Does anybody know???

[Ruthey]

Does anybody know what dermatology entails? Im' still a little confused. There are loads of different types of doctors out there but is dermatology just looking at the skin or are there other things involved with it as well? I'd be greatful if someone who is studying dermatology repiles but all information is welcomed.

Ruth

[Spencer Wells]

I'm a med sctudent about to start his clinical studies, but I've been working in a dermatology firm over the summer. Dermatologists deal with all aspect of diseases of the skin, which range from relatively common conditions such as eczema, to skin cancer and extremely rare lethal genetic conditions, such as epidermolysis bullosa. Management of the patient as a whole is usually organised by a paediatrician (we have 1 on our firm), with the dermatologist looking pretty exclusively at the skin. Most conditions are not life threatening, but can be extremely uncomfortable/disfuguring and extremely treateable, so satisfaction is high. There are also few dermatological emergencies, so it's very conducive to family life, and there is quite a big scope for private practice, especially in London. There is a joke in medicine (usually told by surgeons) that all that dermatologists do is toss a coin, with steroids written on one side and no-steroids written on the other, and I would have to say that, for the most poart, this is quite true. Dermtologists aren't held with too high regard by other doctors, but the teams are very multidisciplinary. You will have to work closely with plastic surgeons, paediatricians, GPs, dieticians, physiotherapists etc.. I would suggest that you try and get exposure to dermatology (through shadowing/work experience) to try and decide whether you like it.

[Ruthey]

SIZE=4]Hey thanks for that Spencer. I live in Essex and I don't think there are any dermatolgical clinics in the area. Would you advice that I start writing to hospatials to see if I can shadow or get some work experiance. Do have a list of any places that don't mind taking people on?

[Spencer Wells]

Well I know for a fact that there is a dermatologist at Oldchurch Hospital is Romford.