MD Dermatology

MD Dermatology or Doctorate of Medicine in Dermatology is a three-year postgraduate course that deals with the branch of medicine related to skin and hair. It can be pursued after the attainment of an MBBS degree. The profession of dermatology encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to hair, skin, nails, cosmetic issues, and mucous membranes of the human body.

A dermatologist is capable of identifying and treating more than 3,000 different types of skin diseases after the completion of the course. MD dermatology courses in India often combine three branches - Dermatology, Leprosy, and Venereology - to provide a comprehensive medical education.

To be eligible to pursue MD dermatology courses, aspirants must pass entrance exams like DNB CET, NEET PG, AIIMS PG, JIPMER, etc. Most of these courses are delivered offline, while a few MD dermatology diploma courses may be offered as online courses.

Some of the top colleges in India offering MD dermatology courses are Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Indira Gandhi Medical College, and Mysore Medical College. On average, the course fee for MD dermatology ranges from INR 5,000 to INR 25 lakh per annum. Graduates in this field earn a decent average starting salary of INR 1-12 lakh annually

Check out the significant highlights of the MD Dermatology Courses in the table below:

The fundamentals of skin irritations and formal infections linked to demographic changes are covered in the MD Dermatology course. The three-year programme provides students with the opportunity to expand their knowledge of medical concepts and features related to dermatology symptoms. In comparison to other specialities, dermatology is a moderately fast-paced, highly visual discipline with a high clinic volume. 

As discussed, those who choose the career path of a dermatologist are specialised skin doctors who identify numerous illnesses and their effects on the hair, skin, glands, nails, and mucous membranes. It is a postgraduate programme that combines theoretical and clinical work. MD dermatologists may choose to specialise in one or more briefly stated following areas:

Dermatopathology

A pathologist or dermatologist who specialises in the pathology of the skin is known as a ‘dermatopathologist’. Dermatologists and pathologists both work in this area. Dermatopathology fellowships are typically completed by dermatologists or pathologists in one year. Generally, six months of dermatopathology and six months of general pathology are included.

Immunodermatology

Bullous, lupus, pemphigoid, pemphigus Vulgaris, and other immune-mediated skin illnesses are treated with particular expertise in this speciality. Many experts in this area own and operate their own immunopathology laboratories. The correct diagnosis and treatment of numerous diseases affecting epithelial organs, such as the skin, gastrointestinal, mucous membranes, and respiratory tracts, depend on immunodermatology testing.

Pediatric Dermatology

By completing a dermatological residency and a paediatric residency, doctors can become qualified for this speciality. They could also decide to finish a post-residency fellowship. The numerous challenges of working with children and tackling hereditary skin conditions (genodermatoses) and complex neonatal disorders are all included in this discipline.

Cosmetic Dermatology

Cosmetic dermatology, often known as aesthetic medicine, is a subspecialty of dermatology that focuses more on treating cosmetic issues with the skin. This area majorly concentrates on the skin on the face, neck, intimate areas, etc. Such issues may significantly affect a person's confidence and mental health. Thus, nowadays, it is a popular area of dermatology as more people are choosing cosmetic dermatological procedures, such as botox, dermal fillers, skin peels, or laser hair removal.

Trichology

Trichology focuses on illnesses that show up as hair loss, aberrant hair, hypertrichosis, and abnormalities to the scalp. Dermatologists with a focus on trichology employ a medical diagnostic technique called trichoscopy

The admission criteria to MD dermatology courses in India may differ depending on the requirements of the college or university. However, applicants need to fulfil the following basic eligibility requirements in order to enrol in MD dermatology courses in India:

• The attainment of an MBBS degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) or any other university, or an equivalent certification recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI) or any State Medical Council, is the prerequisite for enrolling in an MD dermatology course.
• At the postgraduate level, a minimum overall score of 55% is required for unreserved category students and at least 50% for reserved categories.
• To enrol in this programme, a one-year rotating internship is necessary.
• A majority of institutions favour applicants with relevant work experience, ideally at least 12 months of professional experience.
• The student's performance on the pertinent entrance exam will determine if they are admitted to the programme or course.

