How to Become a Dermatologist: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Jobs, Salary, Scope

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Ahana Bhaduri

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Dermatology is a division in the field of health science that involves the study of skin, hair and nails. Dermatologists are doctors who specialises in various conditions that are concerned with skin and hair. A dermatologist can do the treatment of hair, scalp and nail diseases. Students aspiring to become Dermatologists can pursue various Dermatology courses starting from Diploma to Phd. Some of the commonly pursued courses in Dermatology are BSc Dermatology and MSc Dermatology. Admissions to these courses are done on the basis of entrance exams, however some colleges grant admission on the basis of merit. India has some of the top Dermatology Colleges that students can choose to pursue their degrees from. Also Check: Diploma in Dermatology

The average course fee pursue any Dermatology courses in order to become a dermatologist in India ranges between INR 80,000 to INR 10,00,000. The average pay of Dermatologists in India at the starting level is INR 4.50 LPA to 5.50 LPA. However with gradual experience, knowledge and updated skills the average salary of a Dermatologist can go up to as much as INR 19.67 LPA.

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How to Become a Dermatologist: Quick Facts

Eligibility Students do not need to study any particular subject in class 12 in order to get admission in Dermatology Courses after MBBS. The students must have 45% in class 12 in science stream in order to get admission into Medicine.
Average Annual Salary INR 4.50 – 6 LPA
Highest Salary 23 LPA
Top Recruiters Hospitals, Research Institutes

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Steps to Become a Dermatologist

Here are the steps that has to be followed in order to become a dermatologist, this may vary from candidate to candidate but majorly it would be same, 

  • Step 1 – Make up Your Mind: The students who wish to become a Dermatologist should make up their mind right from 10+2. They should be very passionate about dermatology. Hence the decision should come right from schooling so that once they pass 10+2 in Biology subject and do well in entrance exams.
  • Step 2 – Make Correct Subject Choices: Subjects like Biology taken in 10+2 will help students become a Dermatologist. It is required for a dermatologist candidate to pass 10+2 with biology subjects. Also learning about game skin disorders, hair, nails and relevant subjects can be very handy at the time of entrance exam. 
  • Step 3 – Entrance Exam Preparation: The Aspiring candidates can get admission in MBBS course through National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET 2024). For admission to a medical seat in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), candidates are required to take up the entrance examination of AIIMS 2024. Other Universities/institutions also keep their own medical entrance exams for admissions of students. Admission process varies from college to college.
  • Step 4 – Selecting College: The candidate should have a good knowledge of the colleges offering the course and should have a list of colleges he/she prefers over the others. There are quite a few colleges which offer Dermatology related courses.

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Types of Dermatologists

There are various types of dermatologist in India and abroad, here we have represented the types and the eligibility required. 

Dermatopathologists

Requirement

A dermatopathologist are professionals who are specialised in skin pathology, and analyses the different skin disorders and is qualified both in pathology as well as dermatology. These type of Dermatologists collaborate with primary care to examine the different skin diseases and develop a diagnosis for them.

Bachelors or Masters Degree in Dermatology, advertising or relevant field.

Average Annual Salary INR 5,65,000

Immune Dermatologists

Requirement

An Immunodermatologist is a specialised Dermatologist whose job role is to diagnose and also treat different skin disorders characterised by the defective responses of the various body’s immune system.

Bachelors or Masters Degree in marketing, Dermatology or relevant field.

Average Annual Salary INR 4,80,000

Tele Dermatologists

Requirement

Tele Dermatologists make use of e-health applications and telemedicine to cure certain diseases. In this field, doctors use telecommunication technologies to transfer medical information to patients

Bachelors or Masters Degree in Dermatology or relevant field.

Average Annual Salary INR 4,50,000

Pediatric Dermatologists

Requirement

The job responsibility of a Pediatric Dermatologist is to treat children suffering from skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, vitiligo etc. Pediatric dermatologists can also choose to work in small timings which gives them a large degree of independence when deciding hours and patient load.

Bachelors or Masters Degree in Dermatology or relevant field.

Average Annual Salary INR 3,50,000

Cosmetic Surgeon

Requirement

Cosmetic Surgeons are generally specialized in improving or correcting the appearance of the physical features of the face or body. These doctors perform surgeries such as Liposuction, Rhinoplasty, Rhytidectomy. These doctors are also required to work with accidental burn victims to reconstruct the damaged body areas.

Bachelors or Masters Degree in Dermatology or relevant field.

Average Annual Salary INR 4,00,000

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How to Become a Dermatologist in India

The following can be followed by an aspirant if he/she wants to become a Dermatologist in India

School Level Preparation 

The candidate can follow the below steps during the school level to prepare themselves to become a Dermatologist 

  • The student must finish Class 12 with the subjects – Biology and other relevant subjects.
  • The student should have a strong inclination towards public health and other relevant subjects.The students should clear 12th exams with the eligible marks and exceed in the entrance exams.

