How to Become a Dermatologist: Career Guide
Read our detailed guide about the education and training required to become a practicing dermatologist.
Are you interested in helping people maintain healthy skin? If this sounds right, then a career in dermatology might be the perfect choice. Working as a dermatologist, you will diagnose and treat skin conditions while also helping your patients look and feel their best.
Read on to find out more about what a dermatologist does, whether a career in dermatology is right for you and how a 4-year MD program can help you get there.
What Is a Dermatologist?
A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the prevention and treatment of more than 3,000 hair, skin, nail and mucous membrane conditions. Millions of people visit dermatologists each year in countries around the world. Dermatologists provide care to people of all ages, for such conditions as:
- Acne: Based on the severity of the acne, a dermatologist will treat it with topical applications, chemical peels, the removal of large cysts or light therapies (such as lasers).
- Dermatitis: Dermatitis includes skin conditions that cause irritation and inflammation, such as cradle cap, eczema and allergic reactions.
- Hair loss: A dermatologist will determine the underlying cause of hair loss and treat it if possible.
- Infections: A dermatologist can diagnose the cause of infections and prescribe an appropriate treatment.
- Nail problems: Common nail issues treated by dermatologists are spots, nail separation and discoloration.
- Skin cancer: A dermatologist can remove cancer cells and monitor the patient to ensure the cancer doesn’t return.
Internal medicine doctors and general practitioners can diagnose and treat many of these conditions as well. However, a dermatologist has a deeper understanding and greater experience with these issues. Primary care doctors will frequently refer patients to a dermatologist for specialized care.
Besides these cosmetic and medical skin-related issues, dermatologists can also recognize the symptoms of other serious underlying health issues. The skin is the body’s largest organ and the first line of defense against injury and pathogens. It can often be a good indicator of overall health. For instance, diabetes can impact the skin’s appearance and a dermatologist can be the first healthcare provider to recognize the signs.
What Does a Dermatologist Do?
Like most medical doctors, the day-to-day duties of a dermatologist are as varied as the patients they care for. They provide diagnoses and treatments to restore health, prevent illness, and improve the lives of both children and adults.
Dermatologists also provide their patients with education and preventative care for skin and other related health issues. For example, they may perform skin surveys to find precancerous lesions among patients with a high risk of skin cancer. This can help to alleviate pain and vastly improve the lives of patients living with debilitating skin conditions.
As part of their dermatologist job roles, doctors will:
- Meet with patients: A dermatologist will record the patient’s medical history, perform patient examinations, spot any irregularities and discuss a diagnosis.
- Develop treatment plans: Dermatologists may prescribe medications, remove the abnormality, perform surgery or take biopsies for further research.
- Address cosmetic concerns: A dermatologist uses tools such as lasers to treat birthmarks, Botox to tackle wrinkles, and skin grafting for patients with severe scarring.
- Perform follow-up examinations or treatments: Dermatology treatments often need numerous sessions to resolve the issue and for the dermatologist to track patient progress.
Types of Dermatologists (Subspecialties)
Dermatology covers far more than routine skin checks. After completing their residency, many physicians choose to concentrate on a particular area of skin health. Focusing on a subspecialty allows them to build deeper knowledge, refine their clinical skills, and work closely with specific patient groups or conditions.
Some dermatologists are drawn to diagnosing complex medical conditions. Others prefer surgical work or aesthetic treatments. Over time, these interests shape the direction of their careers.
Some of the most common dermatology subspecialties include:
- Medical dermatology: Focuses on diagnosing and treating skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, infections and autoimmune disorders affecting the skin.
- Cosmetic dermatology: Specializes in aesthetic treatments designed to improve the appearance of the skin, including Botox injections, dermal fillers, chemical peels and laser treatments.
- Dermatologic surgery: Involves surgical procedures to remove skin cancers, cysts and other growths, as well as reconstructive treatments to restore skin after surgery.
- Pediatric dermatology: Concentrates on diagnosing and treating skin conditions that impact infants, children and adolescents.
- Dermatopathology: Combines dermatology and pathology, focusing on diagnosing skin diseases by examining tissue samples under a microscope.
- Mohs surgery: A highly specialized technique used primarily to treat skin cancer by removing thin layers of tissue and examining them immediately to ensure all cancer cells are eliminated.
Many dermatologists continue their education through fellowship training once medical school and residency are complete. This additional period of study allows them to concentrate on a particular area of care and refine their expertise.
