A dermatologist is a doctor who is trained to treat conditions that affect the skin, nails and hair. He or she is a medical professional that has four years of medical school as well as four years of dermatology residency to learn all he/she can about the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders. Some dermatologists do even further training to specialize in cosmetic dermatology, pediatric dermatology or skin cancer surgery known as Mohs surgery.

A dermatologist treats all times of skin conditions and may also be consulted for the ideal skin care method for all skin types and for people of different ages. Patients seek out a dermatologist for:

• The diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, moles and tumors of the skin
• The treatment of eczema, dermatitis and other possible skin inflammatory conditions
• The diagnosis of infectious diseases of the skin
• The performance of skin biopsies
• The surgical treatment of any skin condition
• The use of the latest technologies, such as lasers, in the treatment of skin, hair and nail conditions.
• The treatment of cosmetic skin conditions such as skin aging

Your primary care physician may suggest that you see a dermatologist or you may seek one out on your own. When choosing a dermatologist, make certain that he/she is a board certified dermatologist. If you are looking for a dermatologist to perform cosmetic treatments such as Botox or lasers, ask if he/she underwent training for cosmetic dermatology.