A dermatologist is a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the dermatovenerological profile. Such diseases can bring a lot of unpleasant symptoms to the patient, including the development of cosmetic defects. It is important to contact a specialist in a timely manner for specialized help.
Basics of the profession
The dermatologist provides a diagnostic and treatment process in cases where the patient has a dermatovenereological disease. Patients can get an appointment with such a doctor both by referral from pediatricians, therapists and surgeons, and by self-treatment. In the first case, a dermatovenerologic doctor often encounters a rather severe pathology that general specialists could not cope with.
Workplace
Although a skin doctor is a narrow specialist, this profession is not uncommon. Currently, such doctors work in almost every clinic. In addition, in every major city there is a skin dispensary. The schedule of doctors in such institutions is designed in such a way thatspecialized outpatient medical care was provided to patients in 2 shifts. If the dispensary also includes a hospital, then round-the-clock monitoring of hospitalized people is provided here.
In general hospitals, most often there is no full-time position of a dermatovenereologist. In such institutions, specialists work part-time, that is, they are not in the hospital during the working day, but come for several hours, consult patients referred by the attending doctors, make their appointments and go to the main place of work.
Main pathology
A good skin doctor should perfectly know the features of the differential diagnosis of all dermatovenereological diseases, both among themselves and with the main pathologies of other profiles.
The main nosological groups that this specialist has to deal with are:
- all kinds of dermatitis;
- infectious (fungal, bacterial and viral) lesions of the skin and visible mucous membranes;
- various types of urticaria and other diseases of the skin and visible mucous membranes caused by exposure to allergens;
- congenital pathology of the skin associated with gene disorders (for example, ichthyosis);
- autoimmune diseases (psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus);
- STD profile diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea).
All these diseases in the absence of a dermatovenereologist should be able to diagnose andgeneral practitioners. If necessary, they are even able to prescribe certain therapeutic measures, which may be necessary even before consulting a skin doctor.
Basic diagnostic measures
Such a specialist has a whole range of research methods, thanks to which he can clarify the alleged diagnosis. Among the main diagnostic measures should be highlighted:
- General clinical blood and urine tests.
- Scraping from the affected area with further microscopic examination.
- Use of nutrient media to determine the sensitivity of microorganisms to certain drugs.
- Using Wood's lamp and other technical aids to better visualize the affected area.
- Immunological and allergological tests.
For each disease, the doctor determines the list of necessary diagnostic measures. After they are carried out, the patient is given a particular diagnosis. At the same time, to clarify it, this doctor may need advice from specialists in other profiles.
Essential medicines
In the course of his professional activity, a skin doctor has to use quite a lot of different drugs to treat his patients. Most of them belong to the following pharmacological groups:
- Antihistamines.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsmedicines.
- Antibiotics.
- Antifungal drugs.
- Glucocorticosteroids.
- Cytostatics.
Most often, the treatment of dermatovenereological pathology involves the appointment of drugs from several pharmacological groups at once. At the same time, a pediatric skin doctor is much more limited in the choice of drugs than his colleagues involved in the treatment of adult patients.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to reduce the severity of the inflammatory process and swelling. Antihistamines can also significantly reduce the effects of allergen exposure. Often this leads to a gradual recovery. Antibiotics and antimycotics are prescribed if the disease is of an infectious nature. Glucocorticosteroids are prescribed in more severe cases, when it is not possible to get rid of the main symptoms of the disease with the help of conventional drugs. They should be especially carefully used for the treatment of minors. As for cytostatics, their use is designed to reduce the activity of pathogenic autoimmune processes. Such drugs are prescribed for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and psoriasis.
The main difficulties of professional activity
In the course of their work, any skin doctor faces certain difficulties. The main ones are:
- Similar clinical picture of many dermatovenerologic diseases.
- High infection rateaffected areas of the skin and visible mucous membranes.
- Frequent infection of affected skin areas.
- High chance of infection when treating a patient.
Differential diagnosis of diseases of the dermatovenereological profile is a serious problem, especially for young professionals. The fact is that almost all of them are manifested by a rash, inflammation and swelling of the affected tissues. Only the severity of such pathological reactions and the nature of the rashes differ.
When should I apply?
You can make an appointment with a specialist of this profile if any symptoms of a dermatovenereological profile are detected. The main among them is the occurrence of rashes, itching, inflammation and swelling of the skin. The appointment of a skin doctor will allow you to establish the fact of the presence or absence of diseases of the dermatovenereological profile, clarify the existing diagnosis and conduct a rational course of treatment.
In addition, you can visit this specialist for preventive purposes after contact with a person with a skin disease. It is also important to get tested after unprotected casual sex.
Recommendations from a dermatovenereologist
Diseases of this profile, like many others, are often easier to prevent than to treat them later. To reduce your chances of developing them, avoid:
- contact with the skin of a patient diagnosed with a dermatovenereological disease of an infectious nature;
- superfluousinsolations;
- unprotected casual sex;
- contacts with an allergen known to a particular person.
If you follow these fairly simple recommendations, the likelihood of experiencing unpleasant symptoms of any dermatovenereological diseases on your own is significantly reduced.
