<strong>Arturo P. Saavedra, MD, PhD, MBA,</strong>  is Chief of Population Health and Health Policy and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. As a clinician and researcher, he specializes in the care of complex medical dermatology, with particular interest in HIV dermatology, severe drug reactions that manifest with dermatologic complications and care of oncologic and posttransplant patients.

NEJM Resident360 > Rotation Prep > Dermatology > Dermatology

Introduction

<div class="onepub-jats-front" id="10.1056/r360.i000915-front"><div class="onepub-jats-metadata two-column table"><div class="onepub-jats-row"><div class="onepub-jats-cell"><div class="onepub-jats-metadata-group"></div></div></div></div><div class="onepub-jats-metadata centered"></div></div><div class="onepub-jats-body" id="10.1056/r360.i000915-body"><div class="onepub-jats-section-container"><div class="onepub-introduction"><div class="onepub-jats-main-title"><h6 class="onepub-jats-title introduction">Introduction</h6></div><div class="onepub-jats-section-title"><h1 class="onepub-jats-title">Introduction</h1></div><p>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.</p><p>The skin biopsy is a frequently used diagnostic tool. This <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMvcm1105849" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">NEJM video</a> 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.</p><p>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 <a href="https://www.aad.org/public/video-library" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">American Academy of Dermatology website</a>.</p><p><b>The following conditions are covered in this rotation guide:</b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/dermatology/keratinocyte-carcinomas/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Keratinocyte Carcinomas (Squamous- and Basal-Cell Carcinomas)</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/dermatology/melanoma/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Melanoma</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/dermatology/acne-and-rosacea/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Acne and Rosacea</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/dermatology/psoriasis/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Psoriasis</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/dermatology/eczema/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Atopic Dermatitis &amp; Contact Dermatitis</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/dermatology/stasis-dermatitis/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Stasis Dermatitis</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/dermatology/herpes/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Cutaneous Herpes Infections</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/dermatology/molluscum-contagiosum/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Molluscum Contagiosum</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/dermatology/warts/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Warts</a><tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt></p></li></ul><p><b>Other relevant topics in Dermatology are covered in the following rotation guides:</b></p><ul class="onepub-jats-list-unordered"><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/allergy-immunology/drug-allergy/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Drug Allergy</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/allergy-immunology/urticaria-angioedema/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Urticaria</a> (Allergy/Immunology)</p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/infectious-diseases/sstis/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Skin and Soft Tissue Infections</a> (Infectious Disease)<a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/infectious-diseases/sstis/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank"></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/rotation-prep/rheumatology/sle/fast-facts" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Systemic Lupus Erythematosus</a> (Rheumatology)<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt></p></li></ul><div class="onepub-blueBox"><p>See <a href="https://resident360.nejm.org/content_items/next-steps-d/" class="onepub-link-primary" target="_blank">Next Steps</a> if you are interested in a career in dermatology and are looking for more information on conferences, training, and other opportunities.</p></div><div class="onepub-grayBox"><p>This rotation guide was developed by a collaborative team of contributors including:<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Writers:</b> Anar Mikailov, MD<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Peer Reviewers:</b> Emily Baumrin, MD; Chen (Amy) Chen, MD; Lauren Guggina, MD<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Section Expert:</b> Arturo Saavedra, MD, PhD, MBA<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Senior Editor:</b> Ole-Petter Hamnvik, MB BCh BAO, MMSc<tt><br class="onepub-jats-br"></tt><b>Last updated:</b> October 2021 by Clement Lee, MD, MS (NEJM Fellow)</p></div><p></p></div></div></div>