The NEET PG medical exam, which is held by NBE in January of each year, must be taken by the applicant if they want to be considered for admission to the MD dermatology courses. Students can find all admission-related details by visiting the official website of their desired college. The NEET-PG cutoff for MD dermatology is quite high for top private and public medical colleges due to its high demand and limited seat availability.

In India, dermatological seats in medical institutions are available under a variety of quotas, including All India Quota seats, Management quota seats, Institutional quota seats, and NRI quota seats, among others. Students can choose their quota preference during NEET-PG Counseling.  

There is no difference in the admissions process for MD dermatology courses regardless of the choice of specialisation. The following queries pertain to the specifics of the MD dermatology admissions procedure in general:

How To Start Applying?
Admission to MD Dermatology India is available in both online and offline modes. Furthermore, applicants must download the application and admission procedures for the universities/colleges they have selected. Students need to visit the college's website to complete the online application. In the offline method, they have to visit in person to the admissions office.

What is the Selection Process?
Almost every college releases a rank list based on scores obtained by aspirants in entrance exams. These ranks are combined with their scores in undergrad and other national-level exams, determining which students will be admitted as freshmen.

In India, multiple entrance exams are held for MD courses, such as the national level, state level, and university level. The following is a list of some of the entrance exams that applicants may take to enrol in MD dermatology courses:

NEET: NEET, or the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, is a national medical exam for MBBS or MD programmes. For postgraduate programmes, the NEET-PG entrance exam is held once a year. On the other hand, NEET-UG is for undergraduate programmes like MBBS and others.

AIIMS-PG: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences conducts a postgraduate entrance examination twice a year for students wishing to enrol in any graduate-level programmes, including dermatology courses. Additionally, AIIMS is an independent institution that offers a PhD in dermatology.

JIPMER: For the purpose admission to medical programmes, the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) conducts this university-level entrance exam.

UGC NET: Students who wish to enrol in the Dermatology diploma program at the University of Delhi are required to take the National Eligibility Test, which is conducted by the University Grants Commission.

Note: While NEET-PG is widely accepted by most Indian medical institutions, some colleges may require students to sit for their university-specific examinations as well. Thus, it is advisable to check the college or university-specific requirements carefully before applying.

After discussing the entrance tests for MD dermatology courses in India, let us briefly explore the colleges that provide these courses. The following are popular MD dermatology colleges in India:

• Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam
• B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad
• Bangalore Medical College, Bengaluru
• Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences, Belgaum
• Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College, Pune
• Gandhi Medical College Musheerabad, Secunderabad
• Government Medical College, Baroda
• Government Medical College, Kottayam
• Government Medical College, Kozhikode
• Government Medical College, Nagpur
• Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram
• Government Medical College, Thrissur
• Government T.D. Medical College, Alappuzha
• Grant Medical College, Mumbai
• Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Mumbai
• Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha
• Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, Mandya
• Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore
• Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad
• P.D.U. Govt. Medical College, Rajkot
• Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak
• Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Jaipur
• Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College, Mumbai

The following are the top MD Dermatology colleges in India segregated by their respective states:

As people's awareness of their appearance continues to expand, particularly in western nations, the scope of dermatology courses is widening. As a result, more colleges are providing students with precise curricula that enable them to cater to patients’ needs or hospital requirements where they will be working eventually. While studying MD dermatology courses abroad, one must acquire both the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to perform at their best.

Students who are profoundly interested in learning more about skin therapy and the methods used in the treatment are suitable for dermatology courses offered abroad. Aspiring dermatological students should concentrate on learning the skills required to work as professionals in the discipline. Since most hospitals do not offer enough employment options for dermatologists and usually retain them as visiting professors, they are typically appointed at private clinics or build up their own clinics.

