Editing Dermatology (section)

===United States===
After earning a medical degree ([[Doctor of Medicine|M.D.]] or [[Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine|D.O.]]), the length of training in the United States for a general dermatologist to be eligible for board certification by the [[American Academy of Dermatology]], [[American Board of Dermatology]], or [[American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology]] is four years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is a dermatologist? |url=https://www.aad.org/public/fad/what-is-a-derm |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=www.aad.org |language=en}}</ref> This training consists of an initial medical, transitional, surgical, or pediatric intern year followed by a three-year dermatology residency.<ref name="aad.org" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abderm.org/residency.html |title=American Board of Dermatology |publisher=Abderm.org |access-date=2012-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610234130/http://www.abderm.org/residency.html |archive-date=2013-06-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aocd.org/qualify/board_certification.html |title=American Osteopathic College of Dermatology - Qualifications Overview |website=Aocd.org |access-date=2012-10-28 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015061926/http://www.aocd.org/qualify/board_certification.html}}</ref> Following this training, one- or two-year post-residency fellowships are available in [[immunodermatology]], [[phototherapy]], [[laser medicine]], [[Mohs micrographic surgery]], [[cosmetic surgery]], [[dermatopathology]], or pediatric dermatology. While these dermatology fellowships offer additional subspecialty training, many dermatologists proficiently provide these services without subspecialty fellowship training. For the past several years, dermatology residency positions in the United States have been one of the most competitive to obtain.<ref name="most competitive">{{cite journal |title=The academic strength of current dermatology residency applicants|quote=...has been the most competitive of all specialties for at least the last 5-6 years as seen by results published by the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).|vauthors=Wu JJ, Tyring SK |journal=Dermatology Online Journal |year=2003 |volume=9|issue=3|page=22|doi=10.5070/D340v593q5|pmid=12952769 }}</ref><ref name="most competitive2">{{cite journal |title=Dermatology Residency Program Characteristics That Correlate With Graduates Selecting an Academic Dermatology Career|quote=Dermatology continues to be the most competitive residency to enter... |vauthors=Wu JJ, Ramirez CC, Alonso CA, Mendoza N, Berman B, Tyring SK |journal=Archives of Dermatology|date=July 2006|volume=142|issue=7|pages=845–850 |doi=10.1001/archderm.142.7.845|pmid=16847199 |doi-access=}}</ref><ref name="most competitive3">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/fashion/19beauty.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin |title=For Top Medical Students, an Attractive Field |work=The New York Times |first=Natasha |last=Singer |date=2008-03-19 |access-date=2010-05-01}}</ref>

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologists are trained to diagnose and manage over 3,000 distinct skin, hair, and nail conditions across patients spanning various age groups.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |last2= |date=2019-12-10 |title=What Is Dermatology? |url=https://www.castleconnolly.com/topics/dermatology/what-is-dermatology |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Castle Connolly |language=en}}</ref>

The United States has been experiencing a national shortage of dermatologists for more than a decade. A study published by the ''Journal of the American Medical Association'' reported fewer than 3.4 dermatologists for every 100,000 people.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Analysis of Trends in Geographic Distribution and Density of US Dermatologists|publisher=American Medical Association|date=2017-04-01|doi=10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.5411|last1=Glazer|first1=Alex M. |last2=Farberg|first2=Aaron S. |last3=Winkelmann|first3=Richard R.|last4=Rigel|first4=Darrell S.|journal=JAMA Dermatology|volume=153 |issue=4|pages=322–325|pmid=28146246|s2cid=9283682}}</ref>