"100 Essential Dermatology Procedures: A Comprehensive Guide by Category"

 "100 Essential Dermatology Procedures: A Comprehensive Guide by Category"

Here’s a list of 100 procedures commonly performed in dermatology, grouped into categories like diagnostic, surgical, cosmetic, laser, and medical procedures.

1. Diagnostic Procedures

These procedures are primarily used to diagnose skin conditions.

Procedure	Description
1. Skin Biopsy	Removal of a small skin sample for pathological examination.
2. Punch Biopsy	A round instrument is used to remove a cylindrical section of skin for diagnosis.
3. Shave Biopsy	Removal of a superficial layer of skin for diagnosis.
4. Excisional Biopsy	Complete removal of a lesion or mole for histopathology.
5. Incisional Biopsy	Partial removal of a lesion for diagnostic purposes.
6. Patch Testing	Testing skin reaction to allergens by applying small amounts to the skin.
7. Dermoscopy	Use of a dermatoscope to examine pigmented skin lesions in detail.
8. Tzanck Smear	Microscopic examination of skin scrapings, used primarily for herpes virus diagnosis.
9. Wood’s Lamp Examination	Use of UV light to examine skin pigmentation and detect fungal infections.
10. Dermoscopy with Polarized Light	Enhanced visualization of skin lesions using polarized light.
11. Diascopy	Pressing a glass slide against the skin to check for blanching, helping in vascular lesion diagnosis.
12. Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) Test	Microscopic examination of skin scrapings to detect fungal infections.
13. Bacterial Culture	Swabbing a lesion to detect bacterial infections.
14. Fungal Culture	Collecting a skin sample to detect fungal organisms.
15. Viral Culture	Testing skin samples for the presence of viral infections, such as herpes.

2. Surgical Dermatology Procedures

These are procedures primarily focused on treating skin conditions through surgery.

Procedure	Description
16. Excision of Skin Lesions	Surgical removal of benign or malignant skin lesions.
17. Mohs Micrographic Surgery	A precise surgical technique for removing skin cancer layer by layer while preserving healthy tissue.
18. Cryosurgery	Freezing skin lesions, such as warts or precancerous lesions, using liquid nitrogen.
19. Electrosurgery	Using electrical currents to remove skin growths or cauterize tissue.
20. Curettage	Scraping off skin lesions such as warts or seborrheic keratosis with a sharp curette.
21. Skin Grafting	Transplanting healthy skin from one area to cover a wound or burn.
22. Cyst Removal	Surgical excision of cysts under the skin.
23. Sebaceous Cyst Removal	Removal of a blocked sebaceous gland that forms a cyst.
24. Ingrown Nail Surgery	Surgical treatment for ingrown toenails.
25. Nail Biopsy	Removal of a small piece of nail tissue for diagnosing nail disorders.
26. Scar Revision Surgery	Correcting or minimizing the appearance of scars.
27. Incision and Drainage (I&D)	Surgical procedure to drain abscesses or boils.
28. Debridement	Removal of dead or infected tissue to promote healing of chronic wounds.
29. Skin Tag Removal	Cutting off or freezing skin tags, small benign growths.
30. Lipoma Removal	Surgical excision of benign fat tumors under the skin.

3. Laser Procedures

Laser technology is commonly used in dermatology for various skin treatments.

Procedure	Description
31. Laser Hair Removal	Removal of unwanted hair using laser light targeting hair follicles.
32. Laser Skin Resurfacing	Removal of skin layers to improve texture and reduce scars, wrinkles, or pigmentation.
33. Laser Treatment for Vascular Lesions	Using laser to treat spider veins, hemangiomas, and other vascular conditions.
34. Laser Treatment for Acne Scars	Reducing acne scars by stimulating collagen and removing damaged skin.
35. Laser Tattoo Removal	Breaking down tattoo pigments using laser light.
36. Fractional Laser Treatment	Targeting microscopic areas of skin with a laser to stimulate new collagen.
37. Q-Switched Laser	Treating pigmented lesions and tattoos using short, intense laser pulses.
38. Laser Treatment for Psoriasis	Targeting psoriatic plaques with a focused beam of laser light.
39. Laser Treatment for Warts	Destroying wart tissue using focused laser energy.
40. Laser for Melasma	Treating melasma, a type of hyperpigmentation, with specialized lasers.
41. Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL)	Treating vascular conditions like rosacea and port-wine stains.
42. Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks	Improving the appearance of stretch marks by promoting collagen production.
43. Laser Genesis	A non-ablative laser treatment used to improve skin tone and texture.

4. Cosmetic Dermatology Procedures

These procedures are often performed for aesthetic purposes.

Procedure	Description
44. Botox Injections	Injecting botulinum toxin to temporarily reduce wrinkles by relaxing facial muscles.
45. Dermal Fillers	Injectable substances like hyaluronic acid used to fill wrinkles and restore volume.
46. Chemical Peels	Applying a chemical solution to remove the top layers of skin for improved texture and tone.
47. Microdermabrasion	Exfoliating the skin using a special device to remove dead skin cells and rejuvenate the skin.
48. Dermaplaning	A manual exfoliation technique using a sterile surgical scalpel to remove dead skin and fine hair.
49. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)	Using the patient’s own blood to promote healing and rejuvenation by injecting plasma rich in growth factors.
50. Sclerotherapy	Injection of a solution into veins to collapse and reduce the appearance of varicose veins and spider veins.
51. Thread Lift	A non-surgical facelift procedure using dissolvable sutures to lift sagging skin.
52. Microneedling	Using tiny needles to create micro-injuries, promoting collagen production and skin renewal.
53. CoolSculpting	Non-invasive fat reduction procedure that uses controlled cooling to target fat cells.
54. Lip Augmentation	Enhancing lip volume using injectable fillers or fat transfer.
55. Fat Grafting	Transferring fat from one area of the body to another for aesthetic purposes, such as facial rejuvenation.
56. Non-Surgical Nose Job	Using dermal fillers to reshape the nose without surgery.
57. Kybella	Injecting deoxycholic acid to reduce fat under the chin (double chin).
58. Laser Lipolysis	A minimally invasive procedure that uses laser energy to reduce localized fat deposits.

