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

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Etymology

Origin of dermatologist

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

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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

Pimples come and go, but if breakouts stick around and cause discoloration or changes in skin texture, it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

Dr Zainab Laftah, a consultant dermatologist, explains that most of the so-called problems you encounter during puberty are related to testosterone, which drives rises in oil production and acne.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

As she crossed the border, Anna Klymenko, a dermatologist in Kyiv, saw the locomotive that Russia had destroyed the day before.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

You’re doing it wrong if you experience persistent tightness, burning, itching or redness, said Gohara, the dermatologist.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Right after she saw my spots, Mom called the doctor, who told her that she should make an appointment to see a dermatologist.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish

For more serious scarring, dermatologists can recommend more aggressive treatments such as lasers that probe deeper into the skin.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

For milder forms of face acne, dermatologists may recommend face washes or creams containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or retinoids such as adapalene.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

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

A new term has been coined by dermatologists and academics: cosmeticorexia, which they define as having an unhealthy obsession with achieving "flawless" skin from a young age, leading to an obsessive use of cosmetic products.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

In the morning I called the medical information service and asked for the names of some prominent dermatologists.

From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin

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