Will AI replace dermatologists?
Updated
Dermatologists score 34 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 64%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 6% outright, and 30% stays with people.
- 6% AI can do it
- 64% AI helps
- 30% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Lower than 56% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 18 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 1 of them today, speeds up 12 and leaves 5 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Record patients' health histories. Intake forms and AI scribes capture histories for clinician review. | 65% AI can do it |
| Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in dermatology. AI summarizes literature quickly; conferences and judgement remain human. | 55% AI helps |
| Conduct clinical or basic research. AI speeds literature review and data analysis; lab work stays human. | 50% AI helps |
| Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations. AI drafts handouts; live patient counseling stays with the doctor. | 45% AI helps |
| Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings. AI suggests tests from history; doctor makes final choices. | 45% AI helps |
| Refer patients to other specialists, as needed. AI drafts referral letters; choosing the right specialist needs judgement. | 45% AI helps |
| Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer. AI aids differential and prescribing; exam and decisions need clinician. | 40% AI helps |
| Provide dermatologic consultation to other health professionals. AI drafts consult notes; the specialist is responsible for the clinical opinion. | 40% AI helps |
| Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma. AI helps read dermoscopy images; lesion treatment stays manual. | 35% AI helps |
| Prescribe hormonal agents or topical treatments such as contraceptives, spironolactone, antiandrogens, oral corticosteroids, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics. AI checks drug interactions; prescribing stays a clinical, accountable decision. | 35% AI helps |
Show the other 8 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Instruct interns or residents in diagnosis and treatment of dermatological diseases. AI can build teaching cases; bedside supervision stays with faculty. | 30% AI helps |
| Evaluate patients to determine eligibility for cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, laser resurfacing, or microdermabrasion. Simulation tools assist; candidacy needs a live exam and judgement. | 30% AI helps |
| Conduct or order diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs (x-rays), microbiologic tests, or endocrinologic tests. Ordering is digital; collecting samples and imaging is physical. | 25% AI helps |
| Conduct complete skin examinations. Visual and palpation exam needs in-person hands-on work. | 18% Needs a person |
| Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma. Biopsy requires a hands-on procedure by the clinician. | 5% Needs a person |
| Provide therapies such as intralesional steroids, chemical peels, or comodo removal to treat age spots, sun damage, rough skin, discolored skin, or oily skin. Peels and extractions are manual procedures on the patient's skin. | 5% Needs a person |
| Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer. Surgery is physical work requiring a skilled clinician's hands. | 4% Needs a person |
| Provide dermabrasion or laser abrasion to treat atrophic scars, elevated scars, or other skin conditions. Laser and dermabrasion need skilled hands on the patient. | 3% Needs a person |
How dermatologists compare
All occupations (923)
Healthcare practitioners and technical (89)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $328,730 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 11,370 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +6.8% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma
- Run laser and dermabrasion procedures on patients
- Conduct complete skin examinations with hands-on palpation
- Review AI-drafted histories in eClinicalWorks EHR
- Track referral outcomes in Microsoft Excel
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about dermatologists and AI
Will dermatologists be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 3 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly recording patient health histories and reading current literature. Skin examinations, biopsies, surgery and in-person procedures stay with dermatologists because they need a clinician's hands on the patient.
Which dermatologist tasks is AI taking over?
Recording patient health histories has the highest exposure score at 65, since intake forms and AI scribes capture the history for the doctor to review. Reading current literature scores 55, because AI summarizes papers faster than a clinician can. Conducting research follows at 50, where AI speeds up data analysis.
Which dermatologist tasks stay human?
Skin surgery scores 4 on exposure and dermabrasion scores 3, because both need a clinician's hands working directly on the patient's skin. Incisional biopsies score 5 for the same reason. Complete skin examinations score 18, since visual and palpation checks happen in person.
How can dermatologists stay valuable?
Spend more of your week on hands-on procedures such as skin surgery and incisional biopsies, which carry the lowest exposure. Check every AI-drafted history and referral letter in eClinicalWorks EHR before signing it. Use Microsoft Excel to track biopsy results and referral outcomes over time.
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