English Reference

Word

dermatologist

Phoneticsder·ma·tol·o·gist

US/ˌdɝməˈtɑɫədʒɪst/

UK/dˌɜːmɐtˈɒlədʒˌɪst/

Definition

n. a doctor who specializes in treating skin, hair, and nails. You see this person if you have a rash, acne, or other skin problems.

n. a medical practitioner qualified to diagnose and treat disorders of the skin, hair, and nails.

Examples

“The dermatologist gave me a cream for my dry skin.”

“After noticing a strange mole on her arm, she scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist for a professional screening.”

“While general practitioners can treat minor rashes, a dermatologist possesses the specialized diagnostic tools required to identify rare autoimmune conditions that manifest through skin lesions.”

Examples

simple

“The dermatologist gave me a cream for my dry skin.”

contextual

“After noticing a strange mole on her arm, she scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist for a professional screening.”

complex

“While general practitioners can treat minor rashes, a dermatologist possesses the specialized diagnostic tools required to identify rare autoimmune conditions that manifest through skin lesions.”

Usage

Commonly used with the definite article when referring to a specific appointment ('the dermatologist').

Real-World Examples

“Her dermatologist found three more cancerous marks which needed urgent treatment.”
BBC News · 8 Aug 2026
“Dr Bav Shergill from the British Association of Dermatologists recommends using self-tan products instead.”
BBC News · 22 Jun 2026

Etymology

From dermatology + -ist or dermato- + -logist.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference