How to Become a Dermatology Nurse

In addition to the aesthetic benefits of good skin, the field of dermatology is incredibly important to a patient's overall health because the skin is the largest organ in the body. Find out more about how to become a dermatology nurse, including education, career path, certifications, the average dermatology nurse salary, and the job outlook. 

Dermatology nurses are a type of registered nurse that works specifically in the treatment and care of patients with diseases, wounds, injuries, and other skin conditions. 

Dermatology nurses have the ability to work in a wide range of settings, including private practice offices, hospitals, infusion centers, clinics, plastic surgeons’ offices, and burn centers. 

Dermatology nurses can also find work in day spas or cosmetic dermatology offices, which are increasing in popularity. These nurses will assist with performing procedures such as laser treatments, tattoo removal, chemical peels, and other various treatments. 

Dermatology nurses work with the medical team to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of different skin injuries and conditions.

• Applying skin peels and microdermabrasion 
• Assessing, monitoring, and treating skin wounds, including burns
• Assisting in caring for patients post-operation
• Assisting in the performance of skin exams
• Assisting the dermatologist with outpatient and surgical dermatology procedures
• Assisting with procedures using specialized medical equipment, including cosmetic dermatology
• Cleaning and dressing wounds or burns
• Collecting skin tissue for biopsies
• Educating each patient on how to protect their skin and care for skin diseases and conditions at home.
• Educating patients on how to protect their skin and how to care for skin diseases and conditions at home
• Educating patients on proper skincare
• Educating patients on skincare and preventing postsurgical infection
• Explaining test results to patients and their families
• Informing patients of post-operative procedures
• Monitoring and recording a patient's medical history and test results
• Monitoring patients' medical history
• Performing a physical assessment on each patient
• Performing chemical peels
• Providing pre-operative care
• Recording and report test results
• Screening patients for skin cancer
• Treating acne
• Treating various skin wounds such as burns, ulcers and skin tears

Dermatology nurses are responsible for educating patients and their caregivers on how to care for skin conditions and recover from treatments once the patient has returned home.

Some of the most common skin conditions they help diagnose and treat are:

1. Burns
2. Skin Cancer
3. Warts
4. Acne
5. Impetigo
6. Rosacea
7. Psoriasis
8. Moles

Aesthetic/Cosmetic Dermatology

Cosmetic Dermatology, while not entirely a new field, has become one of the fastest-growing medical fields in the last decade. According to Plastic Surgery Statistics Report 2020, 15.6 million cosmetic procedures. 2.3 million cosmetic surgical procedures were performed and 13.2 million minimally invasive cosmetic procedures were performed in 2020. The top five cosmetic surgical procedures in 2020 were:

1. Nose Shaping
2. Eyelid Surgery
3. Facelift
4. Liposuction
5. Breast Augmentation

The top five cosmetic minimally invasive procedures in 2020 were:

1. Botox
2. Soft Tissue Filler
3. Chemical Peel
4. Laser Skin Resurfacing
5. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment

>> Related: How to Become a Aesthetic/Cosmetic Nurse

The goal of cosmetic dermatology is to attain and maintain healthy, natural skin. Treatments can range from deep cleansing, refreshing, rejuvenating, and restoring skin texture and tone, to reducing skin imperfections. These imperfections can be caused by:

1. Acne
2. Age Spots
3. Birthmarks
4. Lines and wrinkles
5. Melasma
6. Moles
7. Skin discoloration (sun spots)
8. Skin tags
9. Stretch marks

Cosmetic dermatology nurses will also assist with the following procedures:

1. Laser Hair Removal
2. Tattoo removal
3. Chemical peels
4. Scar removal
5. IPL photofacials
6. Laser skin resurfacing
7. Dermal fillers and injectables
8. Hair loss restoration
9. Laser skin tightening

An increasing number of general dermatology practices and branching into cosmetic dermatology due to the demand and endless financial possibilities.

For this reason, the growth in this aspect of the field is exponentially greater than conventional dermatology practices. A general rule of thumb is the increase in the number of services an office can provide to patients - the greater the opportunities for the nursing staff.  

>> Show Me Dermatology Nursing Programs

Due to the diversity of work settings, salaries for dermatology nurses can also vary greatly. As with any career in nursing, it is important to research geographic areas of interest and requirements to understand the salary for specific job opportunities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual RN salary is $86,070, or $41.38 per hour, as of May 2023. Unfortunately, the BLS does not differentiate between different types of nurses.

ZipRecruiter reports that the average annual pay for a cosmetic nurse is $88,474, though some earn as much as $132,000. The middle 25th percentile of the country ranges from $72,000 to $103,000. According to Payscale, dermatology nurses can earn $23.96 per hour. This is significantly below the average pay for RNs; however, many factors affect salary. 

Highest Paying States for Dermatology Nurses

The BLS identifies the following as the highest-paying states for nursing: 

State	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage
California	$66.20	$137,690
Hawaii	$57.55	$119,710
Oregon	$54.54	$113,440
Washington	$53.38	$111,030
Alaska	$52.51	$109,210

Highest Paying Cities for Dermatology Nurses

Dermatology nurses earn the highest wages in the following five metropolitan areas:

Metropolitan Area	Hourly Avg	Annual Avg
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$83.83	$174,370
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	$82.51	$171,620
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$82.11	$170,780
Napa, CA	$79.89	$166,180
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA	$74.29	$154,510

Most healthcare systems pay nurses hourly, while others have a fixed annual salary, such as nurses in an office setting. Those paid on an hourly scale are able to earn overtime pay, whereas salaried employees would need to discuss that with the hiring committee. 