5. Medical Dermatology Procedures

These procedures focus on the treatment and management of skin diseases.

Procedure	Description
59. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)	A treatment that uses a drug activated by light to treat conditions like actinic keratosis and skin cancer.
60. UVB Phototherapy	Exposure to ultraviolet B light to treat psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions.
61. PUVA Therapy	Combination of UVA light and a photosensitizing drug to treat severe skin conditions like psoriasis.
62. Intralesional Steroid Injections	Injecting corticosteroids directly into skin lesions to reduce inflammation.
63. Acne Surgery	Extraction of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and drainage of cysts.
64. Psoralen-UVA (PUVA) Treatment	Treatment for psoriasis involving photosensitizing medication and UVA light.
65. Topical Immunotherapy	Applying topical agents like imiquimod to treat warts or skin cancer.
66. Blue Light Therapy	Treatment of acne or precancerous lesions using blue light to kill bacteria.
67. Cautery	Burning off warts, skin tags, or other skin growths using heat.
68. Light-Based Acne Treatments	Using light therapy, such as blue light or red light, to reduce acne-causing bacteria and inflammation.
69. Cryotherapy	Treatment of skin lesions, such as warts or actinic keratosis, using extreme cold.
70. Topical Chemotherapy	Application of chemotherapy agents, like 5-fluorouracil, to treat certain skin cancers.

6. Other Procedures

These procedures do not fall strictly into any of the above categories but are frequently performed in dermatology.

Procedure	Description
71. Ear Lobe Repair	Surgical procedure to correct torn or stretched earlobes.
72. Tattooing for Vitiligo	Micropigmentation to camouflage vitiligo or hypopigmented areas of skin.
73. Scar Camouflage Tattooing	Micropigmentation to disguise scars or skin imperfections.
74. Hair Transplantation	Transferring hair follicles from one area to another to treat hair loss.
75. Scalp Micropigmentation	Tattooing the scalp to create the appearance of hair for those with thinning hair or baldness.
76. Milia Extraction	Removing tiny white cysts (milia) from the skin.
77. Vitiligo Surgery	Surgical treatment for vitiligo, including skin grafting or melanocyte transplantation.
78. Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars (CROSS)	Using trichloroacetic acid to treat acne scars.
79. Photofacial (IPL)	Using intense pulsed light to treat skin pigmentation and vascular issues.
80. Hydrafacial	A multi-step facial treatment that cleanses, exfoliates, and hydrates the skin.
81. Blepharoplasty	Surgical procedure to correct droopy eyelids.
82. Surgical Hairline Lowering	Lowering the hairline surgically to correct a high forehead.
83. Platelet-Rich Plasma for Hair Loss	Injection of PRP to stimulate hair growth in people with thinning hair or alopecia.
84. Excisional Surgery for Melanoma	Surgical removal of melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer.
85. Surgical Removal of Basal Cell Carcinoma	Surgical excision of the most common type of skin cancer.

7. Light-Based and Energy-Based Procedures

These procedures use light or energy to treat skin conditions or for cosmetic enhancement.

Procedure	Description
86. Thermage	A non-invasive procedure using radiofrequency to tighten skin.
87. Ultherapy	Using ultrasound energy to lift and tighten the skin non-invasively.
88. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Therapy	A treatment for pigmentation, sun damage, and vascular lesions.
89. RF Microneedling	Combining radiofrequency energy with microneedling to stimulate skin rejuvenation.
90. Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)	Laser treatment for varicose veins.
91. Infrared Skin Tightening	Using infrared light to stimulate collagen production and tighten skin.
92. Fractional Radiofrequency	Targeting deep layers of the skin with radiofrequency energy to improve skin texture and wrinkles.

8. Hair and Nail Procedures

Procedures focusing on hair and nail disorders.

Procedure	Description
93. Scalp Biopsy	Removing a small section of scalp tissue to diagnose hair loss conditions.
94. Nail Avulsion	Removal of a toenail or fingernail for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons.
95. Matrixectomy	Permanent removal of part of the nail matrix to treat recurring ingrown nails.
96. Onychomycosis Treatment	Treating fungal infections of the nails using topical or oral medications, or laser therapy.
97. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)	A hair transplant technique where individual hair follicles are extracted and transplanted.
98. Trichoscopy	Examination of the hair and scalp using a dermatoscope.
99. Biologic Injections for Psoriasis	Injectable biologics for managing chronic skin conditions like psoriasis.
100. PRP for Hair Loss	Platelet-rich plasma injections to stimulate hair regrowth.

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This comprehensive list provides a snapshot of the wide array of procedures dermatologists perform, ranging from diagnostic and surgical interventions to cosmetic enhancements and light-based treatments