If you are considering a career in this field, you should be aware that your duties and responsibilities may include performing full skin inspections and recording patients’ health histories.

Skin cancer, warts, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, eczema, acne, dermatitis, and psoriasis are among the problems that you may have to detect and treat.

Dermatologists also do skin operations for clinical (e.g., removal of unattractive or malignant growths) or cosmetic purposes (e.g. removal of a mole).

Before beginning postgraduate school to become a dermatologist, you must first complete a two-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree. You must also be registered as a medical doctor with the Health Professions Council of South Africa for one year.

These are the South African universities that offer a postgraduate dermatological degree or a four-year Master of Medicine (Dermatology)

• Stellenbosch University
• University of Cape Town
• University of the Free State
• University of KZN
• University of Pretoria
• University of the Witwatersrand

In terms of certification, the Health Professions Council of South Africa bestows the qualification (HPCSA). Only then may you put Dermatologist after your name.