Dermatology is a branch of medical science that deals with the treatment of skin. It specializes in both the surgical as well as the medical aspect of the skin. In a broader sense, dermatology also includes hair, nails and other cosmetic problems. A medical doctor which specializes in this field is referred to as a dermatologist. Some sub-branches in dermatology are cosmetic dermatology, dermatopathology, trichology, immunodermatology, Mohs surgery, pediatric dermatology, teledermatology and dermatoepidemiology. Cosmetic dermatology has gained prominence in the last few years with cosmetic procedures becoming more common. Dermatopathology is a subfield that specializes in the pathology of the skin. Dermatopathologists undergo training in both general pathology and dermatopathology. Trichology deals mostly with issues such as hair loss, scalp changes and other problems related to hair. Immunodermatology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of immune-mediated skin disorders such as pemphigus vulgaris, lupus, etc. Mohs surgery is another important sub-speciality that concentrates on excision of skin cancer using a special surgical technique. Pediatric dermatology deals with hereditary skin disorders and skin difficulties found in the pediatric population. Teledermatology is a recent and innovative sub field in dermatology in which consultation is carried out using medical information exchange using audio and visual communication. Remote consulting is the novel feature in this type of consulting. 

Diploma in dermatology is a specialization course that is designed as a career-oriented course enabling a wider scope for job position improvement. The course imparts the candidates with an in-depth specialization in dermatology. The main subjects offered in  the curriculum are skin biology, common skin disorders, moles, skin cancers, infections and infestations, skin systemic disease and clinical practice to name a few. The main objective of the course is to train the candidates with the knowledge to diagnose and treat common skin problems and other related ailments. 

Diploma in dermatology is offered for practicing doctors who wish to improve their current position. Hence, the main eligibility to enroll for the course is that the candidate should have an MBBS from an institute recognized by the Medical Council of India (MCI). Additional eligibilities may depend upon the institute one is enrolling in. The course duration is generally 2 years, but again this is also subjective depending upon the nature of teaching. The duration may change if it is pursued as a distant learning course. The admission offered by institutes are on the basis of merit scored by the candidates appearing in the medical PG entrance examination. Candidates completing the course may get into job roles such as dermatologist, consultant dermatologist, assistant cosmetologist, etc. They may work in different sectors such as government and private hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, health centres, hospital administrative jobs, etc. Recent data show that there is an increase in demand for dermatologists internationally. The salary earned by a dermatologist depends upon the experience and skill one has gained. A typical dermatologist annually earn around Rs 16 Lakhs on an average. This figure becomes around Rs 12 lakhs for consultant dermatologists. It should be noted that these are average figures and it is also observed that dermatologists who sets up their own clinic earn on a higher margin.