Medical dermatology is the foundation on which all other dermatological subspecialties build upon. We’ve got to recognize, or at least start finding out, the reason for the skin/hair/nail problem before treating it. Not a small task, considering that the human skin is the largest organ, typically measuring about 25 sq. feet. Yet its cells are so small, you could fit 750 million of them in an area the size of an eraser at the end of a pencil! The list of problems is long; we’ve got the whole alphabet covered, from A to Z… abscesses, skin cancers and zits. And yes, there are skin diseases beginning with an X (i.e.., xanthomas) that Filipinos do have sometimes.
In-clinic diagnostic procedures are common, and all board-certified dermatologists are trained to do them.
These include for example
skin biopsies – determine the nature of the lesion histologically
patch test – to check what materials aggravate skin allergies
KOH test – to confirm the presence of a fungus
skin scrapes – i.e.., to check for mites
cold steel surgery
electrosurgery
dermatopathology
anesthesia
All board-certified dermatologists network both locally and internationally, which is very useful in our setting, since not all services/test/technological advancements are found in just one area.
So the next time you visit your dermatologist, don’t be afraid when they mention the words “test” or “biopsy”… the needles, scalpels and sutures we use are all very fine…we are trained, board-certified physicians.