Dermatology is one of the most varied of the physician specialities allowing options for seeing all age groups of patients with inflammatory, inherited, environmental, occupational or malignant skin disorders. At present skin disease is one of commonest reasons for patients to consult a doctor and given the current observed increases in skin cancer and inflammatory conditions like eczema there is no doubt that dermatology will expand in the future. There will be an ongoing need to have secondary care based dermatology clinics and services nationally though in some parts of the UK a component of out patient work may be carried out in other settings e.g. community hospitals. Specialist dermatology involves predominantly out patient work for diagnosis, investigation and treatment supported by appropriately staffed in patient facilities for severe inflammatory disorders.

Within the hospital setting dermatologists are often consulted about patients under the care of other specialists and indeed not infrequently jointly manage patients e.g. those with connective tissue disorders. Due to a high volume of skin cancer work there are close liaisons with plastic, ENT and maxillo facial surgery colleagues and also with clinical and medical oncology.

Dermatology is a career option worth considering in terms of sheer variety of case mix from milder to severe, life limiting inflammatory disorders in all age’s groups from “cradle to grave”. There are options , through sub specialty training, to have a more surgically oriented post , one involved with investigation and treatment of allergic disorders, paediatrics based jobs or one involving phototherapy /photobiology Specialist dermatology training allows exposure to all these potential subspecialties in addition to dermatopathology, infectious conditions and the use of lasers .

There are also ample opportunities to become involved in research and to participate in national and local clinical and research meetings. Generic training in teaching, research, management and presentational skills are part of the training program.

Trainees entering the 4 year dermatology program will do so from Core Medical Training. The rising use of systemic treatments for inflammatory conditions means that a sound knowledge of general medicine will remain a pre requisite for future dermatologists.

For those in training, competency based assessments exist in the form of mini CEX, DOPs and MSF. Dermatology was also one of the specialties involved in pilot knowledge based assessment in 2006 and it is likely this will be fully developed for use in the near future.