
Your skin is the largest organ on your body. It’s your body’s first line of defense against disease and it protects all your other organs. That’s why having a dermatologist in your life is important. And dermatologists don’t just check our skins – they can perform skin surgery and identify and treat over 3000 conditions that affect our skin, hair, and nails. There’s a lot more to dermatologists than you think…
Dermatologists Can Save Lives
Here are some of just a few things a dermatologist might do on a daily basis according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD):
- Treat a baby’s prominent birthmark that threatens the child’s eyesight
- Remove a mother’s deadly melanoma at its earliest, most treatable stage
- Offer relief for a student whose chronic eczema makes sleep nearly impossible
- Diagnose the life-threatening liver condition causing a grandfather’s unbearable itching
- Treat the hair loss of a young woman, helping her gain the confidence to complete a job search
Wow, that’s a lot more than I knew before I did this research. I traditionally associated dermatologists with checking my skin every year to make sure I have no irregularities. I didn’t think too much beyond that.
But dermatologists also have a big impact on your health, well-being, and confidence. Skin cancer can be deadly but if caught early by a dermatologist can be treated. Also your skin is the first thing people see so it affects our confidence. Having good skin makes us feel better.
Dermatologists Train Intensely
Dermatologist are some of the most highly trained doctors. They go through at least 12 years of study and training and even more if they pursue more advanced training.
Their training includes four years of college + four years of medical school + one year of residency + at least three years of dermatology residency. And if someone wants to specialize further in their field they go through years of fellowship training.
Choosing a Dermatologist
One thing you definitely want to look for according to the AAD is a board certified dermatologist. What’s this? Well a board certified dermatologist must complete a challenging exam that tests their knowledge and skills after their years of training. This test is usually taken after a dermatologist’s residency.
It’s important to note that there are several groups that offer certification and the AAD considers board certification from the American Board of Dermatology, the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to be the best and most trusted.
One way to know if your dermatologist is board certified is they typically will have FAAD appear after their name. FAAD stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Of course, you might want to double check their board certification.
Care For Your Skin
Now that you understand how experienced and vital dermatologists are – make sure to schedule regular skin care checkups. Their knowledge is amazing.
For even more skin care love and protection tips check out our Skin Care series.