Our skin is the largest organ in our body, so how it looks and feels often shapes how we see ourselves and impacts our overall health. Dermatologists diagnose and treat skin issues, including serious health concerns, such as certain diseases and cancer. They help people regain confidence, feel their best, and possibly save lives. (Which is just plain awesome!)
Maybe you’ve dealt with a skin condition and want to make a difference, or you’re simply searching for a specialty that can be super rewarding. Either way, you’re onto what can be such a fulfilling career in so many ways.
However, as you look into becoming a dermatologist, you’ll soon discover that it takes a ton of time, hard work, and dedication. But if you have the dream and the drive, you can absolutely get there!
So, to help you decide if going all in on studying dermatology is right for you, I’ll guide you through everything you need to know about what a dermatologist does and how to become a dermatologist. I’ll cover exactly what you can expect, including education, training, costs, and more.
This post is all about finding out how to become a doctor.
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Learn How to Become a Dermatologist
What Does a Dermatologist Do?
Dermatologists are either allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) doctors who help people maintain the health of their skin. They specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions affecting the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membranes. They provide skin care-related medical, surgical, and cosmetic services.
Dermatologists diagnose and create treatment plans for many different skin conditions. Here are a few of the most common skin ailments a dermatologist will provide services for within their practice.
- Acne or Skin Blemishes: Help manage breakouts and improve skin clarity.
- Rashes on the Skin: Diagnose and prescribe treatment for relief.
- Skin Discoloration: Identify and treat spots or patches that alter skin tone.
- Lesions on the Skin: Evaluate unusual growths or changes on the skin for monitoring or removal.
- Skin Cancer: Diagnose and treat skin cancers, including biopsies and surgical procedures.
- Hair Loss: Investigate causes and provide regrowth solutions.
- Skin Infections: Diagnose and treat bacterial, fungal, or viral skin infections.
- Nail Problems: Address issues, including discoloration or separation in nails.
- Inflammatory Skin Conditions: Manage conditions such as eczema and psoriasis for symptom relief.
- Dermatitis: Tailor treatments for various skin irritations and allergic reactions.
A dermatologist’s day may consist of all or one of the following tasks.
- Patient consultation to take medical histories, conduct examinations, identify any skin irregularities, and discuss diagnoses.
- Treatment planning, which may include prescribing medications, performing surgeries, removing abnormalities, or taking biopsies for further analysis.
- Cosmetic procedures, including the use of lasers for treating birthmarks, Botox for wrinkles, and skin grafts for severe scarring.
- Follow-up care to ensure effective recovery and track progress.
Average Dermatologist Salary
On average, dermatologists enjoy one of the higher salary ranges in the medical field. Their annual salary averages about $342,860. However, these figures can vary widely from about $245,000 to $400,000, based on location, years of experience, and specialty focus.
Dermatologists in urban areas or regions with a high cost of living often earn more than those practicing in rural areas. Also, new dermatologists starting out may earn less as they establish their practices, but as they gain experience and build a reputation, their earning potential can increase significantly.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Dermatologist?
Becoming a dermatologist can take at least 12 years after graduating from high school. This time commitment includes being an undergraduate, attending medical school, and residency.
Here’s your educational path if you choose to pursue a career in dermatology.
- Undergraduate degree (4 years): Gain a bachelor’s degree and earn a solid score on the MCAT
- Medical school (4 years): MD students must pass Step 1 and Step 2 of the USMLE, and DO students must pass COMLEX-USA Level 1 and Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation (CE)
- Residency in dermatology (4 years)
- Pass the third part of the USMLE. Or, if earning your DO, pass the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA).
- Optional Fellowship training (1 to 2 years): To pursue a sub-specialty
- Get your license
- Become board certified
What to Major In to Become a Dermatologist?
Even if saying you’re “premed” sounds super fancy, premed in and of itself is not an actual major. Many students focus on biology or chemistry since they’ll give you a rock-solid foundation in the sciences. A strong science background will set you up for success in medical school and help you when you’re diagnosing skin conditions down the road.
However, if your heart leaps for something else, such as psychology, English, or art history, you can and should go this route. Just make sure you check off all the prerequisites like pre-med biology, chemistry, and physics courses for medical school, so you’re good to go.
Pro tip: It’s equally important to get involved in extracurricular activities. During your undergraduate studies, volunteer at local clinics, get involved with research projects and find a way to shadow a dermatologist. These experiences will help you understand the field better and will help get your application noticed. Plus, they’ll give you some amazing stories to share during application essays and interviews!
What Degree Do You Need to Be a Dermatologist?
The short answer is a Bachelor’s Degree and either an MD or a DO from an accredited medical school.
The path starts with earning your bachelor’s degree from your undergraduate college or university. You’ll next enter medical school to earn either an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree. Both degrees will prepare you to understand the human body and skin on a deeper level, but they have slightly different approaches. MDs usually take a more traditional route, while DOs focus on a holistic approach, incorporating the body’s systems and emphasizing preventive care.
Although not a degree per se, after medical school, you’re required to complete a residency, where you’ll get hands-on experience, working closely with patients and learning the ins and outs of skincare, diagnosing skin diseases, and performing treatments.
At the conclusion of these experiences, you will need to pass the board exams required to receive your license to practice medicine. If you want to specialize even further, you can complete an optional fellowship in any number of sub-specialties.
What Do Dermatologists Specialize In?
The field of dermatology covers a lot of ground, or well, skin. Since this field of medicine can treat all ages, from infants through the elderly, and a range of skin issues from cosmetic to carcinoma, dermatology residents and fellows often choose to select a specialty or sub-specialty.
Here’s a few of the many specializations you can select.
- Pediatric Dermatologist: Focus on skin conditions in infants and children.
