Do you need a dermatologist?

First of all, what is a dermatologist? A dermatologist is a specialist in diagnosing and treating diseases of the hair, nails and skin, for example acnerosaceadermatitis and eczema.

They treat a wide variety of conditions in people of all ages, ranging from babies through to the elderly. They are also effective at:

Both of these are discussed in more detail as separate sections.

Your GP will refer you to a dermatologist for further investigation and treatment if necessary. One example of this is skin cancer such as malignant melanoma: this requires the skills and expertise of a multidisciplinary team including a dermatologist.

If you have a skin condition then your first port of call is your GP who will examine you before asking you a series of questions about your condition. These include questions about your medical history and family history.

Some types of skin conditions can be treated by your GP but recurring or severe forms will require treatment by a dermatologist.