Dermatologists in Australia

A dermatologist is a qualified skin doctor who has obtained qualifications to specialize in the care of the skin and the diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair, scalp and nails. A dermatologist is also knowledgeable in the management of some cosmetic skin disorders such as hair loss and scars.

There are several subspecialties in dermatology and these include:

• Cosmetic dermatology. Cosmetic procedures are usually performed. Most dermatologists limit their practices to minimally invasive procedures.
• Dermatopathology. Dermatologists specialize in the pathology or the study and diagnosis of diseases of the skin.
• Immunodermatology. This field specializes in the treatment of immune-mediated skin diseases such as lupus and bullous pemphigoid.
• Mohs surgery. This focuses on the excision of skin cancers using tissue-sparing techniques. 
• Pediatric dermatology. This field encompasses skin diseases in the pediatric population.
• Teledermatology. Telecommunication techniques are used to exchange medical information via all kinds of media.

How to choose the right dermatologist

There are a lot of dermatologists in Australia. Finding the right dermatologist for you and your skin concerns can be a frustrating task. The best way to choose the right dermatologist for you is to do the following:

• First and foremost, know what your skin needs to have a clear idea of what kind of dermatologist is suitable for you.
• Ask your family physician for any referrals. He may know of specialized treatments and practices you may have missed in your research.
• Ask questions. Regular questions like if your insurance is acceptable, location, and patient referrals would give you a very good idea if your skin doctor is qualified or not.
• Know is subspecialty. There are several subspecialties in this branch of medicine and knowing his subspecialty might prove wise to avoid any wrong diagnosis or treatment.
• Know if the dermatologist has current certification. The dermatologist must be recognized by the Australasian College of Dermatologists.