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Dermatology is a specialty of medicine concerned with diagnosing and treating dermatological conditions – including various disorders, diseases, cancers, injuries, and cosmetic, ageing and inflammatory conditions, affecting the skin, fat, hair, nails, and oral and genital membranes. Dermatology services, in outpatient, inpatient and community settings, provide specialist investigation and assessment, diagnoses, and treatment and therapies to manage symptoms, reduce discomfort, and prevent further disease. Treatment can involve topical and systemic medications, therapies - such as phototherapy, immunotherapy, laser therapy, photodynamic therapy and superficial radiotherapy, or procedural and cosmetic surgery.

Dermatology subspecialties include: Dermatopathology and Infectious conditions, advanced skin surgery, skin cancer diagnosis and treatment, acute and emergency dermatology, investigation and treatment of cutaneous allergy, paediatric dermatology and phototherapy/photobiology.

Dermatology Jobs

Dermatologists treat disease and disorders of the hair, skin and nails and the adjacent mucous membranes. They work with children and adult patients, including elderly patients. They can diagnose a range of disorders, including skin cancers or infectious and inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. They use several non-invasive therapies to treat many skin conditions, such as prescribing topical ointments or medications, or performing laser therapy. They also perform skin biopsies and surgical procedures. Dermatologists can identify signs of underlying health conditions and can make referrals for further care. Dermatologists educate their patients and help them manage their symptoms and prevent further disease. They lead clinical teams and train registrars and junior doctors. Dermatologists have undertaken JRCPTB higher specialist training in Dermatology, gained a CCT, and are eligible for the GMC Specialty Register.

Registrars (Dermatology) are registered doctors who are undertaking specialist training to broaden and refine their scope of practice and gain experience, skills and competency in their chosen area of medicine. Registrars who work in Dermatology have completed foundation and core training (two years of stage 1 internal medicine training (IMT) or three years of ACCS-IM) and the MRCP(UK) diploma. They can undertake higher training in Dermatology, which leads to a CCT and specialty registration with the GMC. Registrars work under Dermatologists/specialist consultants and develop skills and clinical expertise in this field of medicine. They may be responsible for managing and training junior staff, and at times they may be the most senior doctor on duty.