How to Become a Skin Doctor?

Skin, the essential organ that secures our body. It is the organ that binds our body and acts as an exterior shield. Apart from protecting us from foreign particles, the skin beautifies our body and also signals any disease or disturbance in it. Being conscious of the skin texture and condition is something very common among the masses of today. Whether it be freckles, acne, rashes, dark spots, or any other kind of skin-related problem, we all consult a specialist to fix it. The rise in various skin disorders, cosmetic procedures, and other treatments has increased the need for dermatologists, also known as Skin Doctors. Let us explore the essential layers of how to become a Skin Doctor through this blog.

Who is a Skin Doctor?

Your skin is the largest and heaviest organ in your body, and it serves a variety of tasks. It shields you from the elements, including heat, cold, germs, and harmful substances. Changes in the colour or feel of your skin might be an indication of a medical concern, therefore it’s also a good predictor of your overall health. It’s critical to look after your skin and be mindful of its general condition. Also known as Skincare specialists or Dermatologists, a Skin Doctor is a doctor who has expertise in the care of:

• Skin
• Hair
• Nails

They specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair, and nail problems, as well as aesthetic issues such as hair loss and scars.

What does a Skin Doctor do?

The job of a skin doctor ranges from a number of tasks right from taking case histories to preparing treatment plans for patients. The following are a few duties that a skin doctor carries out.

• Dermatologists meet with patients, record their case histories, examine them, and analyze their core problems.
• Once the main disorder is assessed, dermatologists then discuss the diagnoses with them and then prepare a suitable treatment plan. The treatment could be a one-time prescription or medications for a period of time. 
• In certain cases, skin doctors might also address and analyze concerns related to cosmetics like birthmarks, wrinkles, acne, scars, pigmentation, etc. These can be treated using Botox, skin grafting, laser treatments, etc. depending on the patient’s requirement and consent.

Skin Doctors often perform specialized diagnostic procedures related to skin conditions. They use treatments including:

• Externally applied or injected medicines
• Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy
• A range of dermatologic surgical procedures, such as mole removal and skin biopsies
• Cosmetic procedures, such as chemical peels, sclerotherapy and laser treatments

Note: In certain treatments, after the following steps are completed, dermatologists then track the patient’s record for optimal results. They may call the patient for follow-up sessions to check and determine improvement.

Read more about Dermatology Courses to become a Dermatologist or a Skin Doctor!

Common Conditions that Skin Doctors Treat

Some of the most common conditions a dermatologist may treat include:

• Acne
• Eczema
• Hair loss
• Nail fungus
• Psoriasis
• Skin cancer
• Rosacea

Required Skills to Become a Skin Doctor

To become a skin specialist, one must possess certain skills in order to do justice to the field. Even though most of the skills can be developed over a period of time, after completing a degree in the field. Given below are some of the crucial skills for candidates who aspire to become successful skin doctors:

• The student should be passionate about his/her career as a dermatologist.
• The person must have the patience to study and treat the patients.
• The student must possess the skill of active Listening to treat people in the right way.
• The aspirant must possess the ability to work longer hours.
• The candidate needs to have good problem-solving skills, good eyesight, and agility to perform hand-related tasks in their training in a hospital or medical centre on biopsy, skin surgery, etc. 
• The aspirant must be good with subjects like English and the toughest science subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Pathology, Anatomy, Microbiology, and Biology.

How to Become a Skin Doctor?

The path toward becoming a successful Skin Doctor requires a lot of effort, but it is a rewarding career option. People who wish to become dermatologists must prepare for their goal right after the 12th. The following steps can help you know how to become a skin doctor after the 12th.

1. You must pass your 12th in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/ Biotechnology (PCB) with an aggregate of 50% from a recognized institution.
2. You must possess a good NEET UG score.
3. You must admit yourself for an MBBS degree to complete 4 years of medical school
4. The next step is to acquire or do 1 year of an internship to get in dermatology and other fields.
5. Post internship, 3 years of residency or continued training concentrating on the field of dermatology is also important.
6. Aspirants can also aspire to pursue a masters degree in the field of Dermatology and pursue degrees like MSc in dermatology or MD.
7. For further, specializations, you will require an MCh degree from an approved institution by the Medical Council of India. The subjects included in the specializations are Cardiothoracic, Plastic Surgery, Urology, etc.
8. Following that, applicants can aim for a fellowship of 1-2 years. Although a fellowship is not required, it does provide further training in a dermatology specialism.
9. At last, acquiring a license to practice in this field of study is also a very important step in becoming a Skin Doctor. 

