Dermatology is the specialty that deals with diseases of the skin, mucous membranes (of the mouth and genitals) and integuments (nails, hair). The discipline also encompasses the prevention and treatment of skin cancer, sexually transmitted diseases. Note that the aesthetics of the skin is a branch of dermatology.

Remember that the skin is made up of three superimposed layers, the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis. It plays several fundamental roles:

• it provides protection from the outside;
• it allows thermal regulation;
• it is a place of hormonal synthesis;
• and it has immune function.

Many ailments fall within the scope of dermatology. These include:

• acne ;
• atopic dermatitis;
• la scabies ;
• le Psoriasis ;
• warts;
• urticaria;
• vitiligo;
• angiomas;
• rosacea;
• melanomas;
• carcinomas;
• actinic keratoses;
• but also thealopecia (hair loss) or having lice, dandruff;
• or even syphilis, genital herpes.

Skin conditions are likely to affect children, adults and the elderly. There are still certain recognized risk factors, in particular:

• sun exposure (3);
• Pollution ;
• genetic factors.

The dermatologist (or dermatologist) is the skin specialist. It also treats pathologies of the nails, scalp, mucous membranes of the mouth and genitals. To arrive at a diagnosis and treat his patient:

• he questions him to find out the nature of the disorders (their date of onset, their intensity, etc.), his possible medical and family history;
• he then uses multiple techniques and treatments, depending on his patient’s problem:

dermoscopy (a painless examination that allows you to view the skin in depth);

cryotherapy (cold treatment);

phototherapy (treatment with light);

dermatological lasers;

skin biopsies;

treatment of varicose veins;

botulinum toxin;

surgical excisions.

The consultation with a dermatologist does not involve any particular risks for the patient. It is in any case the role of the doctor to clearly explain the modalities, the possible difficulties or even the dangers associated with the procedures, examinations and treatments that he will have to perform.

Dermatologist training in France

To become a dermatologist, the student must obtain a Diploma of Specialized Studies (DES) in Dermatology and Venereology:

• he must first follow 6 years at the faculty of medicine, after his baccalaureate;
• at the end of the 6th year, students take the national classifying tests to enter the boarding school. Depending on their classification, they will be able to choose their specialty and their place of practice. The internship lasts 4 years and ends with obtaining the DES in dermatology and venereology.

Finally, to be able to practice and carry the title of doctor, the student must also defend a research thesis.

Dermatologist training in Quebec

After college studies, the student must:

• follow a doctorate in medicine, lasting 1 or 4 years (with or without a preparatory year for medicine for students admitted with a college or university training deemed insufficient in basic biological sciences);
• then specialize by following a residency in dermatology for 5 years.

Before going to the appointment with a dermatologist, it is important to take recent prescriptions, any x-rays, scans or MRIs performed.

To find a dermatologist / dermatologist:

• in Quebec, you can consult the website of the association of dermatologists of Quebec, which offers a directory (4);
• in France, via the website of the National Council of the Order of Physicians (5).

When the consultation is prescribed by an attending physician, it is covered by the Health Insurance (France) or the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec.

Anecdote

Weighing 4 to 10 kg in adults, the skin is the heaviest organ in the human body. It is also the most extensive, with almost 2 m2 of surface.