The table below shows the top colleges to study MD dermatology courses abroad along with their respective countries:

In India, MD dermatology course fees vary from one college to another. It may be more cost-effective to study at a government-based institute than a private one due to its availability of infrastructure and facilities at a low cost. The following table shows the course fees for MD dermatology:

In India, MD dermatology courses include the following subjects as part of the curriculum:

• Viral and Rickettsia Diseases
• Vesicular Bullous Disorders
• Venereology
• Tzanck Smear
• STD’s and HIV infection diagnosis
• Skin scraping
• Skin Resurfacing
• Skin Manifestations of Systematic Diseases
• Skin changes due to Mechanical and Physical factors
• Skin Biopsy
• Phototherapy
• Fulguration
• Excision of growths and cysts
• Disorders due to drugs and chemical agents
• Dermato-Surgery
• Dermatology and systematic examinations
• Dark ground Microscopy
• Cryosurgery
• Clinical Dermatology

Before delving deeper into this field, students first complete a MBBS in dermatology to be abreast with basic knowledge for skin layers, diseases, various skin-related ailments and therapies. At the master's level, candidates can select their dermatology specialisation. The curriculum for the MD dermatology course is designed to introduce students to all the important and detailed concepts associated with the subject. There are various subjects taught in the course of dermatology are already discussed above. Now, check out the semester-wise course curriculum for MD dermatology given below:

The MD dermatology course syllabus aims to educate students about the fundamentals of skin agitations and formal infections associated with demographic changes, among other significant and arbitrary analyses. The MD dermatology syllabus is listed below, albeit it may change from one college to another:

One of the most captivating and sought-after postgraduate courses in India is the MD Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprosy. It has also been recognised by numerous medical schools of international calibre. As technology is advancing, several intriguing new trends are rejuvenating in the field of dermatology. These include automatic mole detection, teledermoscopy, cloud-based dermatology EMR software, and clinical decision support tools powered by artificial intelligence.

The demand for dermatologists who are skilled in various skin treatment modalities has increased as a result of the increasing number of skin problems in the world. A career in teaching is another option open to those with degrees in this area. Dermatologists can eventually open their clinics to treat skin problems after gaining a significant amount of expertise.

Job Profiles for MD Dermatologists

The career prospects in the field of MD dermatology are quite promising with lucrative salary packages and numerous opportunities. The following list includes some of the most typical job profiles for MD dermatologists:

• Clinical Application Specialist
• Cosmetic Dermatologist
• Surgical Dermatologist
• Cosmetic Surgeon
• Dermatologist
• Dermatology Consultant
• Medical Dermatologist
• Plastic Surgeon
• Professor in Dermatology 
• Restorative Surgeon
• Skin Specialist
• Therapy Manager- IVF Artificial Reproduction

Leading Recruiters for MD Dermatologists

Some of the top employers for MD dermatology graduates are listed below:

• Nursing Homes
• Medical Colleges
• Research Institutes  
• Private Clinics
• Relief Camps
• Indian Defense Services

The following is a list of some of the popular job roles for MD dermatology graduates, along with the associated job descriptions and salaries:

Dermatology is a branch of medicine that requires extreme accuracy and specific thoughtfulness while working with patients because different patients may respond differently to treatments. Below are a few of the skills needed to work in the field of dermatology:

Critical Thinking and Decision-Making: Candidates must be able to think critically and effectively in stressful situations, as well as be able to make sensible choices.

Good Memory: Candidates should be able to retain knowledge well enough to hold back the necessary details regarding their fieldwork.

Utilisation of Modern Tools and Technology: For the efficient treatment of patients, one must be knowledgeable about contemporary tools and technology.

Scientific Research and Medical Skills: Candidates must undertake research in the field of dermatology to find better solutions to uncertain problems that may occur in the future and to make the sector more inclusive.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Individuals in any medical field must have strong interpersonal and communication skills as they need to interact with patients or their family members. They are expected to convey good or bad news in a civil and kind way.

Precision: Since dermatologists work near the skin's surface, it has an impact on their patients' outward look. Thus, they must have stable hands and be confident about suturing.