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Dermatologists

Dermatologists is the O*NET name for people who diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. The strongest interest signal is Investigative (6.4 of 7), then Realistic (4.8) and Social, which gives it the code IRS. The preparation level is extensive preparation, typically graduate school and often five years or more of related experience. O*NET’s skill data points to critical thinking, service orientation, and active listening as the ones to build. A regular part of the work is to conduct complete skin examinations. You may also need to diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma. People who want research, analysis and working through hard problems usually fit better here than those who need leading, persuading and making business decisions.

What they do

Diagnose and treat diseases relating to the skin, hair, and nails. May perform both medical and dermatological surgery functions.

Main tasks

  • Conduct complete skin examinations.
  • Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.
  • Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.
  • Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.
  • Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.
  • Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.

Skills

  • Critical Thinking
  • Service Orientation
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Reading Comprehension

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on critical thinking and service orientation.

May not suit you if

  • You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
  • You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 1.8 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code IRS takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Doctoral Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Board Certified Dermatologist
  • Dermatologist MD (Dermatologist Medical Doctor)
  • Dermatologist Physician
  • Dermatopathologist
  • Doctor

Related careers

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.