Meaning & use
dermatologist
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountablemedical
A doctor who treats conditions of the skin, hair, and nails.
Grammar: Countable: one dermatologist, two dermatologists; often used with 'see' or 'referred to'.
Patterns
- see a dermatologist
- be referred to a dermatologist
- a dermatologist treats something
My doctor sent me to a dermatologist about the rash on my arm.
She has been a dermatologist at the city hospital for ten years.
The dermatologist examined my skin and prescribed a cream.
nouncountablemedicalspecialist
A medical specialist whose main work is the study and treatment of skin disease.
Grammar: Used like a job title: 'She is a dermatologist'; the field is dermatology.
Patterns
- a dermatologist at a hospital
- consult a dermatologist
He trained as a dermatologist after several years in general medicine.
If the spots do not clear up, ask your family doctor about seeing a dermatologist.
Word forms
| plural | dermatologists |
|---|
Common combinations
- see a dermatologist
- You should see a dermatologist if the mole changes shape.
- be referred to a dermatologist
- I was referred to a dermatologist by my family doctor.
- a dermatologist's appointment
- She has a dermatologist's appointment on Friday morning.
- consult a dermatologist
- Before trying harsh products, consult a dermatologist.
- a qualified dermatologist
- Make sure the clinic is run by a qualified dermatologist.
Synonyms and how they differ
- skin specialist
- A plain everyday term for the same job; 'dermatologist' is the precise medical title used in clinics and official letters.
- skin doctor
- Informal and slightly childish; fine in speech, but a medical text would use 'dermatologist'.
Word family
- dermatology noun
- The branch of medicine that deals with the skin.
- dermatological adjective
- Relating to the skin or to dermatology, as in 'a dermatological cream'.
- dermatologically adverb
- Used before 'tested', meaning tested for effects on skin.
Commonly confused: dermatologist or dermatitis? dermatologist or neurologist?
dermatologist vs dermatitis
Dermatitis is the condition (inflamed skin); a dermatologist is the doctor who treats it.
dermatologist vs neurologist
A neurologist treats nerves and the brain, not the skin, though the words sound somewhat similar.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'dermatologist' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A dermatologist is a doctor who treats skin, so 'studying to become a dermatologist' fits. Option 2 fails because a dermatologist is a person, not a product you buy; options 1 and 4 describe mechanics, not medicine.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dermatologist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.