The Integumentary (Dermatologic) System and Its Disorders
Walter F. Stanaszek, Mary J. Stanaszek, Robert J. Holt, Steven Strauss in Understanding Medical Terms, 2020
Words describing the integumentary system often include the roots cutis or derm, both of which mean skin. The term dermatology is used to denote the study or diagnosis and treatment of the integumentary system (the suffix -ology means "study of"). A dermatologist is a physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders. Similarly, dermatitis is the general term referring to any inflammation of the skin. Words containing the root onycho refer to a condition involving the nails, such as onychosis, which is any disease or deformity of the nails. Most terms relating to hair include the word parts pilo-such as pilosis (excessive development of hair) and pilosebaceous (relating to the hair follicles and their associated sebaceous glands) or tricho-as in trichomycosis (any hair disease caused by a fungal infection) or trichosis (any disease of the hair).
The Twentieth Century and Beyond
Scott M. Jackson in Skin Disease and the History of Dermatology, 2023
To achieve board certification in dermatology, a medical student must complete a four-year program that consists of a one-year internship in internal medicine or surgery plus a three-year residency in dermatology. Dermatology is now among the most coveted fields in medicine in which to secure a residency position. A career in dermatology is in high demand due to its eight-to-five office hours, competitive income, and job security. In addition, there is a short supply of residency positions in the United States related to a lack of funding for these positions. While the number of residency positions is increasing each year, there were 692 applicants in 2020 for only 538 residency spots, meaning that only 77 percent of medical students who desire to be a dermatologist can accomplish that goal.17 America's top five dermatology residency programs based on academic achievement are Harvard University, University of California-San Francisco, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Emory University.18 Specialty training in dermatology is available in universities all over the world.
Alopecia areata: Pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and management
Jerry Shapiro, Nina Otberg in Hair Loss and Restoration, 2015
Ultimately, the therapeutic plan is developed through team interaction between the patient, the patient’s family, and the physician. For some patients, support groups play an important role in the overall therapeutic strategy, and the dermatologist needs to become familiar with support groups and suppliers of hairpieces. Physicians need to take time to address the psychological needs of their patients, exploring the impact of alopecia on the patient’s emotional well-being. It is the role of the dermatologist to explain the diagnosis and inform the patient of all the therapeutic options, safety profiles, and outcomes. It is imperative that the physician spend sufficient time with the patient, just as one would with a patient who had recently been diagnosed as diabetic. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) (www .alopeciaareata.org) offers patients and physicians information, including brochures, bimonthly newsletters, research updates, sources for scalp prostheses, pen pals for children, videos for children to take to school, and information about support groups, which are present in many large cities in the United States and Canada. The NAAF has an annual convention for patients and their families, and this is often the turning point for them in terms of coping with the condition. Physicians are welcome to attend.
Assessment of topical steroid phobia in dermatology patients, a cross-sectional study from an urban area of Pakistan
Published in Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022
Sadia Masood, Palwasha Jalil, Safia Awan, Unzela Ghulam, Sabeika Raza Kerawala
Dermatology is a unique clinical field where most of the diseases are directly visualized and the same goes for most of the treatments, which is applied directly on the target organ that is "skin". Corticosteroids are the most commonly used medicine within the domain of dermatology. They have anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and anti-mitogenic properties which make them a preferred drug for many dermatological conditions1. The skin diseases treated by topical corticosteroids (TCS) ranges from a mild inflammatory patch to a more advanced form of conditions like eczemas, psoriasis, blistering disorders, or even skin emergencies such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome2. Topical corticosteroid has been well known as a magic drug, despite having its own merits and demerits. It is safe and effective when used judicially as per instructions and has very few side effects. However, inappropriate use of the same medicine can lead to disastrous effects. It is an easily available, over the counter drug, especially in the lower middle-income countries. It has raised the instance of steroid misuse leading to serious local and systemic adverse effects3. The problem raised not only due to easy availability and self-medication practices but also due to lack of proper specialist services and increasing practice of TCS by non-dermatologists.4
Strategies to maximize clinical efficiency while maintaining patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interview-based study from private practice dermatologists
Published in Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022
Kaitlyn M. Yim, Rebecca M. Yim, Sara Gaspard, Jamie MacDougall, April W. Armstrong
California, the most populous state in the U.S., has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to date (2). Within California, Los Angeles County by far comprises the highest percentage of these cases at more than 35% of the state total (6). The government of California issued a stay-at-home order in March 2020. This was loosened in May 2020, however cases in California continue to rise. Due to the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic in California and the large number of people impacted by it, dermatologists in this region have been tasked with balancing efficiency, efficacy, and safety in their practices. In this study, private practice dermatologists working in metropolitan areas mainly within the Southern California region were interviewed about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their practices and how they have responded. This paper will summarize various strategies dermatologists have implemented to continue to treat dermatologic conditions effectively and maintain productivity, while prioritizing the safety of providers, staff, and patients.
A survey of dermatology residents and program directors assessing the transition to dermatology residency
Published in Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 2021
Christina Hopkins, Omid Jalali, Danielle Guffey, Harry Dao
A total of 33 program directors and 44 dermatology residents participated. To preserve anonymity, respondents did not share their name, the location of their home training program, or any other identifying information. Seventeen (40%) residents were in PGY-2, 13 (31%) in PGY-3, and 12 (29%) in PGY-4. Two residents indicated completion of additional years of training after medical school but prior to starting dermatology residency and were excluded from all further analyses. The program director respondents had served as leaders at one or more institutions for an average of 8 years (range <1 to 25 years). The 2019-2020 residency application cycle included 133 dermatology programs. Given 33 program director survey respondents, the estimated response rate is 25%. This is a conservative estimate, as not all program directors may be members of the APD.
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