How to Earn More As a Dermatology Nurse

As with all nursing jobs, earning potential increases with additional education and experience. Nurses typically are awarded a raise during annual employee performance reviews. Certifications can give nurses an additional bump in their paychecks. Furthermore, nurses who agree to precept new nurse employees can also receive additional compensation.  

Benefits 

Regardless of workplace setting, full-time and part-time dermatology nurses enjoy similar benefits. While actual benefits may vary depending on the institution, most offer the following: 

1. Health insurance 
2. Retirement Options
3. Family Leave of Absence
4. Maternity Leave
5. Dental Insurance
6. Vision Insurance
7. Discounts
8. Attendance at nursing conferences

>> Show Me Dermatology Nursing Programs

Step 1: Earn Your Degree

As with any nursing career, students must first complete and receive either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited university. This schooling may take 2-4 years, depending on the length of the program.

Step 2: Become Licensed

After passing the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) exam, individuals must become licensed in their state of practice. The NCLEX is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States and Canada. 

Step 3: Earn Experience

As part of their aesthetic nurse training, licensed RNs will want to earn experience, preferably in the field of dermatology. Most physician's offices will also want nurses with prior work experience, which may be obtained on a general medical-surgical hospital inpatient floor.

Step 4: Get Certified

Earning an aesthetic nurse certification in dermatology can lead to increased job opportunities and earning potential. 

>> Show Me Dermatology Nursing Programs

The Dermatology Nurses’ Association (DNA) offers a Dermatology Nursing Certification Examination(DNC) for nurses specializing in dermatology. This is one of four aesthetic nurse certifications that can increase job opportunities and earning potential for cosmetic nurses.

According to the DNA’s website, to be eligible to sit for the DNC examination, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Have a minimum of 2 years of dermatology nursing experience as an RN
• Hold a current unrestricted license as an RN in the U.S. or Canada
• Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience in dermatology nursing within the past 2 years in a general staff, administrative, teaching or research capacity

Upon application for the exam, all of the aforementioned will be verified. The certification is valid for three years and recertification is obtained via continuing nursing education hours of recertification.

Currently, the cost for the exam is $260 for DNA members and $335 for non-members. Most places of employment will reimburse the cost of the exam as it is directly related to job roles. The exam currently consists of 175 questions, lasting approximately 4 hours and includes dermatology topics such as:

• Infections – 15%
• Tumors/Malignancies – 15%
• Dermatitis – 13%
• Papulosquamous Disorders – 13%
• Photosensitivity/Photodamage – 9%
• Hypersensitivities, Vasculitis, Infestations – 7%
• Pigmentation/Vascular Disorders – 6%
• Hair and Nails – 5%
• Acne and Rosacea – 5%
• Wounds and Ulcers – 5%
• Bullous and Immune Disorders – 4%
• Miscellaneous – 3%

The main certification for dermatology nurses is the DNC, but there are additional training opportunities, especially in cosmetic dermatology. These nurses will need to receive training specifically related to procedures such as tattoo removal, chemical peels, and/or laser procedures. These skills can be learned at conferences or via in-service workshops. 

>> Show Me Dermatology Nursing Programs

Dermatology nurses do not necessarily have specific requirements beyond state-mandated continuing education. However, DNC recertification does.

Certified nurses must obtain 45 contact hours with a minimum of 30 contact hours specifically related to dermatology nursing. These hours can be used for state licensure recertification and vice versa. 

All dermatology nurses are required to maintain an RN license.

Continuing education requirements for the license differ for each state. Monetary fees and other state-specific criteria are also associated with all license and certification renewals.  

Examples of continuing education requirements for RNs are as follows: 

• Arkansas - 15 contact hours every 2 years
• Illinois - 20 contact hours every 2 years
• Florida - 24 contact hours every 2 years
• Iowa - 36 hours every 2 years
• Pennsylvania - 30 contact hours every 2 years 

Some states do not require CEU’s to maintain an RN license. Examples include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, and Indiana. Several states also require HIV/AIDS education such as New York, Minnesota, and Kentucky. It is important for nurses to check their state’s RN credentialing body for exact CEU requirements.  

Dermatology nurses can work in a variety of settings including, but not limited, to: 

1. Hospitals
2. Infusion clinics
3. Cosmetic Dermatology practice
4. Plastic surgeon office
5. Spas
6. Dermatology private practice 
7. Burn Centers

Job postings for dermatology nurses are typical of other specialized nursing fields. According to employment websites, a posting would likely include the following qualifications, among others specific to the type of institution and patient population:

1. ADN or BSN-level education, active and unrestricted RN license, Dermatology Nursing Certification preferred
2. Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) competency
3. Prior professional nursing experience in the dermatology and/or cosmetic/aesthetic dermatology fields
4. Strong interpersonal and communication skills 
5. Ability to work flexible hours, which may include days, evenings, nights, holidays, and weekends and on-call
6. Computer skills required, prior experience with electronic medical record systems preferred
7. Attention to detail 

The BLS predicts that employment for registered nurses will grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. Overall growth will occur for a number of reasons, but primarily due to the increased emphasis on preventive care, including regular dermatology check-ups, and the increase in skin cancer in the United States.

Furthermore, the demand for healthcare services from the baby-boom population will cause a dramatic need for nurses in specific nursing fields, such as dermatology. 

Additionally, advancements in cosmetic dermatology have resulted in a very positive career outlook for nurses interested in specializing in dermatology.

The best resource for individuals interested in pursuing a career as a dermatology nurse is the Dermatology Nurses’ Association webpage. There, they can find helpful information regarding continuing education, conferences, certifications, and interesting medical advances. 

Other helpful websites are:

• Journal of Dermatology Nurses’ Association
• American Dermatology Association
• Dermatology Nurses' Association

$70,000 - $90,000 Dermatology Associate Bachelors Non-Bedside RN