Dermatology Dermatology

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Introduction

Diseases that affect the skin are often evaluated and managed by internists and other nondermatologists. Many dermatologic diseases are manifestations of systemic disease. Most dermatology care is delivered in the outpatient setting, although some of the most challenging cases are seen in hospitalized patients. This rotation guide provides an overview of outpatient and inpatient skin conditions that are important for general internists to understand, with a particular emphasis on clinical diagnosis.

The skin biopsy is a frequently used diagnostic tool. This NEJM video includes a technical review of the procedure as well as a discussion of indications, contraindications, preparation (including selection of the biopsy site), equipment, procedure, and aftercare.

The most important aspect of the skin biopsy is selection of the most appropriate and most representative sample. Additional dermatology procedure videos can be found at the American Academy of Dermatology website.

The following conditions are covered in this rotation guide:

Other relevant topics in Dermatology are covered in the following rotation guides:

See Next Steps if you are interested in a career in dermatology and are looking for more information on conferences, training, and other opportunities.

This rotation guide was developed by a collaborative team of contributors including:
Writers: Anar Mikailov, MD
Peer Reviewers: Emily Baumrin, MD; Chen (Amy) Chen, MD; Lauren Guggina, MD
Editor: Arturo Saavedra, MD, PhD, MBA (Section Expert)
Senior Editor: Ole-Petter Hamnvik, MB BCh BAO, MMSc
Last updated: June 2020 by Ken Wu, MBBS, MRCPCH (NEJM Fellow)

 

  • Arturo Saavedra, MD, PhD, MBA's avatar
    Arturo Saavedra, MD, PhD, MBA

    Arturo P. Saavedra, MD, PhD, MBA is the Vice Chairman for Clinical Affairs and Director of Medical Dermatology for the Department of Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Harvard Medical School and is an attending physician at both MGH Dermatology and at the MGH Cancer Center. He is an expert in dermatological treatment of diseases associated with bone marrow transplantation and severe drug reactions.