If you’re curious about dermatology, then this post is for you.
Dermatology is one of the most popular and competitive medical fields out there for many reasons. It offers a great work-life balance, pays extremely well, and is something that is easy to be passionate about (guess who wants to be one lol).
However, pursuing the medical field is something to be seriously thought about, and dermatology is no exception. That’s why in this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know about dermatology, from pay to education required!
After this post, you’ll be ready to make an informed decision about whether or not this medical field is for you! If you want content like this on your Pinterest feed and in your inbox, follow The Anagha Edit on Pinterest and subscribe!
All About Dermatology:
To start off, let’s go over the basics: what exactly is dermatology? And why is it important?
Dermatology is a field of medicine that deals with all things skin, cosmetic and medical/surgical. While many people think of dermatologists as nothing more than “pimple poppers”, they can do so much more than that. Dermatologists deal with the diagnosis and treatment of serious skin conditions such as skin cancer.
There are different types of dermatologists, which shows the variety that is found within this field. Cosmetic dermatologists deal with elective skin procedures and improving the appearance of the skin. Pediatric dermatologists work with children and their skin issues. And surgical dermatologists focus on essential surgical procedures to treat the skin (these types of dermatologists often deal with skin cancer).
Whether they save someone’s life from cancer or someone’s confidence from acne, dermatologists are an essential part of healthcare (hence the growing demand and competition)!
The Requirements:
Like any other medical profession, dermatologists have to go through a long journey to become a practicing doctor.
They first have to get a bachelor’s degree, which will take 3-4 years. While this degree can technically be in any field, most people choose to get a degree in a science field like biology or chemistry (or something related). During this time, they have to take and pass the MCAT, an exam medical schools consider for entrance.
Then, the aspiring doctor has to go through medical school, which will take 4 years. Most students looking to practice dermatology get an MD (medical degree). During this time, you have to take two parts of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE)! You also do rotations in different medical specialties!
After this, the aspiring dermatologist completes a 4-year long residency, with the first year spent as an intern then three years in clinical residency. At the end of residency, you have to take the last part of the USMLE to practice dermatology!
Finally, you have to apply for a license in the state which you wish to practice in! You can also complete a fellowship in a dermatology specialty, such as pediatric dermatology or procedural dermatology!
At the end of the day, the minimum amount of time it takes to become a full-fledged dermatologist is 12 years (4 years each for undergrad, medical school, and residency)!
The Details:
Dermatologists have a pretty normal 9-5 schedule, and their day consists of a lot of patient work (if you have your own practice, there’s extra business work that goes into that)! Dermatology requires the use of skills such as communication, attention to detail, problem-solving, and dexterity. Regardless of what type of dermatologist you are, all of them deal with skin concerns from melasma to acne to skin cancer.
Since most patients who see this type of doctor are cognizant of the issue and want to fix it, it’s extremely easy for dermatologists to treat these patients!
The $$$:
A big benefit of entering a medical profession is the financial security it provides, and dermatology is no exception. According to Indeed, a dermatologist earns on average roughly $300,000 per year.
I know, right?
And on top of it, the field expects a 12% job growth rate through 2030! Dermatology is also a great field because there are so many different ways you can earn money: for example, you could work at a private practice or public hospital, or even open your own practice!
The Benefits:
Now, it’s time to get into the nitty gritty. There’s definitely a multitude of reasons why dermatology is one of the most sought-after medical specialties. For one, it has extremely normal hours, with most dermatologists not having to be on call and working 40ish hours a week (it has one of the highest satisfaction rates amongst dermatologists)! It also allows for a lot of independence and opportunities (such as having your own practice). Another big plus is that due to the competition and increasing want for a dermatologist’s services, they’re one of the top paid medical specialties!
Fun fact: dermatology makes up the “D” in ROAD, an acronym for radiology, ophthalmology, anesthesiology, and dermatology! The specialties in this acronym are characterized by high competition but also high salaries and good work-life balance!
At the end of the day, if you feel dermatology is something you could see yourself doing, I highly recommend looking into it even more!
My Dermatology Dreams/Motivation For YOU:
I wanted to close off this blog post on a more personal note as I shared my connection to this field of medicine and hopefully some motivation for you! I’ve wanted to be a doctor now for nearly 6 years and a dermatologist for 4-5 years! I first became enthralled with this field of medicine when I first started getting acne. I saw the impact that the state of my skin had on me, and I knew I wasn’t alone. It’s actually a big reason why I started this blog: share my knowledge and connect with other people about stuff like this! Someday, I hope to be living my dream: still having The Anagha Edit and my own dermatology practice (fingers crossed lol)!!
And now, about you 🙂 I hope this blog post was helpful and informative! I also hope you left with some more information about dermatology that maybe inspired you to check out this field more closely. Regardless of whether or not you want to become a dermatologist, I hope you achieve your dreams and more: you deserve it!
However, if you do want to go into the medical field, I’m manifesting all the motivation for you. It’s definitely a long, strenuous journey, but the reward is so so worth it! All the best!