Dermatologists diagnose and manage diseases related to skin, hair, and nails. They play a crucial role in managing and treating acute and chronic skin diseases to enhance the health of the patients and their quality of life.
Skin, hair, and nails make up most of the outer body, serving as vital indicators of overall health and well-being. Given their importance, it's crucial to take proper care of these areas, which often requires consulting a dermatologist. Dermatologists are medical doctors with specialisations in skin, hair, and nails. They diagnose and treat various conditions, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin infections and skin cancer. This article will highlight what dermatologists do, the types of diseases they treat, and when one should consider seeing a dermatologist.
What is a Dermatologist?
A dermatologist is a skin specialist with extensive training to diagnose and treat skin, hair, and nail disorders. Like other medical specialists, dermatologists spend several years training through residency programmes. This training prepares them to diagnose and treat many skin diseases and other dermatological conditions. They are skilled in detecting skin-related symptoms, which could also be signs of other ailments. This helps in early diagnosis and treatment, leading to better patient health.
One of the dermatologists in Apollo247 is Dr Koushik Lahiri, renowned for his expertise in diagnosing and treating a wide range of dermatological conditions with precision and compassion.
What Do Dermatologists Do?
The roles of dermatologists like Dr Koushik Lahiri are diverse and include diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive tasks.
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Diagnosis and Treatment: They are experts in the clinical assessment of various skin diseases and conditions with the help of clinical examination, laboratory investigations, and imaging.
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Preventive Care: Visiting a dermatologist for a skin examination is advised to ensure early detection and prevention of skin diseases such as skin cancer. Dermatologists also educate their patients about skincare and how to avoid skin damage from various environmental factors.
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Cosmetic Dermatology: Most dermatologists also provide aesthetic procedures for improving and enhancing the skin's physical appearance. Such services include facial treatments like removing wrinkles, scars, and other skin imperfections.
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Surgical Dermatology: They are capable of undertaking surgeries and operations, both simple and complex.
What Types of Conditions Do Dermatologists Treat?
Dermatologists treat a wide range of conditions. Here are some of the most common ones:
1. Skin Conditions: Various forms of skin diseases such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and skin infections.
2. Hair Disorders: Some of the common hair conditions including hair loss, dandruff, and infections of the scalp.
3. Nail Problems: Dermatologists can treat fungal infections, ingrown nails, nail psoriasis, and paronychia, which is an infection around the nail.
4. Skin Cancer: The types of skin cancers that are treated by a dermatologist include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.
5. Cosmetic Issues: Some of the skin problems that people experience as they age include wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, sagging skin, and scars. These are the top cosmetic issues which can be treated by a dermatologist.
When to Consult a Dermatologist?
Knowing when to see a dermatologist is crucial for maintaining healthy skin. Here are some instances when you should consider consulting the best dermatologist in Kolkata:
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Persistent acne
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Unusual moles or skin growths
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Chronic skin irritation or rashes
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Hair loss or scalp issues
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Nail disorders such as fungal infections or ingrown nails
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Cosmetic concerns regarding the appearance of your skin, hair, or nails
Regular visits to a dermatologist can help detect issues early and receive immediate treatment. By understanding the scope of dermatological care, you can make informed decisions about your skin health and seek timely intervention when needed. For expert skin care and treatment, book an appointment with Dr Koushik Lahiri, one of the best dermatologists in Kolkata.
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