History of Dermatology, Dermatopathology, Dermatologic Surgery, Cosmetic Dermatology, and Pediatric Dermatology

Abstract

Dermatology has undergone a significant evolution, moving over the past century from a specialty concerned narrowly with medical dermatology to a full-blown surgical and pathological specialty whose members now perform more surgical procedures on the skin and soft tissues than all other specialists combined. In the United States, dermatology no longer incorporates venereology as part of the specialty title, though in practice much of its focus has been retained. In other parts of the world, however, venereology remains part of the specialty. As the field has expanded to include surgery, pathology, and pediatrics, there has also been a renaissance in medical dermatology as dermatologists increasingly care for the sickest patients with serious systemic diseases.