Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseasesRandom House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. Random House, Inc. 2001. Page 537. ISBN 037572026., a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. The name of this specialty originated in the form of the (semantically wrong) words dermologie (in French, 1764) and, a little later, dermatologia (in Latin, 1777).Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Professional. Page 3. ISBN 0071380760. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails.

History

Main: History of dermatology Readily visible alterations of the skin surface have been recognized since the dawn of history, with some being treated, and some not. In 1801 the first great school of dermatology became a reality at the famous Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris, while the first textbooks (Willan's, 1798-1808) and atlases (Alibert's, 1806-1814) appeared in print during the same period of time.

Training

After earning a medical degree (M.D. or D.O.), the length of training for a general dermatologist in the United States is a total of four years. This training consists of an initial medical or surgical intern year followed by a three year dermatology residency. However, following this training, one or two year post-residency fellowships are available in immunodermatology, phototherapy, laser medicine, Mohs micrographic surgery, cosmetic surgery or dermatopathology. Within the past several years, dermatology residencies in the United States have been the most competitive in terms of admission. The nation's best dermatology programs, identified by Dermatology Times as Clinical Centers of Excellence for 2009, include (alphabetically) Harvard, Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai, NYU, UCSF, U. of Michigan, UT Houston, and Wake Forest.. These programs are similarly ranked in peer-reviewed publications.

Cosmetic dermatology

Dermatologists have been leaders in the field of cosmetic surgery.James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (10th ed.). Saunders. Page 895. ISBN 0721629210. Some dermatologist complete fellowships in surgical dermatology. Many are trained in their residency on the use of botox, fillers, and laser surgery. Some dermatologists perform cosmetic procedures including liposuction, blepharoplasty, and face lifts. Most dermatologists limit their cosmetic practice to minimally invasive procedures. Despite an absence of formal guidelines from the American Board of Dermatology, many cosmetic fellowships are offered in both surgery and laser medicine.Fact: date=January 2009