Thank you for posing this question. There are a few differences between Aesthetic doctors and Dermatologists.
1. Dermatologists are accredited specialists by the Ministry of Health, which means that they have undergone rigorous post-graduate examinations and specialist training in the field of Dermatology (all skin-related problems) for many years after graduating with a basic medical degree.
On the other hand, aesthetic doctors have a basic medical degree, but they are not specialists as they did not continue with training and examinations required for post-graduate specialist qualifications. Some aesthetic doctors have diplomas, but these are definitely not equivalent to specialist dermatology training as the structure and time spent on training is vastly different.
2. Dermatologists are the experts to treat all skin-related problems, ranging from drug allergy reactions, skin infections, blistering disorders, childrens' skin problems, skin cancer and surgery to hair and nail issues. In addition, they also address aesthetic concerns such as pigmentation, skin aging issues and perform both invasive and non-invasive procedures. Very often dermatologists also attend to complications arising from treatment by non-specialists, eg skin burns, scarring.
On the other hand, aesthetic doctors provide treatment targeted towards cosmetic concerns and they do not treat medical skin problems as mentioned above.
3. Regarding your concern about pigmentation, a dermatologist is well versed in treating various types of pigmentation. He/she will be able to explain to you in detail the cause and contributing factors to your pigmentation. Treatment can range from topical creams to chemical peels, lasers, oral supplements and medications.
I hope the above information was useful.
Best regards,
Dr Ker Khor Jia (Consultant Dermatologist)
