By Chad Barnes, July 26, 2024
Dermatology to most people is simply a medical field that focuses on the skin but this is not the case. Dermatology has several different subcategories but in this blog, we will only explain the four most common subcategories. These four categories are Pediatric Dermatology, Cosmetic Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Mohs Surgery. Pediatric Dermatology is the branch of dermatology that provides medically necessary treatment for kids. Typically pediatric dermatologists work with children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema, or other conditions. Cosmetic Dermatology is the branch of dermatology that provides treatment to improve the appearance of the skin. Cosmetic Dermatology is not a necessary aspect of maintaining healthy skin. Some examples of cosmetic dermatology are botox, dermal fillers, laser treatment, and chemical peels. Dermatopathology is the branch of dermatology that combines dermatology with pathology. Dermatopathology allows dermatologists to examine samples of skin, hair, or nails under a microscope to study the causes and effects of diseases in hopes of accurately diagnosing them in their earliest stages. Mohs Surgery is the branch of dermatology that someone who has been diagnosed with skin cancer would be referred to for treatment. The acronym MOHS stands for Micrographically oriented histographic surgery.
Over a few decades, the world of dermatology has had several breakthroughs that now allow us to provide patients with more effective and efficient medication. One of the more popular treatments for severe acne in the early 1980s was Isotretinoin, now more commonly known as Accutane, which is an oral prescription medication that is used to treat severe acne, became a staple for young adults but then the development of tretinoin revealed that the medication can be used to treat wrinkles and reverse skin aging. Tretinoin remains a frequently prescribed product now amongst cosmetic dermatologists. Another breakthrough in dermatology was the use of pulsed dye lasers which are used to remove vascular malformations like birthmarks. Pulsed dye lasers use yellow light that is converted into heat and then absorbed by abnormal blood vessels. The lasers began to expand from being solely used for removing birthmarks to tattoos, hair removal, scar management, and laser-assisted drug delivery. They are now even used on children as they do not create a risk of scarring or pigmentary changes like previous methods.
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