Dermatology is a branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its appendages (hair, sweat glands, etc). Also known as the integumentary system it is often the largest organ system of an animal, comprising the skin, hair and nails

Therapy

The skin is obviously accessible to topical local therapy. Antibiotic creams can help eliminate infections, while inflammatory skin diseases (such as eczema and psoriasis) often respond to steroid creams or topical anthralin.

Topical medications treat many dermatological diseases, but dermatologists also use oral medications. Antibiotics and immune suppressants or immune enhancing agents (injection immunotherapy or topical imiquimod) for dermatological diseases or tumors. Isotretinoin ("Accutane") is used for severe cystic acne vulgaris and often produces a lifetime remission of this disfiguring disease.

Photomedicine involves the use of ultraviolet light, often in combination with oral or topical agents, to treat skin disease (e.g., psoriasis or mycosis fungoides).

Psychodermatology and hypnodermatology involve using hypnosis in combination with other pseudo-psychological therapies to treat skin disorders.