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Dermatologist Courses without MBBS 

The path toward becoming a successful Skin Doctor requires a lot of effort, but it is a rewarding career option. If you plan to become the same, it is important to select a program that will provide a base to meet your licensing requirements. Given below is a list of globally recognized Dermatology courses without MBBS:

1. Diploma in Dermatology
2. Diploma in Skin and Venereology and Dermatology
3. Diploma in Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy
4. Postgraduate Diploma in Venereology and Leprosy
5. Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Cosmetology
6. BSc Dermatology
7. MSc Dermatology
8. PhD (Dermatology & Venerology)
9. PhD (Dermatology)
10. BSc in Clinical Dermatology
11. Bachelor of Dermal Science
12. M.Sc. in Skin Sciences and Regenerative Medicine
13. MPhil/PhD in Dermatological Sciences
14. PG Diploma in Practical Dermatology
15. Diploma in Advanced Skin Studies and Clinical Aesthetics
16. MSc. in Burn Case

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Popular Subjects

Mostly the diploma and bachelor programs of dermatology take 3-4years, while PGD and masters programs can be 1-2years long. Given below is a list of some of the important subjects that are usually taught in classes to become a Skin Doctor:

• Skin Biology and Common Disorders
• Clinical Practice
• Skin Systemic Disease, Hair, Nails and Oral Lesions
• Comprehensive Study Of Hair Removal And Ancillary Services
• Skin diseases in pregnancy, childhood, adolescence and old age
• Moles, Skin Cancers, Infections and Infestations
• Evaluation of pigmented lesions
• Actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma

Popular Universities to Become a Skin Doctor 

There are various educational institutions that offer diplomas, bachelor’s and master’s programs in Dermatology, and skin-related courses. Given below is a list of one of the renowned universities across the world:

Universities	QS Ranking 2023
University of South Wales	45
Cardiff University	166
South Thames College	–
University College Dublin	181
University of Nottingham	114
Boston University	108
Victoria University	701-750
Australian Academy of Cosmetic Dermal Science	–

Indian Colleges for Dermatology

Enlisted below are some of the most popular Indian medical colleges where aspirants can study Dermatology courses to become a Skin Doctor:

• CMC Vellore – Christian Medical College
• KMC Mangalore – Kasturba Medical College
• St Johns Medical College, Bangalore
• AIIMS Delhi – All India Institute of Medical Sciences New
• KMC Manipal – Kasturba Medical College
• MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore
• AFMC Pune – Armed Forces Medical College
• KPC Medical College and Hospital, Jadavpur
• Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi

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Employment Sectors and Job Prospects 

The demand for skin doctors in every corner of the world has increased the career opportunities for students pursuing a course in the very field. Studying a course in dermal sciences from leading and renowned universities from abroad has various benefits. Let’s look at some of the job profiles, which students can pursue after completion of the course:

Job Profile	Average Salary
Skin Specialist	12 Lakh
Cosmetic Surgeon	20 Lakh
Dermatology Consultant	16.5 Lakh
Pediatric Dermatologists	18.5 Lakh
Tele Dermatologists	16.5 Lakh
Medical Representative	15 Lakh
Dermatology Professor	18 Lakh
Clinical Application Specialist	6 Lakh

Salary Trend

The initial average salary of a skin doctor is INR 10 Lakhs p.a. Further, with 5-10 years of experience and work, dermatologists can earn up to INR 15 Lakh-20 Lakhs. The salary of a highly professional and experienced dermatologist can also go up to INR 30 Lakhs to 40 Lakhs. 

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FAQs

We hope this blog convinced you to become a skin doctor! Do you know universities abroad offer Dermatologist courses with great exposure? If you are pondering upon the study abroad possibilities to pursue this course then let Leverage Edu be your helping hand. Our experts will resolve all your queries and help you build an awesome career!