Sunday, August 30, 2009

What Does A Dermatologist Help Me With?

By Attila Niall

A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of conditions that affect the skin, nails and hair. Some of these conditions include, but are not limited to, acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer, moles, melanomas and skin tumors. The American Board of Dermatology certifies dermatologists.

In the U.S., dermatologists must undergo rigorous training and graduate from an accredited medical school or osteopathic school in order to be qualified. Dermatologists that graduate from medical schools outside of the United States are required by law to obtain a foreign graduate certificate before they are permitted to practice dermatology. Just like other medical doctors, dermatologists have been trained and have completed at least one year in a residency program for clinical training in emergency medicine, family practice, gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, general surgery or internal medicine. Dermatologists are considered medical specialists, as they are fully trained medical doctors who have undergone specialized training in matters pertaining to skin conditions.

Regular doctors usually recommend a dermatologist if regular antibiotics aren't taking care of eczema, psoriasis or skin cancer. The point is, dermatologists are better suited to treat skin conditions, thanks to their special training. Common treatments include; dermabrasion or chemical peels, laser resurfacing, tissue augmentation, hair transplants, liposuction or sclerotherapy (to treat vascular malformations). One of the major benefits is the technology of today and how much it has furthered our success against skin conditions. This being said, a dermatologist will also manage skin disorders that come from different locations.

While the beginning training is enough to call them specialists, dermatologists continue their education. Some will utilize advanced training to gain other specialization titles so they can help you deal with infectious skin diseases, the immune system, and many other categories. In fact, you can even find some of these specialists in hospital settings. This is to help control the contagious skin infections that sometimes occur.

There are even some dermatology specialists that include pediatrics dermatology. With a lot of different skin diseases that are out there, these types of doctors will specifically work with eczema, or other skin allergies common in childhood. You will tend to find that there are many different types of doctors that are with this type of dermatologist because they usually are dealing with children with many medical conditions.

Eczema is another area where a dermatologist may treat a large number of children. Characterized by red, scaly or leathery-looking skin that sometimes oozes and becomes crusty, eczema is a skin condition that largely affects infants and young children. As it is commonly associated with an allergic reaction and dermatologists are specially trained to treat skin allergies, their care is usually recommended. To treat eczema symptoms in children, a dermatologist may prescribe either a topical or an oral cortocosteroid medication, as well as recommend home skin care regimens to lessen the severity of eczema's affects. Though most children eventually outgrow eczema, some do not and the condition is carried over into adulthood. Therefore, many dermatologists also treat adult patients with eczema.

Now by reading everything so far, you will think a dermatologist only handles diseases and disorders that are major in the skin. However, one of the things that most children suffer from today is acne. This is something that can hurt a childs self esteem going through school, and can cause depression. Now mild acne is something that can be handled by just cleaning your face with astringent pads or liquid. However, there many cases that are out there, that are severe and require the attention of a dermatologist who can prescribe more powerful medication, or other treatments to help you. If you are unaware what acne is, its blotchy skin, whiteheads, blackheads that cover your skin from bacteria and oil that blocks the skin. So as you can see, a severe case of this may require the attention for a dermatologist.

Another skin condition that is increasingly popular is psoriasis. However, this pertains to adults primarily, even though some issues are found in children. You'll be able to spot it from a mile away, thanks to the inflamed, thick, discolored patches of skin that have surfaced. There are many things that cause psoriasis, but the most common is an overreaction by the immune system. You can have mild issues, but you can also contract severe problems that include arthritis challenges and even loss of fingernails or toenails. Keep in mind you can treat psoriasis from home or with OTC drugs, but severe cases are always forwarded to a local dermatologist.

Last but certainly not least, a dermatologist is also recommended for skin cancers, melanomas, moles, and skin tumors. These can all be severe issues, which is why a highly trained expert is needed. They will be able to recognize the symptoms, then diagnose it, treat it, and help you resolve the problem. One thing to remember is you may have to endure a few skin biopsies, excisions, or other special procedures to overcome your obstacle. So if they tell you about micrographic surgery, cryosurgery, or topical chemotherapy, at least you've heard of it before.

Now that you know a little bit more into what a dermatologist can do, you probably now realize that there are some things that you can relate to and may need to see one. Dermatologists take care of a wide variety of things in the medical field that help make life healthier and easier. Most people do not realize that your skin is the single largest organ in your body and you need someone who is an expert in the field to make sure that you are safe. Most people who know will not disagree that a dermatologist deserves the same type of attention of a heart or brain surgeon.

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