A dermatologist (dur-meh-tol-uh-jist) is a doctor who specializes in treating the:
- Skin.
- Hair.
- Nails.
- Mucous membranes (e.g., lining inside the mouth, nose and eyelids.)
Dermatologists diagnose and treat more than 3,000 different diseases. These diseases include skin cancer, eczema, acne, psoriasis and nail infections.
Dermatologists also improve the appearance of their patients’ skin, hair and nails. For example, a dermatologist can help patients:
- Diminish wrinkles, age spots and other signs of aging.
- Have less noticeable acne scars.
- Look more like themselves after surgery to remove skin cancer.
Dermatologists see patients of all ages — from newborns to people older than 100 years of age.