- Medical Dermatology
Medical dermatology is a branch of medicine focused on diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions affecting the skin, hair, and nails, encompassing everything from common issues like acne and eczema to skin cancers, infections, autoimmune disorders, and hair loss, often involving internal medicine links and minor procedures like biopsies or injections. Dermatologists are specialist doctors who manage these diverse conditions, using topical/oral medications, light therapy, or minor surgeries for treatment.
It covers:
- Inflammatory conditions: Eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, dermatitis, hives.
- Infections: Fungal (ringworm), bacterial (impetigo), viral (warts), and parasitic.
- Skin Cancers: Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (diagnosis and removal).
- Hair & Nail Disorders: Hair loss, excessive hair growth, nail infections.
- Pigmentation Disorders: Vitiligo, melasma.
- Autoimmune skin diseases: Lupus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma.
- Systemic connections: Recognizing skin symptoms that internal diseases.
Common procedures:
- Skin biopsies (to diagnose).
- Cryotherapy (freezing).
- Curettage & cautery (scraping and burning).
- Minor excisions (surgical removal of lesions).
- Injections (e.g., steroids for cysts).
Treatments used:
- Topical creams (steroids, antibiotics).
- Oral medications (antibiotics, immunosuppressants).
- Light (UV) therapy.
- Advanced therapies (lasers, peels, Mohs surgery for skin cancer).
A cosmetic dermatologist is a fully qualified medical doctor (MD) specializing in skin health who focuses on aesthetic improvements, using procedures like lasers, fillers, and peels, distinct from a general dermatologist who treats medical skin diseases; they blend medical expertise with cosmetic treatments for appearance enhancement.
Cosmetic Dermatology vs. Medical Dermatology
- Cosmetic Dermatology: Focuses on appearance enhancement (anti-aging, scar reduction, rejuvenation) using aesthetic procedures like Botox, fillers, chemical peels, and lasers.
- Medical Dermatology: Focuses on diagnosing and treating skin diseases (acne, psoriasis, eczema, infections).
- Cosmetic Dermatologists: Are both; they handle medical conditions and offer cosmetic treatments, combining both aspects.
What They Do (Cosmetic Focus)
- Injectables: Botox (neuromodulators) for wrinkles, Dermal Fillers (hyaluronic acid, fat) for volume.
- Laser Treatments: For hair removal, skin resurfacing, tattoo removal.
- Chemical Peels: To improve skin texture and tone.
- Microneedling & Radiofrequency: For skin tightening and scar treatment.
Key Difference: Dermatologist vs. Cosmetologist
- Dermatologist: A medical doctor (MD) treating skin diseases and aesthetics.
- Cosmetologist: A beauty professional for non-medical beauty treatments (hair, nails, makeup); not a medical doctor.
- 3. Aesthetic Dermatology
An aesthetic clinic offers treatments to enhance appearance (like lasers, fillers), often with cosmetic dermatologists (focused on beauty) and medical dermatologists (focused on skin health/disease), providing services from acne treatment to anti-aging, with many clinics in Nashik featuring both specialities for comprehensive skin care.
Key Terms Explained
- Aesthetic Clinic: A facility offering cosmetic procedures for appearance enhancement (e.g., skin tightening, laser hair removal, injectables).
- Cosmetic Dermatologist: A dermatologist specializing in aesthetic treatments to improve beauty and youthfulness, often using non-surgical methods.
- Medical Dermatology: Focuses on diagnosing and treating skin diseases (like eczema, psoriasis, acne) to improve overall skin health.
- Aesthetic Dermatology: The blend of both, where dermatology expertise is used for cosmetic goals, says the Dermatology Center of Acadiana.
Examples of Clinics in Nashik (Based on Search Results)
- 7 Skin Clinic: Highly rated for aesthetic dermatology.
- Alkaa Skin Clinic: Another popular choice for skin care.
- The Esthetic Clinics: Offers surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments with a presence in Nashik.
- Mauli Dental Clinic and Skin-Hair-Laser (Cosmetology) Center: Combines dentistry with skin/hair treatments.
- Revive Skin Clinic & Laser Center: High ratings for skin and laser treatments.
- Surgical Dermatology
Surgical dermatology involves medical and cosmetic procedures for skin, hair, nail, and vein conditions, using techniques like excisions (for cancers, moles, cysts), Mohs surgery, biopsies, laser treatments, and reconstruction to improve health, function, and appearance. Dermatologists perform these treatments, often with advanced training, addressing issues from skin cancer removal to cosmetic enhancements like scar revision and body contouring.
What it treats
- Skin Cancers:Basal cell, squamous cell, melanoma.
- Skin Growths:Moles, cysts, warts, other benign lesions.
- Cosmetic Concerns:Acne scars, wrinkles, sun damage, unwanted hair, body shaping.
- Other Conditions:Varicose veins, excessive sweating (Botox).
Common Procedures
- Excision:Surgical removal of abnormal tissue.
- Mohs Surgery:For skin cancer, removing thin layers of skin to ensure complete removal.
- Biopsy:Taking a tissue sample for diagnosis.
- Laser Surgery:For hair removal, vessel treatment, resurfacing.
- Curettage & Electrodessication:Scraping and burning to remove lesions.
- Scar Revision:Improving the appearance of scars.
- Dermabrasion/Microdermabrasion:Resurfacing the skin.
Who performs it
- Dermatologists:All trained in basic skin surgery; some specialize further.
- Other Specialists:Plastic surgeons, general surgeons, etc., may also perform skin surgery.
Dermatology treatments
Dermatology treatments cover a wide range of medical and cosmetic procedures for skin, hair, and nails, including topical medications, systemic drugs, and in-office procedures like laser therapy (for resurfacing, hair removal, tattoos), chemical peels (acne, pigmentation), cryosurgery (warts, skin tags), microneedling (scars, texture), injections (Botox, fillers for wrinkles), and surgical options like excision or Mohs surgery for skin cancers. Treatments aim to address issues from acne, psoriasis, and eczema to anti-aging, hair loss, and skin cancer.
Common Medical Treatments
- Topical & Systemic Medications: Creams, ointments, antibiotics, and immunomodulators for conditions like eczema, acne, psoriasis, and infections.
- Phototherapy: Using specific light wavelengths (like narrowband UVB) to treat conditions such as psoriasis and vitiligo.
- Cryosurgery: Freezing and destroying abnormal tissue (warts, some skin cancers) with extreme cold.
- Electrosurgery: Using high-frequency electric current to cut or destroy tissue.
Cosmetic & Rejuvenation Treatments
- Laser Therapy: Resurfacing, tattoo removal, hair removal, and treating pigmentation/vascular issues.
- Chemical Peels: Removing outer skin layers to improve texture, tone, and treat acne/melasma.
- Microneedling: Using fine needles to stimulate collagen, improving scars, texture, and lines.
- Injectables: Botox for dynamic wrinkles and fillers for volume loss.
- Microdermabrasion: Gentle exfoliation for age spots and light acne scars.
Surgical Procedures
- Excision: Cutting out lesions, moles, or skin cancers.
- Mohs Surgery: Layer-by-layer removal for skin cancer, preserving healthy tissue.
- Mole Removal: For cosmetic reasons or to check for cancer.
- Vein Treatments: Sclerotherapy or lasers for damaged veins.
Specialized Treatments
- Hair Loss: PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy, laser treatments.
- Vitiligo Surgery: Techniques like melanocyte transplants.
- Allergy Testing: Patch testing for contact dermatitis.