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How to become a Dermatologist after 12th 

The candidate must follow the below steps after the 12th standard to prepare themselves to become a Game Tester

UG Preparation

  • The student must enroll themselves in course MBBS, Diploma in Dermatology, Bachelor of Science in Dermatology , MD/ MS in dermatology Or Certificate courses Cosmetic Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology, etc.
  • The student should Take online courses such as Certificate Course in Ayurvedic Dermatology by Institute of E- Ayurveda, 

PG Preparation

  • The foremost factors to be a successful Dermatologist is In-depth theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the. 
  • The job of a dermatologist demands sincerity, self-confidence and distinct skills and only by perfecting and honing those skills in everyday work, the candidate can establish as a successful dermatologist.
  • The vital skills required to be a successful dermatologist are Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skill, Communication Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Judgment and decision making skill, etc

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Pros and Cons of becoming a Dermatologist

Every job comes with its own share of pros and cons, similarly career as a Dermatologist also has its own benefits and drawbacks. The sections below will discuss then in detail,

Pros of Becoming a Dermatologist

  • Dermatologists are counted amongst the highest paid doctors both in India and globally. The average pay of a dermatologist range around INR 80,000 per month.
  • The security for the job of a Dermatologist is solid since the doctors do not get fired or suspended until it’s a case to do so.
  • After gaining sufficient experience, Dermatologists can start their own clinics 
  • The doctors in this field resolve different conditions and diseases relating to skin,hair and nails which keep their work interesting.
  • Today,in the modern world skin care products account for a massive income for the pharmaceutical companies ,this is triggered by dermatology clinics and dermatologists who routinely sell them.

Cons of Becoming a Dermatologist

  • The career of a dermatologist requires immense years of studies to get a specialized degree.
  • The fees of these courses are high and, in case, these doctors are planning to set up their own clinic they will require a huge amount of capital.
  • One of the biggest cons of a career as a dermatologist is the competition that exists in their field.
  • The working schedule of these doctors is jam-packed and they hardly get quality time with family and friends.

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Skills Required to Become a Dermatologist

In-depth theoretical knowledge and practical experience in the field are the most important factors to become a successful Dermatologist. The important skills required to be a successful dermatologist are listed below:

Interpersonal Skill Dermatologists must be aware of his / her patient’s issues, and its root cause which would need them to interact freely so that the patients do not feel awkward sharing their concerns
Communication Skill Dermatologists must have excellent communication skills, through which they can understand the patients problems and can initiate a cure to it
Team Working Skill Dermatologists must be Able to Possess the skill to work in a team and along with other physicians, technicians and experts
Time Management Dermatologists must be very punctual and should be efficient in all ways, considering s/he will always have patients waiting for their visits
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skill Dermatologists must be Able to possess the knowledge to identify the disease and explain clearly about the disease and its remedy to the patient
Judgment and decision making skill Dermatologists must be Able to judge the mental and financial condition of the patient, and suggest the perfect cost-effective remedial measure
Service Orientation Skill Dermatologists must be Able to Adopt a compassionate and caring approach to motivate and guide patients
Use of modern treatment techniques Dermatologists must be Able to be acquainted with modern techniques in treatment and carry out procedures like biopsy for the purpose of treatment

Top Recruiters for Dermatologists

The Top Recruiters of Dermatologists are mentioned as follows: 

Apollo Hospitals Artemis Max Hospital
Kay Clinic Fortis Indian Armed Forces Medical Services

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Dermatologist: Average Salary

Here are the salary structure of the dermatologists in India, here are the salary structure as per the average annual salary, gender wise salary division, and experience wise. 

Average Annual Salary

Name of Organization Average Monthly Salary
Govt INR 53,330
Private INR 60,000

Experience Wise Salary

Experience Average Monthly Salary
Fresher INR 45,000
Experienced INR 1,00,000

How to Become a Dermatologist: FAQs

Q. What are the different types of dermatologists?

A. The different types of dermatologists are Immunodermatology, Mohs surgery, Pediatric dermatology, Teledermatology, Dermatoepidemiology Cosmetic dermatology, Dermatopathology, Trichology.

Q. What is the difference between the terms - dermatology and dermatologist?

A. Dermatology is the study of science behind the treatment of diseases related to the skin, hair and nails. A professional doctor who studies and implements the science of treating skin,hair and nails is called a dermatologist.

Q. Is a hair doctor called as a dermatologist? What is a hair doctor called?

A. The doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hair diseases is called a Trichologist. Trichology is a specialisation under the wide umbrella of Dermatology, hence, a trichologist is also a dermatologist.

Q. Is the MBBS degree required to become a Dermatologist?

A. Yes, to become a dermatologist, the aspirant needs to complete an undergraduate medical degree (MBBS) or any other Dermatology related course.

Q. What is the average fees to become a dermatologist?

A.The average fees to become a dermatologist is anything between INR 10,000 – INR 8,00,000.

Q. Is dermatologist a lucrative career?

A. Yes, the doctor usually has limited hours with little or no emergency cases. The salaries are good and professionals can maintain a good work-life balance.

Q. Is dermatology course hard to get into?

A. To get admission to a postgraduate course in the dermatology course after completing MBBS, a candidate will have to qualify for an entrance examination such as NEET PG and JIPMER PG.

Q. Is the subject of Maths required to become a dermatology?

A. No, Mathematics subject is not required for Dermatology courses..

Q. Can dermatologists perform surgery?

A. Yes, Dermatologists can perform surgeries.

Q. Is NEET required for dermatology?

A. Yes. To become a doctor , one has to complete a MBBS degree in India, for which the candidate needs to qualify NEET. After completing MBBS, he/she has to take up NEET PG to get admission to the Dermatology course.

Q. How long does it take for a student to become dermatologist?

A. After Class XII, a candidate takes 4.5 years to complete MBBS degree course, which is followed by 1 year of internship. Then around 3 years to complete the master's degree in Dermatology.

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Doctorate of Medicine [MD] (Dermatology) Colleges IN INDIA

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