Dermatopathology is a branch of medical science that combines dermatology and pathology to study and analyze skin conditions at a molecular level. Dermatologists and dermatopathologists have distinct roles: dermatologists treat skin diseases, while dermatopathologists study the pathology of skin disorders and describe their various components.
Dermatopathology is a branch of pathology that identifies disease or disorder by diagnosing biopsies from the skin, mucous membranes, and adjacent soft tissues. Techniques used by dermatopathologists to examine the skin sample include light electron microscopes, light microscopes, and fluorescence microscopes. Dermatopathology can diagnose several dermatological problems, including basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, psoriasis, and alopecia areata. Tissue samples taken for diagnosis can include cellular scrapings, tissue sections, and skin lesion smears.