While many individuals think of a dermatologist's as simply "acne specialists," there is much more that they can perform for overall health and wellness. This includes being an oral medical doctor, an injector, a skin expert, a pediatrician, a gynecologist and even a plastic surgeon. In addition to merely treating acne, dermatologist's care for a broad array of other conditions and issues related to the skin, hair, nails and scalp. These advantages and disadvantages must be weighed carefully before choosing to have any treatment done.

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One of the main benefits when it comes to becoming a dermatology physician assistant is the opportunity to perform a hands-on approach to medicine. Many individuals see dermatology professionals in the traditional roles, where they simply observe and prescribe topical medication or oral prescriptions. Others go further, providing injections, making casts or helping to plan surgical procedures. While these roles are perfectly fine for many professionals, others have found that derm departments are ideal places to grow in their skills. The experience one gains by performing hands-on care for patients far outweighs the time spent simply observing.

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Another important factor to consider is whether one is looking to enter this profession as a dermatology practice or as a licensed practitioner. While there are plenty of dermatology practices located all around the world, only some of them actually allow the students to be licensed after graduating from medical school. These licensed professionals are able to focus solely on providing treatment while gaining valuable experience with other physicians in their field. This means that many dermatology practices require their graduates to focus on one specific area in order to gain accreditation.

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Many individuals are unaware of the significant number of opportunities for dermatology graduates who then go on to become dermatologists. In addition to practicing on their own and teaching at a university, some doctors choose to open their own practices. Dermatologists may choose to work in private practices, in specialty hospitals or even work for themselves in a small office. All of these options offer unique advantages to those who are willing to commit to long hours of patient care and focus on providing personalized service.

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In terms of salary, most dermatologists typically start off with an hourly wage of around forty dollars per hour. Depending on the location, the procedure and the experience of the physician, the salary can vary greatly. Graduates with a master's degree or higher often earn more than physicians with a bachelor's degree. Some dermatology colleges also offer a higher starting salary due to factors related to the location and level of education that a student received. For instance, a resident who graduated from a four-year program in internal medicine could earn as much as a hundred dollars more per hour in her hometown.

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Other areas where dermatologist salaries tend to vary include location and specialty. While some areas tend to pay more than others, there are a number of specialties that offer slightly higher salaries. While most specialize in internal medicine, a few dermatology specialists choose to explore other areas such as pediatrics, oncology, trauma, women's health, menopause and others. As is true with all professions, dermatologist salaries are based on the area in which a physician works and the experience of the individual.