Dermatology is the field of medicine that deals with diseases and changes in human skin. The diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases may also fall within the scope of dermatology. In 2012, there were more than 5300 practicing dermatologists in Germany.
What is dermatology?
Dermatology is the field of medicine that deals with diseases and changes in human skin. Dermatology is one of the specialties in medicine and deals with the diagnosis, treatment, research and prevention of skin diseases. These include infections as well as non-infectious diseases, which also include tumors and other skin changes. After completing their medical studies, prospective dermatologists must complete 60 months of further training to become specialists. Here they can specialize in one of the sub-specialties of dermatology, for example dermatoallergology, dermatosurgery or venereology (this field deals primarily with sexually transmitted diseases). Dermatologists can work in clinics as well as in their own medical practices.
Treatments and therapies
Dermatology comes into play whenever diseases or changes in the human skin are involved. The treatment spectrum of the specialty begins with comparatively harmless diseases such as acne and extends to allergic skin reactions and infections of various kinds to skin cancer. Acute injuries caused by burns or chemical burns are also included. Patients usually consult a dermatologist when they notice a change in the skin on one or more parts of the body. This can be, for example, permanent itching, swelling or a rash. Massive skin blemishes that cannot be removed or dandruff or psoriasis are also a case for the dermatologist. Often, patients are also referred to the specialist by their family doctor if he or she determines that the condition falls within the scope of dermatology treatment. In principle, all changes in the skin can be presented to the dermatologist, even if they are possibly only the symptom of an existing disease that is not directly related to the skin. This is the case, for example, with numerous allergic reactions. The reason for the sometimes persistent wheals and swellings, which are not infrequently associated with itching, is an allergy to a certain substance. The reaction on the skin is only a symptom and therefore not a skin disease in the true sense. Since the specialties of medicine overlap in many cases, there are also specialists within dermatology who have been optimally trained for such overlapping diseases. These include, for example, dermatosurgeons, dermatooncologists or dermatoallergologists.
Diagnosis and examination methods
At the beginning of a dermatological examination is a detailed conversation with the patient. In this, the exact complaints and possible triggers can be discussed. The patient’s medical history is also taken into account during the examination, as it can provide information about previous conditions or individual risks. The dermatologist then examines the affected skin areas. A blood test, often together with a smear or a tissue sample, helps with the diagnosis. In the laboratory, the exact cause of the symptoms can be determined. Once it has been determined which disease is involved, the appropriate treatment can be initiated. Mild complaints may already be cured with ointments or medicinal baths. In the case of allergic reactions, the symptoms are treated first, followed by the allergy itself. This usually involves avoiding the triggering substance; desensitization is often also carried out. If an infection is present, an antibiotic or similar medication is prescribed to eliminate the pathogen. A skin change caused by or suggestive of cancer, for example, can be surgically removed. If it is indeed a malignant skin tumor, radiation may also take place along with chemotherapy. Dermatologists thus work with numerous different devices and substances, all of which are found in other branches of medicine.Depending on the severity of the disease and the type and intensity of the therapy, treatment can be carried out either as an outpatient in the practice or as an inpatient in a clinic.
