Dermatology is the study of disorders of the skin. A dermatologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats diseases of the skin. This specialist also diagnoses and treats problems of the skin, mouth, external genitalia, and some sexually transmitted diseases. A dermatologist is knowledgeable regarding skin cancers, moles, tumors of the skin, allergic reactions to chemicals or other substances, and changes of the skin associated with aging.

Dermatologists also treat cosmetic disorders of the skin such as hair loss and scars, internal disorders and diseases that affect the skin, and are qualified to perform standard surgical techniques used in the field of dermatology.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Melanoma, moles / warts, tattoo removal, acne scarring, Skin Cancer, skin rash, psoriasis, lice, Scabies, Rosacea, Boil, cysts, lesions, eczema, Dandruff, Canker sore, Baldness, Basal cell carcinoma, Genital wart, and mycosis.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including facial peels, burn care, liposuction, laser surgery, botulinum toxin (Botox) injections, photodynamic therapy (PDT), blepharoplasty, sclerotherapy, cryosurgery, UVB PHOTOTHERAPY, skin cancer surgery, Mohs' micrographic surgery, electrosurgery, and minimally-invasive facelift surgery (S-lift).

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including culture, x-ray, biopsy, patch test, Physical examination, Wood's light, and dermatoscopic exam.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. California has 1,504 practicing dermatologists. Broken out by city, dermatology doctor density in Alameda is 3, in Anaheim is 17, in Bakersfield is 7, in Berkeley is 5, in Beverly Hills is 49, in Bishop is 6, in Burbank is 13, in Burlingame is 4, in Camarillo is 5, in Campbell is 2, in Chula Vista is 9, in Corona is 9, in Coronado is 5, in Costa Mesa is 5, in Covina is 3, in Daly City is 3, in Danville is 6, in Encinitas is 30, in Escondido is 7, in Fountain Valley is 7, in Fremont is 18, in Fresno is 18, in Fullerton is 9, in Glendale is 15, in Glendora is 6, in Hercules is 3, in Huntington Beach is 18, in Irvine is 26, in La Mesa is 13, in Laguna Hills is 12, in Laguna Niguel is 4, in Lake Forest is 5, in Lakewood is 10, in Lancaster is 9, in Loma Linda is 21, in Long Beach is 31, in Los Alamitos is 15, in Los Altos is 6, in Los Angeles is 146, in Los Gatos is 7, in Malibu is 3, in Manhattan Beach is 7, in Mill Valley is 3, in Milpitas is 5, in Mission Viejo is 21, in Modesto is 13, in Monterey is 12, in Monterey Park is 5, in Mountain View is 19, in Newport Beach is 43, in Oakland is 22, in Oceanside is 21, in Orange is 26, in Orinda is 3, in Oxnard is 8, in Palm Desert is 3, in Palm Springs is 1, in Palo Alto is 61, in Pasadena is 31, in Petaluma is 4, in Pleasanton is 10, in Poway is 5, in Rancho Mirage is 6, in Redding is 8, in Redlands is 9, in Redondo Beach is 6, in Ridgecrest is 5, in Riverside is 18, in Rolling Hills Estates is 4, in Sacramento is 69, in San Clemente is 7, in San Diego is 116, in San Francisco is 119, in San Jose is 41, in San Luis Obispo is 5, in San Mateo is 10, in San Pablo is 1, in San Ramon is 6, in Santa Ana is 11, in Santa Barbara is 19, in Santa Cruz is 8, in Santa Maria is 4, in Santa Monica is 25, in Santa Rosa is 12, in Simi Valley is 6, in Solana Beach is 6, in Stockton is 14, in Sunnyvale is 7, in Tehachapi is 1, in Temecula is 10, in Thousand Oaks is 14, in Torrance is 30, in Upland is 6, in Vallejo is 8, in Victorville is 4, in Vista is 9, in Walnut Creek is 23, in Westlake Village is 11, in Yuba City is 4, and in Yucca Valley is 1.

California’s population is 36,142,137, and it is America’s third largest and most populous state. It also claims the highest and lowest altitudes in the lower 48 states. The lowest point in the country, Death Valley, is also home to the nation’s highest recorded temperature, 134 degrees. Tourists flock to this state for its many outdoor activities and attractions, including Universal Studios, Disneyland, Rodeo Drive shopping, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, wine country tours, and California’s numerous beaches and parks. Los Angeles is the nation’s second largest city, but California’s capital is Sacramento. The giant sequoias in California’s forests are among the oldest living things in the world, and a redwood in the Redwood National Park is said to be the world’s tallest tree, at 365 feet. California achieved statehood in 1850, and was named the Golden State after the beginning of the Gold Rush in 1848.

According to 2005 Census estimates, California has a population of 36,132,147. Of this population, 9,308,563 are under the age of 18 and 3,827,038 are at or above the age of 65.