For some doctors, that path leads to academic research or teaching. Others focus on specialized clinical practice, working with patients who require highly targeted treatment and long-term care.
What Procedures Do Dermatologists Provide?
Dermatologists study and train to carry out a variety of procedures, such as:
- Biopsies: Dermatologists perform different biopsy procedures to diagnose or rule out conditions such as skin cancer.
- Chemical peels: This treatment removes damaged skin, rejuvenates new skin and reduces the signs of aging.
- Cosmetic injections: Dermatologists use cosmetic injections, such as fillers or Botox injections, to help reduce the appearance of sagging skin and wrinkles.
- Cryotherapy: A treatment for skin conditions like tumors, warts and skin tags.
- Dermabrasion: A dermatologist uses this exfoliating procedure to reduce the appearance of age spots, fine lines, precancerous skin patches and acne scars.
- Laser therapy: Laser therapy can be used to remove moles, warts, tattoos, sun spots, blemishes, acne scars, unwanted hair and wrinkles.
- Mohs surgery: Dermatologists use this type of skin cancer surgery to remove thin layers of tissue around a tumor while looking for signs of other cancer cells.
- Sclerotherapy: Dermatologists use sclerotherapy to treat varicose veins by injecting chemicals into damaged veins.
- Surgical excision: A dermatologist performs a surgical excision to remove growths like lesions, moles and skin tags.
- Tumescent liposuction: The removal of unwanted fat from certain areas of the patient’s body.
Dermatologist Education Requirements
Becoming a dermatologist takes passion, dedication and many years of medical training. The journey usually begins with a four-year undergraduate degree, often in science-focused subjects, such as biology or chemistry. From there, students apply to medical school and typically sit for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), an exam used by many medical schools to assess readiness for medical study.
Once admitted, future dermatologists often go on to complete 4-year Doctor of Medicine program. During these years, they study core medical science subjects like anatomy, pharmacology and pathology in Basic Science, before undertaking Clinical Medicine rotations in different hospital departments to gain hands-on clinical experience.
After medical school, new doctors move into postgraduate residency training, which typically last four years for dermatology. During or immediately following this period, future physicians must take and pass the USMLE Step 3 to become eligible for licensing in the U.S.
Some dermatologists continue their training even further. Fellowship programs allow them to focus on particular areas of skin medicine, such as dermatopathology, pediatric dermatology or Mohs surgery.
Want to Learn More?
Contact our admissions team to explore the medical school journey for future dermatologists.
How to Become a Dermatologist: Step-by-Step Guide
To become a dermatologist in the United States, you will need to have an up-to-date license. While requirements will slightly vary depending on the state, most require dermatologists to hold a degree from an accredited medical school, complete a dermatology residency program and pass the U.S. Medical Licensing Exams (USMLE). Therefore, to become a dermatologist, you will need to:
- Complete medical school and pass the first two parts of the USMLE.
- Complete your dermatology residency and pass the third part of the USMLE.
- Apply for a medical license (and complete any additional requirements needed to practice in your desired location).
How Long Does It Take to Become a Dermatologist?
It can take 12-13 years to become a dermatologist, depending on your level of specialization post-residency. This includes time spent as an undergraduate (4 years), in medical school (4 years) and completing residency (4 years). A fellowship will add extra time to your educational journey.
The path to dermatology practice can be accelerated by choosing certain medical education programs, such as MUA’s 6-Year BSc/MD Program, where students enter medical school directly out of high school and bypass the four years of undergraduate studies.
Residencies and Fellowships for Dermatologists
After completing medical school, dermatologists will typically spend the next four years in an ACGME-accredited dermatology school residency training program. There are 160+ accredited dermatology programs in the United States and Canada, and approximately 500 residents graduate every year.
Post-residency, a dermatologist can choose to pursue further schooling via specialized training in dermatopathology, micrographic surgery, pediatric dermatology or dermatologic oncology. This involves one year of training in an approved fellowship training program.
How Much Do Dermatologists Make?
The average dermatologist salary in the United States is $150,000 per year, equivalent to $76 per hour. Entry-level dermatology positions typically start at around $52,000 a year, while more experienced dermatologists can make up to $400,000+ a year.
