Dermatology Nursing and Its Role in Skin Health

You know what dermatology means, but what exactly is dermatology nursing? Are dermatology nurses the ones who help remove acne scars or the ones who treat wounds?

Find answers to these questions and more to better understand this nursing specialty and determine whether it’s right for you.

How Much Do Dermatology Nurses Make in the US?

Dermatology nurses' salaries depend on several factors, including license type and setting.

For example, the following are the average annual wages for registered nurses (RNs) in settings where dermatology nurses work:

$81,730: Nursing and residential care facilities
$83,110: Offices of physicians
$87,430: Home healthcare services
$96,820: Hospitals
$102,640: Outpatient care centers

Furthermore, according to the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, the median compensation range for dermatology nurse practitioners (NPs) was between $125,000 and $162,500 in 2023. The following statistics further illustrate how much dermatology NPs make:

Less than $100,000 per year: Two-thirds of the NPs in this group provided 10 to 24 hours of patient care per week.
$150,000 – $199,000 per year: Approximately 30 percent of dermatology NPs earned within this range.
$200,000 per year: The group earning over $200,000 constitutes almost one-fourth of dermatology NPs.
$250,000 per year: NPs earning $250,000 or more provided more surgical and cosmetic procedures than general dermatology services.

Importance of Pay in Career Choices

Nurses consider many aspects before choosing positions or career paths. Money is undoubtedly one of these considerations, but it’s not always the determining factor.

For example, hospitals are among the highest-paying settings for RNs. However, nurses are leaving hospitals at alarming rates.

Furthermore, only 51 percent of nurse practitioners work in cosmetic or procedural dermatology, even though it is the highest-paying area in the specialty. On the other hand, 86 percent work with medical dermatology patients.

Besides high pay, nurses look for flexible schedules, safe patient-to-nurse ratios, and positive environments, among other factors.

What Is Dermatology Nursing?

Dermatology nursing focuses on improving skin health in various settings. It involves assessing, diagnosing, treating, preventing, and educating about skin diseases and conditions in individuals, families, communities, and larger populations.

Dermatology nurses may further subspecialize to care for and treat specific populations. Subspecialties include pediatrics, aesthetics, surgical, oncologic, and immunodermatology.

What Is Cosmetic Dermatology?

Cosmetic dermatology focuses on the cosmetic or aesthetic applications of dermatology. It is a subspecialty of dermatology.

Healthcare professionals specializing in cosmetic dermatology may work in dermatology clinics, general practices, or medical spas.

The following are some cosmetic applications of dermatology:

a person recieving lazer treatment — Utilizing the latest advanced technologies to achieve optimal results.

Correcting skin tone
Treating acne
Removing acne scars with laser treatments
Removing tattoos
Tightening skin
Smoothing wrinkles
Removing facial or body hair
Reducing surface fat
Treating cellulite

Aesthetic Nursing vs. Dermatology Nursing

There is some overlap between aesthetic and dermatology nursing.

Both aesthetic and dermatology nurses may assist with cosmetic dermatology procedures. However, whereas dermatology nurses work with dermatologists, aesthetic nurses may work with other practitioners such as plastic surgeons and dentists.

Dermatology nurses specialize in skin, while aesthetic nurses specialize in cosmetic procedures.

Dermatology Nursing vs. Wound Care Nursing

There is some overlap between these nursing specialties, too.

Dermatology nurses can treat wounds since they are skin conditions. However, wound care nurses treat wounds significantly more often than dermatology nurses.

Dermatology nurses typically work with general and cosmetic dermatology, treating numerous conditions that wound care nurses would not treat, such as eczema or psoriasis.

Dermatology and wound care nurses work in many of the same settings and may even treat the same patients. However, they usually see patients for different conditions. For example, a dermatology nurse may treat a patient with scabies, while a wound care nurse may simultaneously treat the same patient’s pressure sores.

What Is the Schedule of a Dermatology Nurse?

It is more common for dermatology nurses to work regular office hours than for many other nursing professionals. However, schedules largely depend on where nurses work.

Nurses working in private offices, academic centers, community clinics, and corrections facilities typically work Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Nurses working in hospitals may have different schedules. However, it is common for nurses to work three 12-hour shifts per week.
Nurses working in home health settings may work nine to five, or they may work nights or weekends.
Since long-term care facilities provide 24-hour care, nurses in these settings may have different schedules. They may work eight-, 10-, or 12-hour shifts during the day or at night.
Nurses working in telemedicine often work nine to five. However, some work nights, and other schedules are also possible.
Many ambulatory care settings are open 24 hours a day. Therefore, dermatology nurses working in ambulatory care may also have a variety of work schedules.

Steps to Becoming a Dermatology Nurse

According to the Dermatology Nurses’ Association (DNA), dermatology nurses are RNs, or advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who care for and treat people with dermatologic diseases.

Becoming a Dermatology RN

To become a dermatology RN, a candidate typically must complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. They also must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Besides passing the NCLEX, a candidate must meet state-specific requirements to receive an RN license.

