Dermatology is the branch of medicine that is responsible for the study, knowledge and treatment of diseases or conditions of the skin. The word comes from the Greek "derma" which means skin. This specialty is also responsible for the prevention of diseases, the conservation and care of skin normality as well as dermocosmetics that is dedicated to the hygiene, protection and appearance of human skin. Specifically, the functions covered by dermatology are protection against physical agents, chemicals, radiation, viruses, fungi and bacteria.
Dermatology can also include the use of special therapeutic techniques such as topical pharmacological treatment, the application of certain physiotherapy methods specifically designed for dermatological use such as phototherapy, cryotherapy, low penetration ionizing radiation, etc. as well as surgical methods.
The individual specialized in this branch is the dermatologist, this person must qualify as a General Surgeon and then continue his studies in order to specialize in dermatology, obtaining postgraduate degrees to specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of skin diseases and cancer of skin. The dermatologist must handle multiple knowledge in surgery, rheumatology, since many diseases of this type have skin symptoms; immunology since several neurological diseases manifest through the skin as infectious, endocrinological and genetic diseases.
Algunas de las enfermedades mas comunes de las que trata la dermatología se encuentran la dermatitis que es la inflamación de la piel, infecciones causadas por hongos, por levadura o por la tinea multicolor; también esta el vitiligo, el acné, cloracné, los melanomas, la hiperpigmentacion y los epiteliomas que son formas de cáncer en la piel.
