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.

---

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

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

For many foundations and powders, you would need to use several more layers than you normally would to achieve the advertised SPF protection, Mount Sinai dermatologist Dr. Helen He said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 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

After ruling out more serious autoimmune conditions, my new dermatologist did a scalp biopsy and finally diagnosed me with fibrosing alopecia in a pattern distribution, or FAPD, in which inflammation damages hair follicles via scarring.

From Slate ● May 23, 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

If you’re heading outside, dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen in addition to SPF cosmetics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

She says dermatologists are also seeing an increase in young people with frontal fibrosing alopecia, where the front hairline starts to recede.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 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

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

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026

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

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times