No. A dermatology practice does not need one doctor for medical care and a different doctor for cosmetic care. New York licenses physicians to practice medicine, and its medical licensing law does not create separate licenses for medical and cosmetic dermatology. Dermatology training covers skin disease, skin surgery and cosmetic concerns, so one board-certified dermatologist can provide both. What matters more is the clinician's experience with your specific condition or procedure.
The short answer: one dermatologist can do both
Some dermatologists spend most of their time on medical care, and others focus on cosmetic work. Some practices divide the work between clinicians. Those are choices a doctor or practice makes. Nothing in New York's physician licensing law requires them.
So if you see one practice advertising both acne treatment and Botox, that is normal. The better questions are who will treat you, what their training is, and how much experience they have with the thing you need.
What New York actually regulates
Physicians in New York are licensed under Article 131 of the state Education Law. Here is what that law and the state's license requirements say, in plain terms:
- The practice of medicine is defined broadly. Article 131 defines it as diagnosing, treating, operating on or prescribing for any human disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition.
- A license is required. Only a person licensed or otherwise authorized under the law may practice medicine or use the title "physician."
- The requirements are general, not specialty-specific. According to the New York State Education Department's Office of the Professions, applicants must be of good moral character, be at least 21, and meet education, examination and experience requirements. For graduates of accredited medical schools, that includes at least one year of postgraduate residency training.
Article 131 does not divide the license by specialty, and it has no separate license for cosmetic work. A physician's specialty comes from training and from board certification, a voluntary credential granted by an independent specialty board rather than the state.
That cuts both ways. Because the license isn't specialty-specific, it doesn't tell you a doctor trained in dermatology. Checking board certification does.
New York also has a separate law for physician assistants, Article 131-B. It says a physician assistant performs medical services under a physician's supervision, within that physician's scope of practice. Supervision must be continuous, but the law says it does not always require the physician to be physically present.
What the AAD says dermatologists are trained in
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) describes a dermatologist as a medical doctor who specializes in conditions of the skin, hair and nails. According to the AAD:
- After medical school, a dermatologist completes a one-year internship and then a three-year dermatology residency.
- A board-certified dermatologist can diagnose and treat more than 3,000 conditions of the skin, hair and nails.
- Dermatologists take skin biopsies and perform skin surgery. Most Mohs surgeons are dermatologists who complete extra training in this specialized skin cancer surgery, which the AAD says typically takes one year.
- Dermatologists also help patients with cosmetic concerns such as wrinkles, sagging skin and scars.
The AAD adds that a dermatologist's medical training helps in choosing a cosmetic approach that suits each patient, and in avoiding or managing problems with treatment.
What matters more than separate doctors
Whether one person or several handle your care, experience with your concern is what counts. Questions worth asking, at any practice:
- How often do you treat this condition, or do this procedure?
- How often do you treat people with my skin tone and skin type?
- What results are realistic for me, and what are the risks?
- Who will actually perform the treatment, and what are their credentials?
- What happens if there is a complication, and who do I contact?
- What will this cost, and is any of it billed to insurance?
The benefit of one practice for both
When the same team handles your medical and cosmetic care, cosmetic decisions start from a medical picture. That can help in a few concrete ways:
- Conditions come first. If someone asks about a peel while their rosacea or acne is flaring, the active condition can be treated before anything that might irritate it.
- Spots get the right kind of look. A mole you want removed for appearance can be examined first, so a spot that needs a biopsy isn't treated as a cosmetic job.
- Your history travels with you. Allergies, medicines and past reactions are already in your chart before an injection or procedure.
- One relationship. You don't have to explain your skin history twice to two different offices.
When a referral elsewhere makes sense
No single practice offers every procedure, so it helps to know where a practice's care ends. At Bay Ridge Dermatology:
- Skin cancer surgery. Bay Ridge does not perform Mohs surgery or surgical excision of skin cancer. For some skin cancers, the practice offers non-surgical treatment: electrodesiccation and curettage, or a deep shave with topical chemotherapy. When surgery is needed, the office can discuss next steps.
- Melanoma. Melanoma can be diagnosed in the office. For treatment, patients are referred to New York City cancer centers.
- Other services not offered. Bay Ridge does not offer patch testing, laser treatment for pigmentation such as sun spots or melasma, or TCA chemical peels. If you need one of these, ask the office about next steps.
Medical, cosmetic and surgical care at Bay Ridge Dermatology
Bay Ridge Dermatology's care team includes Dr. Evangeline Perez, a board-certified dermatologist with more than 20 years of experience; Nicole Marie Colucci, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant (NCCPA); and Kerry Ly, PA-C, who speaks Mandarin and Cantonese in addition to English.
- Medical: medical dermatology for acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema and atopic dermatitis in patients from infants to seniors, vitiligo, heavy sweating (hyperhidrosis), warts, rashes, pigment disorders, skin infections, autoimmune skin conditions, and problems with the hair and nails
- Surgical: shave biopsies, shave mole removal, cyst drainage and cyst injections, wart removal and acne extractions
- Cosmetic: cosmetic services including Botox, dermal fillers, PRP for facial rejuvenation, IPL for hair reduction, gentle no-downtime chemical peels, and cosmetic removal of skin tags and moles
For cosmetic questions, a complimentary cosmetic consultation is a place to talk through options. There is no obligation to book treatment, and treatment itself is a separate cost. Ask at your consultation who will perform your treatment. Cosmetic treatments are not covered by insurance; to see how billing differs between the two sides, read medical vs. cosmetic dermatology.
When to book a medical visit first
Some concerns should be checked medically before any cosmetic step. Book a medical visit, and say why when you book, if you have:
- A spot or mole that is new, changing, or looks different from your others
- A spot that bleeds, itches or crusts without an injury
- A sore that doesn't heal, or heals and comes back
- A rash, redness or bumps that keep returning
- Sudden hair shedding, bald patches or nail changes
A cosmetic treatment can improve how skin looks without addressing the cause underneath. A diagnosis first keeps the plan pointed in the right direction.
Whether your question is medical, cosmetic or both, book online or call (347) 497-4984.
This article is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own skin, see a dermatologist.