Do I Need a Dermatologist?
From Heather Brannon, MD, former About.com Guide
Updated September 24, 2007
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
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The first thing you need to know about picking a dermatologist is that you may not actually need a dermatologist. In fact, there are several types of health care providers who can take care of basic skin conditions.
Types of Providers
The following are descriptions of the different levels of health care providers:- Nurse Practitioner - A registered nurse (RN) who has further training in diagnosing and treating patients. s a general rule, NP's are very interested in patient education.
- Physician Assistant - PA's have a 2-year training program instead of a 4-year medical school. Many specialize in certain fields just like doctors.
- Primary Care Doctor - An MD or DO who specializes in internal medicine, family practice, or pediatrics.
- Physician Specialist - Examples of specialists who take care of skin conditions include dermatologists, surgeons and allergists.
- Subspecialist - These specialties are the most narrow and require the most training. Examples are plastic surgery, dermatopathology, and Moh's micrographic surgery.
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