Dermatology: Hair, Nail, and Skin Condition Information

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 4 Aug 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

Learn what dermatology is, how it treats hair, nail, and skin conditions, the diseases dermatologists diagnose, and the surgical and cosmetic care involved.

At a Glance

• 1 - The skin renews itself about every 28 days.
• 2 - Skin accounts for roughly 15 percent of your body weight.
• 3 - Your skin is thickest on the feet at about 1.4 mm and thinnest on the eyelids at about 0.2 mm.
• 4 - The average adult has around 21 square feet of skin containing more than 11 miles of blood vessels, and sheds 30,000 to 40,000 dead cells every minute.

Topic Definition

Dermatology

Dermatology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the hair, nails, and skin, along with the many diseases and conditions that affect them. It is a specialty with both medical and surgical sides, meaning a dermatologist may diagnose and treat everything from acne, eczema, and psoriasis to skin cancers such as melanoma, using approaches that range from topical and oral medications to injections, dermatologic surgery, and cosmetic procedures like chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion. The skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system, the network of skin, hair, nails, and related glands that encloses and protects the body, so its health can also reflect wider changes in a person's overall well-being. Although thousands of skin disorders have been described, only a relatively small number account for most visits to the doctor, and many respond well to specialized diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Overview

Dermatology: Defined as the branch of medicine dealing with the hair, nails, skin and its diseases. It is a specialty with both medical and surgical aspects.

Dermatologist: Takes care of diseases and cancers of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails.

Dermatosis (plural dermatoses): Defined as any disease of the skin, and, while thousands of skin disorders have been described, only a small number account for most visits to the doctor.

Immunodermatology: A specialist who specializes in the treatment of immune mediated skin diseases such as lupus, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus vulgaris, and other immune mediated skin disorders. Specialists in this field often run their own immunopathology labs.

Skin Diseases

Skin conditions, also known as cutaneous conditions, are defined as any medical condition that affects the integumentary system - the organ system that encloses the human body and includes skin, hair, nails, and related muscle and glands.

Skin conditions that irritate, clog, or inflame your skin can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, burning, and itching. Allergies, irritants, your genetic makeup, and certain diseases and immune system problems can cause dermatitis, hives, and other skin conditions. Many skin issues, such as acne, also impact your appearance. Your skin can also develop several kinds of cancers.

Research shows that many skin diseases are caused by nutrient imbalances within the human body.

Skin disease usually entails specialized diagnostic processes linked to skin conditions, treatments, and preventions of various skin diseases, and may involve treatments such as injected, externally applied, and internal medications, a variety of dermatologic surgical procedures, or cosmetic procedures like chemical peels, micro-dermabrasion, and sclerotherapy for conditions such as varicose veins.

List of Hair, Nails, and Skin Diseases

See our full list of skin diseases and conditions, or find out other interesting facts regarding human skin.

Human Skin Facts

• The skin renews itself every 28 days.
• Skin accounts for about 15% of your body weight.
• Changes in your skin can sometimes signal changes in your overall health.
• Dead skin comprises about a billion tons of dust in the earth's atmosphere.
• Your skin is its thickest on your feet (1.4 mm) and thinnest on your eyelids (0.2 mm).
• Your skin constantly sheds dead cells, about 30,000 to 40,000 cells every minute! That's nearly 9 lbs. per year!
• The average adult has approximately 21 square feet (1.95 square meters) of skin, which weighs 9 lbs and contains more than 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) of blood vessels.
• The average person has about 300 million skin cells. A single square inch of skin has about 19 million cells and up to 300 sweat glands.

Other facts regarding skin, as well as a fascinating list of unusual facts and trivia regarding other parts of the human body, can be found on our web page at Human Body Facts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions does a dermatologist treat?

A dermatologist treats diseases and cancers of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails, ranging from common concerns like acne and eczema to more complex issues such as melanoma and immune mediated skin disorders.

When should you see a dermatologist?

It is wise to see a dermatologist for a mole that changes, a rash that does not clear, persistent itching or acne, hair loss, or any skin growth you are unsure about, since early evaluation can help.

What is the difference between a dermatologist and an immunodermatologist?

A general dermatologist treats a broad range of skin, hair, and nail conditions, while an immunodermatologist focuses on immune mediated skin diseases such as lupus, pemphigus vulgaris, and bullous pemphigoid.

Can skin problems be a sign of other health issues?

Yes, changes in the skin can sometimes signal changes in overall health, and research suggests that some skin diseases are linked to nutrient imbalances within the body.

What treatments do dermatologists commonly use?

Treatments can include topical creams, oral and injected medications, dermatologic surgery, and cosmetic procedures such as chemical peels, micro-dermabrasion, and sclerotherapy for conditions like varicose veins.

Are all skin growths a cause for concern?

Not all growths are dangerous, since many moles, skin tags, and age spots are harmless, but any new, changing, or unusual growth should be checked by a dermatologist to rule out skin cancer.

How can you keep your skin healthy?

Protecting skin from excess sun, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and treating irritation early all support skin health, and a dermatologist can advise on a routine suited to your skin.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 4 Aug 2026