Dermatology (from Greek derma, "skin") is a branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its appendages (hair, nails, sweat glands etc). A medical doctor who specializes in dermatology is a dermatologist. The surgical practice of dermatology is dermasurgery.

Scope of the field

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Dermatologists are physicians (medical doctors) specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and tumors of the skin and its appendages. There are medical and surgical sides to the specialty. Dermasurgeons practice skin cancer surgery (including Mohs' micrographic surgery), laser surgery, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and cosmetic procedures using botulinum toxin ('Botox'), soft tissue fillers, sclerotherapy and liposuction. Dermatopathologists interpret tissue under the microscope (histopathology). Pediatric dermatologists specialize in the diagnoses and treatment of skin disease in children. Immunodermatologists specialize in the diagnosis and management of skin diseases driven by an altered immune system including blistering (bullous) diseases like pemphigus. In addition, there are a wide range of congenital syndromes managed by dermatologists.

Training Program

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More on [ Dermatology ]

Archives of Dermatology current issue

Panniculitis With Arthralgia in Patients With Melanoma Treated With Selective BRAF Inhibitors and Its Management [Observation]
Zimmer, L., Livingstone, E., Hillen, U., Domkes, S., Becker, A., Schadendorf, D. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:41:59 -0800
Background  Painful lobular panniculitis appears to be a novel cutaneous adverse effect of selective BRAF inhibitors. Observation  We report the clinical course and management in 2 women with metastatic melanomas harboring the BRAFV600E mutation, who developed panniculitis with arthralgia during therapy with selective oral BRAF inhibitors. Panniculitis with arthralgia was the acute presenting adverse effect in both patients. Painful, red, nodular lesions were located on the upper and lower extremities. Biopsy specimens of the nodules showed a mild, predominantly lobular neutrophilic panniculitis. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment improved panniculitis and arthralgia in both cases. It was also necessary to reduce the BRAF inhibitor dose in 1 patient. Conclusions  During therapy with selective BRAF inhibitors, panniculitis with arthralgia represents a new adverse effect that can require dose reduction. In case of this adverse effect, treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as etoricoxib, should be initiated early to keep patients on treatment and to avoid drug discontinuation and tumor progression.
Phase I Clinical Trial of O6-Benzylguanine and Topical Carmustine in the Treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, Mycosis Fungoides Type [Study]
Apisarnthanarax, N., Wood, G. S., Stevens, S. R., Carlson, S., Chan, D. V., Liu, L., Szabo, S. K., Fu, P., Gilliam, A. C., Gerson, S. L., Remick, S. C., Cooper, K. D. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:41:48 -0800
Objectives  To evaluate the toxic effects and maximum tolerated dose of topical carmustine [1,3-bis (2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea] following intravenous O6-benzylguanine in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and to determine pharmacodynamics of O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase activity in treated CTCL lesions. Design  Open-label, dose-escalation, phase I trial. Setting  Dermatology outpatient clinic and clinical research unit at a university teaching hospital. Patients  A total of 21 adult patients (11 male, 10 female) with early-stage (IA-IIA) refractory CTCL, mycosis fungoides type, treated with topical carmustine following intravenous O6-benzylguanine. Intervention  Treatment once every 2 weeks with 120 mg/m2 intravenous O6-benzylguanine followed 1 hour later by whole-body, low-dose topical carmustine starting at 10 mg, with 10-mg incremental dose-escalation in 3 patient cohorts. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma lesional skin biopsy specimens were taken at baseline and 6 hours, 24 hours, and 1 week after the first O6-benzylguanine infusion for analysis of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase activity. Main Outcome Measures  Clinical response measured by physical examination and severity-weighted assessment tool measurements, safety data acquired by review of adverse events at study visits, and O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase activity in treated lesion skin biopsy specimens. Results  A minimal toxic effect was observed through the 40-mg carmustine dose level with 76% of adverse events being grade 1 based on the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Mean baseline O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase activity in CTCL lesions was 3 times greater than in normal controls and was diminished by a median of 100% at 6 and 24 hours following O6-benzylguanine with recovery at 1 week. Clinical disease reduction correlated positively with O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase activity at 168 hours (P = .02) and inversely with area under the curve of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase over 1 week (P = .01). Twelve partial responses and 4 complete responses were observed (overall response, 76% [95% CI, 0.55-0.89]). Five patients discontinued therapy owing to adverse events with a possible, probable, or definite relationship to the study drug. Conclusion  O6-benzylguanine significantly depletes O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase in CTCL lesions and in combination with topical carmustine is well tolerated and shows meaningful clinical responses in CTCL at markedly reduced total carmustine treatment doses. Trial Registration  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00003613
Trends in Melanoma Mortality Among Non-Hispanic Whites by Educational Attainment, 1993-2007 [Study]
Cokkinides, V. E., Geller, A. C., Jemal, A. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:41:37 -0800
Objective  To evaluate overall trends in melanoma mortality rates among non-Hispanic whites by educational level. Design  Descriptive study. Setting  Death certificate records from 26 states, representing approximately 45% of the US population as reported by the National Center for Health Statistics, with recorded educational level information and population data from the US Bureau of Census Current Population Survey. Patients  Recorded deaths from malignant melanoma in non-Hispanic whites reported from 1993 through 2007. Main Outcome Measures  Age-standardized mortality rates for melanoma were evaluated by educational attainment (a marker of socioeconomic status) among non-Hispanic whites (aged 25-64 years) from 1993 through 2007. Rate ratios assessed the time trend in age-adjusted death rates by sex and educational level. Mortality differentials in educational level were measured using the regression-based Relative Index of Inequality. All statistical tests were 2-sided. Results  Melanoma mortality declined significantly between 1993-1997 and 2003-2007 in men (RR [rate ratio], 0.916; 95% CI, 0.878-0.954; P < .001) and women (RR, 0.907; 95% CI, 0.857-0.957; P < .001). However, these declines occurred only among the most educated persons (≥13 years of education irrespective of sex), and nonsignificant increases were found among the least-educated individuals, specifically men (P = .17). As a result, the Relative Index of Inequality by education in melanoma mortality in 2003-2007 relative to 1993-1997 (baseline) widened by 51.7% in men and by 35.7% in women. Conclusions  Recent declines in melanoma mortality rates among non-Hispanic whites in the United States mainly reflect declines among the most-educated individuals. The widening disparities in melanoma mortality rates by education calls for early detection strategies to effectively target high-risk, less-educated, non-Hispanic white individuals.

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