What is Dermatology ?
Dermatology is the medical-surgical specialty that deals with all skin diseases (dermatoses). There are many:
- Some are infectious: viral, bacterial, mycotic, parasitic.
- Some are inflammatory and/or immuno-allergic: contact eczema, atopic dermatitis, certain urticaria, drug eruptions, some occupational dermatoses …
- Some are immunological: lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, bullous diseases, scleroderma, vasculitis, aphtosis, lichen planus. Notice that some common dermatoses are not completely understood: psoriasis, acne, rosacea, alopecia areata.
Dermatology is also involved in the pathology of hair, nails, and mucous membranes.
Taking care of cutaneous tumours is a major activity in the daily life of a dermatologist. Those tumors are either benign, like nevi (moles) or cysts, or malignant, like carcinomas or melanomas.