dermatologist

American  

[dur-muh-tol-uh-jist] / ˌdɜr məˈtɒl ə dʒɪst /

noun

• dermatologists
  plural

1. a specialist in dermatology, especially a doctor who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the skin.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dermatologists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dermatologist

First recorded in 1860–65; dermatolog(y) + -ist

Explanation

The person who examines your moles, acne, and other skin problems is called a dermatologist. Once visited mainly for acne problems, dermatologists have become more important, as skin problems have grown more common with our increased exposure to the sun. You know that an "-logy" at the end of a word means "study" and that "-logist" means "one who studies. In the noun dermatologist, the object being studied is the derma, the Greek word for "skin." (The Greeks also used it to refer to "leather" or "hide," which still works for diehard sun worshipers. And think of elephants being called "pachyderms," with their "thick skin.") Dermatology and dermatologist both appeared in English in the 19th century.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dermatologist dermatologists

Many European skin-care brands have long been known for giving priority to both effectiveness and gentleness on the skin, according to dermatologist Marisa Garshick.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Anetta Reszko, a New York dermatologist, said that those treatments include “skin boosting” injectables like Skinvive by Juvederm, which delivers hyaluronic acid under the skin for a smoothing effect.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Dr. Heather Rogers, a dermatologist in Seattle and founder of the Doctor Rogers skincare line, told me that there are few modern scientific studies examining beef tallow as a skincare ingredient.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

"The irony? They've already got it - when you're little, your skin is in perfect condition," says consultant dermatologist, Dr Jean Ayer, an NHS consultant and private dermatologist based in Stockport.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

So I fall back on the support networks of my real-life social class, call the dermatologist I know in Key West, and bludgeon him into prescribing something sight unseen.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Chemical sunscreens are considered safe by dermatologists, but studies establishing that some chemical UV filters harm coral reefs—and others pointing to possible associations with hormonal health issues in humans—have put some consumers on edge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

It’s not uncommon for dermatologists to lack a comprehensive fix for her patients’ hair loss.

From Slate ● May 23, 2026

The collapse of the proposed federal ban has left many dermatologists disappointed.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026

At the same time, dermatologists have said patients are increasingly seeking medical care for hair loss, driven perhaps by widespread interest in weight-loss medication.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026

They visit plastic surgeons and dermatologists for costly and frequent cosmetic procedures.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times