What Is Dermatology?

Where Dermatology Works With Other Specialties

Dermatologists routinely collaborate with doctors in other fields to manage a patient's care. They often collaborate with oncologists in the treatment of a patient's melanoma or other forms of skin cancer, and they may collaborate with ear, nose, and throat specialists for patients with issues in these areas. When treating patients with multiple medical issues, dermatologists may collaborate with cardiologists, internists, endocrinologists, and rheumatologists to get more information about the patient's health status or to follow up on their care. In a 2018 survey of dermatologists who treated female patients, roughly eighty percent of respondents reported collaborating with the patient's obstetrician or gynecologist, and over seventy percent reported they had collaborated with the patient's internist. Neurologists, nutritionists, and mental health professionals were among the other healthcare providers with whom the dermatologists collaborated. When performing surgery, dermatologists may ask for a plastic surgeon to be present to assist with particularly delicate or complex operations. Pediatric dermatologists typically collaborate with the child's pediatrician when planning and carrying out treatment.