Medical vs. cosmetic dermatology: Who is doing what?
Facts at your Fingertips
By Emily Margosian, assistant editor, January 1, 2019
Despite ongoing discussion about the role of cosmetics in the specialty, data from the 2017 AAD Practice Profile Survey indicate that medical dermatology remains the primary focus of dermatology practitioners across all types. However, dermatologists spend the least amount of time on medical dermatology in comparison to other providers, diverting attention in favor of non-cosmetic surgical dermatology.
The data also reveal that nurse practitioners appear to perform more cosmetic dermatology than other provider types. These findings remain consistent across practice settings — with a few exceptions. For example, nurse practitioners in academic settings perform significantly more medical dermatology, as do dermatologists in multispecialty settings. For a full breakdown of area of treatment by provider type, see the chart below.
