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 783 practicing dermatologists. Broken out by city, dermatology doctor density in Altamonte Springs is 4, in Aventura is 15, in Bay Harbor Islands is 5, in Belle Glade is 3, in Boca Raton is 45, in Bonita Springs is 8, in Boynton Beach is 13, in Bradenton is 10, in Brooksville is 5, in Cape Coral is 12, in Clearwater is 13, in Clermont is 4, in Cocoa Beach is 2, in Coconut Creek is 4, in Coral Gables is 17, in Coral Springs is 19, in Davenport is 3, in Davie is 2, in Daytona Beach is 6, in De Land is 1, in Deerfield Beach is 4, in Delray Beach is 29, in Deltona is 1, in Dunedin is 2, in Fort Lauderdale is 45, in Fort Myers is 23, in Fort Pierce is 4, in Fort Walton Beach is 8, in Gainesville is 25, in Hialeah is 8, in Hollywood is 25, in Homestead is 5, in Jacksonville is 44, in Jacksonville Beach is 2, in Jupiter is 12, in Key West is 1, in Kissimmee is 8, in Lady Lake is 4, in Lake City is 2, in Lake Mary is 6, in Lake Wales is 2, in Lake Worth is 12, in Lakeland is 14, in Largo is 14, in Lauderdale Lakes is 3, in Leesburg is 5, in Longwood is 3, in Maitland is 3, in Margate is 7, in Melbourne is 13, in Miami is 98, in Miami Beach is 20, in Miramar is 5, in Mount Dora is 3, in Naples is 28, in New Port Richey is 9, in New Smyrna Beach is 4, in North Miami is 1, in North Miami Beach is 9, in Ocala is 9, in Ocoee is 5, in Okeechobee is 1, in Orange Park is 9, in Orlando is 39, in Ormond Beach is 8, in Oviedo is 4, in Palatka is 2, 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 3, in Pembroke Pines is 12, in Pensacola is 16, in Pinellas Park is 3, in Plant City is 3, in Plantation is 12, in Pompano Beach is 8, in Port Orange is 4, in Port Richey is 10, in Punta Gorda is 1, in Rockledge is 2, in Sanford is 3, in Sarasota is 31, in Seminole is 6, in South Miami is 7, in Stuart is 8, in Sunrise is 11, in Tallahassee is 13, in Tamarac is 6, in Tampa is 45, in Tarpon Springs is 3, in Titusville is 2, in Venice is 7, in Vero Beach is 6, in West Palm Beach is 35, in Weston is 21, in Winter Haven is 3, in Winter Park is 6, and in Zephyrhills is 4.

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.