2. Caring for Your Body’s Largest Organ
There are approximately 10,000 dermatologists and 7,500 dermatology practices in the US, generating $11 billion in annual revenue, which is forecasted to increase to $13.1 billion by 2017.
Dermatology consists of four sub-disciplines: cosmetic dermatologists, dermatopathologists, Mohs (skin cancer) surgeons and pediatric dermatologists.
Of all US dermatologists, 60% practice general dermatology, 20% cosmetic dermatology, 12% Mohs surgery, 3% dermatopathology and 5% other specialties.

3. The End of the Age of Independence
The rate of independently practicing dermatologists declined at an annualized rate of 5% during According to industry surveys, just 5.3% of dermatology residents said they would open independent practices.
Dermatologists may be in for more scrutiny under health care reform, or the Affordable Care Act, because dermatologists are only 1% of all US physicians, but account for almost 4% of all Medicare expenditures.
The number of dermatologist per 100,000 Americans reached a peak of more than 3.5 during 2005; however, it has been decreasing since, and is expected to be 3.3 for 2015, 3.2 for 2020, 3.0 for 2030 and 2.8 for 2040.

4. Looking Better at Any Age
Just as dermatology medicine is experiencing consolidation and fewer students studying to become dermatologist, the US population is aging and Americans older than 60 have the largest prevalence rate, 1.86%, for skin cancer.
According to the 2014 American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Consumer Survey, 52% of consumers surveyed were considering cosmetic procedures to “look younger,” “appear more attractive” or “feel more confident.”
Adults, 30 years of age and younger, are attracted to cosmetic procedures. During 2013, 90,000 wrinkle-relaxer procedures and almost 30,000 soft-tissue filler treatments were performed on young adults.

5. Treatment Trends
The ASDS reported that of the 9.5 million medically necessary and cosmetic procedures performed during 2013 by dermatologic surgeons, skin cancer procedures were #1, at 3.04 million treatments, 13% more than 2012.
This increase in skin cancer treatments matches the increases in new cases of melanoma skin cancer since 2011, when there were 76,330 cases; however, new cases increased to 81,240 for 2012, 82,770 for 2013 and decreased slightly to 81,220 for 2014.
According to the Merritt Hawkins 2014 Physician Appointment Wait Times and Medicaid and Medicare Acceptance Rates Study, the average cumulative wait time to see a dermatologist in the 15 US markets measured was 28.8 days.

6. Advertising Strategies
Dermatology group practices are more likely to have the budgets and recognize the value of TV advertising, especially to reach TV’s highly loyal senior audience with information about skin cancer and other age-related treatments.
A group practice may also find it affordable and beneficial to use late-night television programming to reach young adults with a special offer for the kind of procedures those 30 and younger prefer.

7. Advertising Strategies
Suggest that dermatology group practices run a week or more of TV prior to the Christmas, New Year’s and prom seasons to promote the value of having skin treatments, so consumers will look their best for family gatherings, parties and prom night.
A great marketing tool to be used to reach smart phones users is the Quick Response (QR) readable bar code. Placing the bar code in print ads, on promotional products, or in brochures and flyers allows the recipient to “capture” the QR with their phone and connect with the business’s website.

8. Social Media Strategies
Dermatologists are discovering considerable marketing value in creating educational videos, especially about skin cancer, and other procedures to provide consumers with the kind of detailed information they need to make informed decisions.
Staff members of a dermatology practice can become its “brand ambassadors” with regular posts on social media to introduce themselves and to explain their jobs, which will result in more personalized engagement with patients.
Encourage patients to post comments, photos and videos about their procedures and treatments, their satisfaction with the outcome and how dermatology has changed their lives.