Dermatologist

Skin isn’t just the human body’s largest organ. In many ways, it’s also its most spectacular. After all, skin is equal parts armor and interface, capable of being cut, burned, stretched, blistered and bruised, then miraculously repaired and regenerated. Like a Bodyguard for your anatomy, it keeps the good stuff in and the bad stuff out.

Still, skin is imperfectly permeable and surprisingly sensitive, given its tough veneer. Like a sweater, it can be unraveled, stained and snagged. If you’re a Dermatologist, therefore, that makes you a sort of Seamstress for the skin.

A Doctor who specializes in skin, hair and nails, Dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions such as acne, dermatitis, skin cancer, eczema, warts and psoriasis. Typically, that means examining patients visually, then collecting physical samples of blood, tissue or skin that you’ll examine under a microscope or send to a laboratory for analysis. Either way, once a diagnosis is made Dermatologists will administer treatments, including systemic drugs, such as antibiotics; topical medications, such as ointments, balms, creams and lotions; surgery, including procedures to remove and modify skin tissue; or in-office treatments, like laser solutions and light therapy.

Because you’re a skin specialist, you’ll also offer cosmetic treatments for conditions such as aging, baldness, body odor, scars and varicose veins, administering treatments like Botox and chemical peels for wrinkles, or radiofrequency for cellulite.

Whether you’re dealing with adolescent pimples, serious skin tumors or stubborn crow’s feet, your job is to help people put their best face forward, the result of which is at once healthy and beautiful.