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. Florida has 892 practicing dermatologists. Broken out by city, dermatology doctor density in Altamonte Springs is 7, in Aventura is 12, in Bay Harbor Islands is 4, in Belle Glade is 3, in Boca Raton is 53, in Bonita Springs is 10, in Boynton Beach is 15, in Bradenton is 12, in Brooksville is 5, in Cape Coral is 12, in Clearwater is 19, in Clermont is 6, in Cocoa Beach is 3, in Coconut Creek is 3, in Coral Gables is 14, in Coral Springs is 20, in Davenport is 3, in Davie is 1, in Daytona Beach is 8, in De Land is 1, in Deerfield Beach is 5, in Delray Beach is 30, in Deltona is 3, in Fort Lauderdale is 47, in Fort Myers is 22, in Fort Pierce is 2, in Fort Walton Beach is 7, in Gainesville is 25, in Hialeah is 13, in Hollywood is 34, in Homestead is 5, in Hypoluxo is 1, in Jacksonville is 56, in Jacksonville Beach is 3, in Jupiter is 13, in Key West is 2, in Kissimmee is 11, in Lady Lake is 4, in Lake City is 2, in Lake Mary is 6, in Lake Wales is 3, in Lake Worth is 13, in Lakeland is 17, in Largo is 20, in Lauderdale Lakes is 1, in Leesburg is 4, in Longwood is 5, in Maitland is 2, in Margate is 6, in Melbourne is 16, in Miami is 110, in Miami Beach is 20, in Miramar is 6, in Mount Dora is 4, in Naples is 25, in New Port Richey is 11, in New Smyrna Beach is 4, in North Miami is 1, in North Miami Beach is 9, in Ocala is 10, in Ocoee is 5, in Okeechobee is 1, in Orange Park is 10, in Orlando is 40, in Ormond Beach is 8, in Oviedo is 4, in Palatka is 3, in Palm Bay is 3, in Palm Beach is 1, in Palm Beach Gardens is 21, in Palm Coast is 4, in Panama City is 2, in Pembroke Pines is 12, in Pensacola is 13, in Pinellas Park is 3, in Plant City is 3, in Plantation is 11, in Pompano Beach is 17, in Port Orange is 5, in Port Richey is 13, in Punta Gorda is 3, in Rockledge is 5, in Sanford is 2, in Sarasota is 31, in Seminole is 10, in South Miami is 8, in Stuart is 12, in Sunrise is 11, in Tallahassee is 15, in Tamarac is 7, in Tampa is 61, in Tarpon Springs is 2, in Titusville is 4, in Venice is 10, in Vero Beach is 6, in West Palm Beach is 40, in Weston is 18, in Winter Haven is 3, in Winter Park is 6, and in Zephyrhills is 5.

Florida’s warm and humid subtropical climate makes it a winter destination for many. Population in 2000 was 15,982,378, according to census statistics. Tallahassee, located in the north panhandle area, is the state capital. Tourism is a major industry in Florida, with Cape Canaveral, Disney World, the Everglades National Park, Universal Studios, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast all destinations for visitors and residents. Year-round outdoor activities include camping, golf, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and boating.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Florida has a population of 17,789,864. Of this population, 3,975,071 are under the age of 18 and 2,978,335 are at or above the age of 65.