Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life
Dermatologists
Dermatologists diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases or other conditions of the skin.
Table of Contents
Job Description
Dermatologists diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases or other conditions of the skin. They also diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.
Other tasks include:
- Conduct complete skin examinations.
- Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
- Record patients’ health histories.
- Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete’s foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
- Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.
- Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.
We asked Dermatologists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.
74%
82%
74% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.
Typical Day At Work
On a daily basis, Dermatologists record patients’ health histories. They diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete’s foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.
A typical day for a Dermatologist will also include:
- Conduct complete skin examinations.
- 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.
- Prescribe hormonal agents or topical treatments such as contraceptives, spironolactone, antiandrogens, oral corticosteroids, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics.
- Provide dermabrasion or laser abrasion to treat atrophic scars, elevated scars, or other skin conditions.
We asked some Dermatologists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.
Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? | 93% said yes | |
How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 85% said very important | |
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 91% said yes | |
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 72% said yes | |
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 0% said yes | |
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 99% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Dermatologists also provide liposuction treatment to patients. They may also refer patients to other specialists, as needed.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Dermatologists Evaluate patients to determine eligibility for cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, laser resurfacing, or microdermabrasion. They might also Provide dermatologic consultation to other health professionals.
In addition, they Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in dermatology.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them Conduct or order diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs (x-rays), microbiologic tests, or endocrinologic tests.
To some Dermatologists, it is also their responsibility to Provide therapies such as intralesional steroids, chemical peels, or comodo removal to treat age spots, sun damage, rough skin, discolored skin, or oily skin.
Working life
More than 40 hours per week
Regular schedule like a 9 to 5
In a typical work week as a Dermatologist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.
Is this right for me
The Thinkers and The Helpers
People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
Learn more about Dermatologists
Summary | |
Job Description (You are here) | |
Salary | |
Requirements | |
Quiz |
Related to Dermatologists Job Description
Dermatologists job description, what do Dermatologists do, typical day for Dermatologists, what is it like to work as a Dermatologist, how many hours do Dermatologists work, day to day work of a Dermatologist