description
Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.
- • Refer patients to other specialists, as needed.
- • Record patients' health histories.
- • Provide dermatologic consultation to other health professionals.
- • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in dermatology.
- • Instruct interns or residents in diagnosis and treatment of dermatological diseases.
- • Evaluate patients to determine eligibility for cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, laser resurfacing, or microdermabrasion.
- • Conduct or order diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs (x-rays), microbiologic tests, or endocrinologic tests.
- • Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings.
- • Conduct clinical or basic research.
- • Provide therapies such as intralesional steroids, chemical peels, or comodo removal to treat age spots, sun damage, rough skin, discolored skin, or oily skin.
- • Provide dermabrasion or laser abrasion to treat atrophic scars, elevated scars, or other skin conditions.
- • Prescribe hormonal agents or topical treatments such as contraceptives, spironolactone, antiandrogens, oral corticosteroids, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics.
- • Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.
- • Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.
- • Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.
- • Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
- • Conduct complete skin examinations.
- • Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