Registered nurses receive basic dermatologic training in their undergraduate programs. However, the Dermatology Nurses’ Association considers that they need additional training focused on the nursing care of dermatologic conditions in the practice setting. Entry-level dermatology nurses usually participate in on-the-job dermatology training programs.

Becoming a Dermatology APRN

Dermatology APRNs are mainly nurse practitioners. After completing an ADN or a BSN, an aspiring dermatology nurse practitioner must complete a master’s, post-master certificate, or doctor of nursing practice degree in one of the core populations:

Adult-gerontology
Neonatal
Pediatrics
Family/individuals across the lifespan
Women’s health/gender relation
Psychiatric/mental health

They must have national certification focusing on one of the previous populations and obtain state licensure.

Nurse practitioners specializing in dermatology must pursue additional knowledge and skills in this area of nursing. Few dermatology post-master training programs exist. According to the DNA, most nurse practitioners (73 percent) acquire this specialization through on-the-job training with dermatologists or experienced dermatology nurse practitioners.

Many also attend national nursing conferences and workshops and complete continuing education credits in this specialty area.

What Are Dermatology Nursing Certifications?

The Dermatology Nursing Certification Boards offer specialty certifications for registered nurses and nurse practitioners.

Dermatology Nurse Certified (DNC)

Registered nurses who wish to obtain the Dermatology Nurse Certified (DNC) nursing credential must meet the following requirements:

Have at least two years of dermatology nursing experience as a registered nurse.
Hold a current and unrestricted license as an RN in the United States or Canada.
Have at least 2,000 hours of work experience in dermatology nursing in the past two years. Experience must be in general staff, administrative, teaching, or research capacities.

Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP)

Nurse practitioners interested in pursuing dermatology certification must meet the following criteria:

Hold current NP licensure.
Have national nurse practitioner certification.
Have at least 3,000 hours of general dermatology practice with current practice in dermatology. Practice hours accrued during a formal dermatology NP academic program count towards the 3,000 hours.

Dermatology RN vs. Dermatology NP

Both dermatology professionals may work in the same settings and care for the same types of patients. However, dermatology NPs have a wider scope of practice than dermatology RNs and additional competencies.

NPs have advanced competencies in the following areas:

Promoting health
Preventing disease or injury
Recognizing early signs and symptoms
Managing diseases of patients with or at risk of having dermatologic diseases

Which Conditions Does Dermatology Nursing Treat?

a person scratching a skin rash on an arm — From serious illnesses to cosmetic corrections, a dermatologist is trained to provide you with the expertise needed for effective solutions.

Dermatology nurses treat numerous skin diseases and conditions ranging from acne to cancer.

The following statistics highlight some of the most common skin conditions that nurses in this specialty treat:

Acne affects up to 50 million people annually in the United States. It is the most common skin condition in the country.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States.
Approximately 25 percent of children in the US have atopic dermatitis.
About 7.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis.

These are some of the most common skin conditions. However, dermatology nurses may encounter thousands of diseases over the course of their careers.

Some conditions are limited to the skin, like angiomas. Other skin conditions are manifestations of underlying systemic diseases, such as Crohn's, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, or lupus.

Some conditions, such as pruritic disorders or atopic dermatitis, can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. Others, such as acne and vascular lesions, can have important psychological and social implications. Others, such as meningococcemia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, or erythroderma, can be life-threatening.

Skin conditions can be acute or chronic, inherited or acquired. This specialty is vast and has extensive opportunities for professional development.

What Is the Role of Nurses in Dermatology?

Besides carrying out common nursing tasks, nurses in this specialty often fulfill the following essential roles:

Monitoring patients and performing individualized, evidence-based interventions that maintain or improve physical and psychosocial health
Facilitating and optimizing behavioral changes and adherence to treatment throughout the continuum of care
Facilitating and optimizing the therapeutic relationships between the dermatology care team, patient, family, and caregivers
Performing interventions that reduce risk factors for the development of skin disease
Educating and counseling patients regarding skin care, disease management, and prevention
Developing evidence-based standards of practice and competencies that promote skin health
Advocating for patients and developing policies to support patients and families throughout care
Participating in data collection for dermatology research

Does Dermatology Need Specialized Nurses?

Nurses have made important contributions to dermatologic care. The following are findings from different studies proving the importance of dermatology nursing.

Clinics led by nurses have been successful in reducing the severity of childhood atopic dermatitis. The success is related to providing adequate time for education and demonstration of treatments.
Dermatology nurse practitioners and dermatologists have comparable results in treating eczema. This is especially significant in the context of a dermatologist shortage.
Randomized controlled trials have shown that nurses with dermatology training effectively educate patients and support them in managing chronic skin conditions.
Nurse-led care in dermatology has contributed to improved topical therapy use and reduced skin condition severity.
Patients followed skin self-examination recommendations more often when nurses who were trained in pigmented lesions educated patients by using photographs.

Are You Interested in This Nursing Specialty?

Nursing is such a diverse profession that there are nearly endless career advancement and specialization opportunities.

Dermatology nursing may seem interesting, but how can you know for sure if it’s the right career path for you?

When it comes to making important career decisions, nothing beats firsthand experience. Explore different nursing roles and work settings by picking up PRN jobs with Nursa.

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