dermatology

Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin. It is a specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist medical doctor who has undergone advanced training (typically 4 years beyond medical school) and manages diseases related to skin. Dermatological conditions, including inflammatory diseases, infections, cancers, hair loss, and cosmetic issues are common in the population, and sometimes difficult to diagnose or treat, requiring the services of a dermatologist. In addition to these routine issues, some conditions such as serious burns, angiodema, necrotizing fasciitis, and Stevens–Johnson syndrome are life-threatening dermatological emergencies. Dermatological interventions include systemic and topical medications, surgery, radiation, and physical modalities such as cryosurgery or laser therapy.

==Etymology== Attested in English in 1819, the word "dermatology" derives from the Greek δέρματος (dermatos), genitive of δέρμα (derma), "skin" (itself from δέρω dero, "to flay") and -λογία -logia. Neo-Latin dermatologia was coined in 1630, an anatomical term with various French and German uses attested from the 1730s.