Dermatologist

/ˌdɜːrməˈtɒlədʒɪst/ noun

Definition

A medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the skin, hair, nails, and related tissues.

Etymology

From Greek derma meaning 'skin' and logos meaning 'study,' combined with the suffix -ist meaning 'practitioner.' The term emerged in the late 19th century as medical specialization developed and skin conditions became better understood.

Kelly Says

Your skin is actually your body's largest organ, weighing about 8 pounds and covering roughly 22 square feet in adults! Dermatologists deal with over 3,000 different conditions affecting this remarkable barrier that completely replaces itself every 28 days.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.