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

Her dermatologist found three more cancerous marks which needed urgent treatment.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

Rossi, the New York dermatologist, used to get Botox injections to avoid forehead wrinkles but has stopped.

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

Everyone’s checking in with best wishes: my local library, my dermatologist, even a hospital I haven’t visited in years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

She was a dermatologist, midfifties, trim except for a potbelly.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart

Now, some clients 30 and older are seeking out dermatologists and aestheticians with nursing degrees who can help them maintain a slight patina of wrinkles—at least enough for furrowing and raising the brows.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

As of right now, dermatologists don’t know the root cause of FAPD, though they believe it might show up in midlife due to a decline in estrogen, which protects against hair follicle inflammation.

From Slate ● May 23, 2026

Scrubbing the scalp aids circulation, strengthens hair follicles and helps to prevent dandruff, itchiness and inflammation, among other benefits, practitioners and dermatologists say.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026

GPs can refer patients to dermatologists for more specialist care but there are long waits, often more than a year.

From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026

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

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times