What is a Dermatopathologist?

A dermatopathologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing skin disorders under a microscope. His subspecialty is a combination of both dermatology, which is the diagnosis and treatment of skin, nail, and hair diseases, and pathology, which focuses on the identification of diseases. Dermatopathologists are like detectives, who need to make microscopic observations of skin cell and tissue samples, as well as evaluate the information given to them by the physician who performed the biopsy, to make a definitive diagnosis.

Explaining the Role of the Dermatopathologist

When you have a skin condition or problem, your dermatologist mayhave to perform a series of tests to accurately determine what your condition actually is. Oftentimes, he will take a few samples of your affected skin or in other parts of your body like your nails or hair. He will then send these samples to a dermatopathologist who will mircoscopically analyze them to render a diagnosis.

Melanoma: A Medical Problem on the Rise

Cutaneous melanoma incidents are rising faster than any other major malignancy. Over the past several decades, the increase has been so dramatic in the US that it can now be aptly termed an 'epidemic'. Thankfully, detailed analysis of mortality rate reveals that the danger has not quite reached an alarming level.