According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Conduct complete skin examinations. | 98% |
| Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma. | 97% |
| Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma. | 96% |
| Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer. | 96% |
| Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations. | 95% |
| Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer. | 94% |
| Record patients' health histories. | 92% |
| Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings. | 92% |
| Prescribe hormonal agents or topical treatments such as contraceptives, spironolactone, antiandrogens, oral corticosteroids, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics. | 86% |
| Conduct or order diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs (x-rays), microbiologic tests, or endocrinologic tests. | 86% |
| Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in dermatology. | 86% |
| Provide dermatologic consultation to other health professionals. | 86% |
| Refer patients to other specialists, as needed. | 82% |
| Instruct interns or residents in diagnosis and treatment of dermatological diseases. | 81% |
| Provide therapies such as intralesional steroids, chemical peels, or comodo removal to treat age spots, sun damage, rough skin, discolored skin, or oily skin. | 79% |
| Conduct clinical or basic research. | 67% |
| Provide dermabrasion or laser abrasion to treat atrophic scars, elevated scars, or other skin conditions. | 64% |
| Evaluate patients to determine eligibility for cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, laser resurfacing, or microdermabrasion. | 58% |