Salary ranges vary considerably depending on your education, certifications and years of experience. Your geographical location can also impact how much you will make as a dermatologist. The table below shows the average salaries of dermatologists across various U.S. regions:
| Region | Annual Salary per Year |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | $350,000 |
| Missouri | $200,000 |
| South Carolina | $200,000 |
| Arkansas | $200,000 |
| Georgia | $200,000 |
| Colorado | $175,000 |
| New York | $158,000 |
| Tennessee | $150,000 |
| Texas | $146,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,000 |
Dermatologist Job Outlook and Career Growth
Dermatology remains a stable and well-respected medical career, with steady demand for specialists who diagnose and treat skin conditions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for physicians and surgeons, including dermatologists, was projected to grow by about 3% between 2024 and 2034, creating thousands of new roles across the healthcare system.
Several trends help explain this continued demand. An aging population often requires regular screening for conditions such as skin cancer, while awareness of skin health has led more patients to seek professional care for issues ranging from chronic eczema to suspicious moles. Cosmetic procedures also contribute to growth, as many patients visit dermatologists for treatments such as Botox injections, laser therapy and other appearance-focused services.
Some dermatologists join hospitals or large healthcare systems, while others build private practices and specialize in areas such as dermatologic surgery or dermatopathology. Over time, many physicians combine patient care with teaching, research or leadership roles within medical institutions.
Is Dermatology the Right Career for You?
To build a successful dermatologist career, you need to take a thorough and disciplined approach to your work and have strong observational skills. You also need an interest in medical science and research, as new technologies are constantly transforming how dermatologists assess, diagnose and treat.
Importantly, dermatology is one of the key medical and healthcare specialties that provide a high standard of job satisfaction and work-life balance. There are several reasons that people choose to become dermatology doctors, including:
- Standard full-time working hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Access to a wide variety of clinical cases
- Great work/life balance
- High rates of job satisfaction
What Skills Do You Need to Be a Dermatologist?
You should consider pursuing a career in dermatology if you have the following dermatologist requirements:
- Attention to detail: Dermatologists need to have excellent attention to detail to identify and track minor changes in a patient’s skin condition.
- Communication skills: Dermatologists must communicate diagnoses and treatment information to patients. They will need to speak and write clearly, and be able to listen carefully.
- Organization skills: Working with hundreds of patients every month requires a dermatologist to have excellent organizational and record-keeping skills.
- Problem-solving skills: Dermatologists need strong problem-solving skills to identify effective treatments when assessing skin conditions.
- Excellent memory: Dermatologists must have a strong memory to recall the thousands of health problems that can manifest on hair, nails and the skin, and to recognize the symptoms of these conditions.
- Enjoy making people look good: The cosmetic side of dermatology requires a dermatologist to feel good about making their patients look their best.
Continue Your Dermatology Journey at MUA
If you’re interested in becoming a dermatologist, we would love to help you get there!
We offer comprehensive medical education, hands-on training, individualized support and a variety of student services to help ensure that our aspiring physicians receive the opportunities they need to succeed in medicine.
In terms of structure, the MUA MD program features five semesters of classroom and lab-based learning on our Nevis campus, followed by five semesters of clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. You’ll benefit from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and learn in the Caribbean, before training at teaching hospitals in North America!
To learn more about MUA and the island of Nevis (home of our Basic Science campus), check out this video from Premier Mark Brantley:
If you have any questions or need any admissions-related support, please don’t hesitate to contact us or attend an upcoming event. Then when you’re ready to get started, click here to learn how to apply.
FAQs About Dermatology
While a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is a useful degree for those pursuing a career as a dermatologist, it is not required. In fact, you will likely still need to achieve a Doctor of Medicine or other higher-level medical degree. At MUA, those with an MBBS degree may be eligible to enter our MD program with advanced standing, which will help you progress more quickly along your pathway to a career in medicine. Learn more.
Dermatology is a competitive medical field due to all of the positive benefits associated with being a dermatologist, such as work/life balance, job satisfaction and workplace flexibility. As with all medical disciplines, it is important to choose a medical school with a proven track record of success in helping students secure post-graduate residencies.
The most “standard” dermatologist career pathway is to successfully complete a four-year undergraduate degree in a pre-medical field of study, an MD program at an accredited medical school and a 4-year dermatology residency program. MUA is proud to support students pursuing this pathway, as well as students who lack the usual (or any) undergraduate degree and who are pursuing alternative pre-medical pathways to a career in dermatology.
Yes, licensed dermatologists can perform operations like Mohs surgery and surgical excisions.
