A dermatologist (dĕr-mă-TŎL-ō-jĭst) is a physician who specializes in treating diseases, disorders, and injuries related to the integumentary system. There are many dermatologic subspecialties such as cosmetic dermatology, dermatopathology, and pediatric dermatology.
To learn more about the medical specialty of dermatology, visit the “What is a Dermatologist?” page of the American Academy of Dermatology Association website.
Common procedures performed on the integumentary system are as follows:
- Biopsy (BĪ-op-sē) is the removal of living tissue to be viewed under a microscope for diagnostic purposes.
- Cauterization (KAW-tĕr-īz-a-shŏn) is a procedure that burns selected tissue by various means with the intent to destroy damaged tissues, prevent infections, or coagulate blood vessels.
- Debridement (Di-BRĒD-mĕnt) is the removal of damaged tissue or foreign objects from a wound.
- Dermabrasion (Dur-mă-BRĀ-shŏn) is a procedure to refinish the top skin layer by mechanical scraping.
- Dermatoheteroplasty (Dĕr-mă-tō-HĔT-ĕr-ō-plăs-tē) is surgical repair of the skin using skin from another individual.
- Excision (Ek-SIZH-ŏn) is a surgical procedure to cut out something.
- Incision & drainage (In-SIZH-ŏn & DRĀN-ăj) (I&D) is a surgical cut to allow the release of fluids from a lesion, wound, or cavity.
- Laser surgery (LĀ-zĕr SŬRJ-ĕ-rē) is a surgical procedure that uses a powerful beam of light to cut or burn tissue.
- Rhytidectomy (Rĭt-ĭ-DEK-tŏ-mē) is the surgical removal of wrinkles, commonly known as a facelift.
- Suturing (SOO-chŭr-ing) is a procedure of inserting a row of stitches to hold together the edges of a wound or surgical incision.