- Medical Dermatologist: Treats a variety of skin diseases and conditions.
- Dermatologic Surgeon: Specializes in surgical procedures related to the skin.
- Dermatopathologist: Studies skin disease at a microscopic level.
- Cosmetic Dermatologist: Focuses on aesthetic treatments and procedures.
What is the Difference Between a Dermatologist and an Esthetician?
It’s easy to see how these two professions can be confused. They both focus on skincare and helping people look their best, but they come from totally different backgrounds.
Estheticians specialize in cosmetics, non-medical procedures, and skin treatments. They perform services to enhance the look of your skin but usually stick to simpler and less invasive procedures. To become an esthetician, you’ll typically undergo about 600 to 750 hours of training. Most programs don’t require a college degree, only a high school diploma or a GED. Estheticians make considerably less than dermatologists at around $44,000 a year on average.
Becoming a dermatologist requires a serious commitment of approximately 12 years of intense education and training! In addition, a dermatologist will gain an estimated 12,000 to 16,000 hours of hands-on patient care. They become experts in skin issues, treating everything from acne to skin cancer.
So, while both roles help keep our skin healthy and glowing, dermatology is the way to go if you’re more into deeply educating yourself about skin conditions and acquiring medical training. But esthetics might be your jam if you’re looking to get into the beauty side of things with a much shorter training path.
How Hard is it to Become a Dermatologist?
Spoiler alert: Being a dermatologist is a prestigious, rewarding, and well-paid career, but it’s also highly competitive and demanding.
Here’s the journey you’ll take on if you choose to become a dermatologist in a nutshell. (Ok, deep breath. Here goes!)
Undergraduate
You’ll start with earning a bachelor’s degree, nab all the pre-med requirements, participate in extracurriculars, volunteer, join clubs, and hustle down clinical experience and shadowing.
Then, while you study for months and score well on your MCAT, you’ll also take on researching and applying to medical school. However, getting accepted isn’t easy. You’ll need strong grades, superb letters of recommendation, and a killer personal statement to stand out just to get an interview.
Want to get a head-start on this? I have a completely FREE Premed Workshop where you learn the key strategies to get accepted into medical school. Including the step-by-step framework on how to write a compelling personal statement and EC descriptions – with lots of examples from successful applicants like myself!
Together, we’ll also cover all the oh-so-comon mistakes you want to avoid at all cost – so that you can maximize your chances of acceptances right off the bat!
Medical School
Then, once you get accepted into the medical school of your choice, you’ll need to study hard to earn your MD or DO and pass two of the three components of the licensure exams.
At the end of your fourth year, you’ll work on securing a residency in dermatology after passing the third licensing exam. And if you thought all that was challenging, here’s where it really gets competitive. Only about 80% of applicants match into a residency program. On average, over 25,000 students graduate from US medical schools in any given year, but only roughly 450 dermatology residency spots are available.
Residency/Fellowship
Let’s say, you’ve made it into a residency. Congratulations! But don’t let off the gas just yet because you’ll work long hours for little pay for the next two to three years. Upon completion of your residency training plus a possible extra year or two at a fellowship, you’re not quite done.
Board Certified
To officially practice as a dermatologist, you’ll have to apply for a license in the state where you want to work and get board certification. You become board-certified by knocking out the American Board of Dermatology (ABOD) exam.
Just a heads up, that board certification isn’t a one-and-done deal; you’ll need to renew it every ten years. And finally, to keep your license active and up to date, you’ll need to complete ongoing training and education. But hey, you’ve made it. You’re a dermatologist!
So yeah, it’s a tough road. But don’t let that scare you off! If you have a burning passion for dermatology, you can totally do it.
How Much Does it Cost to Become a Dermatologist?
The costs involved in becoming a dermatologist can get pretty pricey. However, many organizations offer scholarships for future healthcare professionals, especially if you want to work with underserved communities. Also, be sure to check out federal financial aid programs and grants, which can really lighten the load.
Here’s the breakdown of what you can expect financially on this path.
- Undergraduate: Tuition can vary based on where you choose to study, but a four-year degree can cost anywhere from $108,584 to $234,512, not including extra expenses and interest on student loans. You’ll also have to take on costs associated with the MCAT and fees for sending your applications to different medical schools.
- Medical school: On average, dermatology students graduate with more than $200,000 in student loan debt. Oof! And keep in mind the extra expenses such as textbooks, exam fees, and the costs associated with applying for residency that can sneak up on you.
- Residency: Now, you will get paid during your residency, and if you take on a fellowship, but it’s much lower compared to what you will earn later on. So while you’re gaining experience, it’s likely that your income won’t quite cut it when it comes to tackling all that debt and covering your living expenses.
However, keep in mind once you complete your education, dermatologists have some of the highest salaries and a bright job outlook, making it all worth it in the end.
The Bottom Line on How to Become a Dermatologist
Dermatologists make an enormous difference in people’s lives through their training to diagnose and treat a variety of skin issues. If you choose to pursue this field of medicine, you’ll be on the front lines of helping people boost their confidence and address potentially serious health concerns. How exciting is that?!?
However, know that this career path requires dedication, hard work, and a solid commitment to your education and training. You’ll be taking on a challenging journey, but it’s well worth the effort for the tons of rewards you’ll receive along the way in your training and your future career.
Hopefully, this guide has better prepared you to take those first steps into becoming a dermatologist. So, if you’re ready to help people look and feel their best in their own skin, best of luck on becoming a dermatologist!
Getting into a dermatology residency could be a separate blog post or even several blog posts. The first step begins years in advance where one loses weight if overweight. I did a random survey of residency websites, comparing family medicine with dermatology. Dermatology residents are less overweight based on random sampling of photos.
This was so helpful as an aspiring dermatologist. Thank you!