Will AI replace Dermatologists?

AI can do 34% of the work Dermatologists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 18 tasks, while 7 more are ready but barely used so far. 9 still need a person.

AI is already doing this2 · 15% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Record patients' health histories.Mostly assisted10% of time
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in dermatology.Mostly assisted4% of time

AI could do this next7 · 19% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Counsel patients on topics such as the need for annual dermatologic screenings, sun protection, skin cancer awareness, or skin and lymph node self-examinations.7% of time
  • Provide dermatologic consultation to other health professionals.3% of time
  • Evaluate patients to determine eligibility for cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, laser resurfacing, or microdermabrasion.2% of time
  • Conduct or order diagnostic tests such as chest radiographs (x-rays), microbiologic tests, or endocrinologic tests.2% of time
  • Recommend diagnostic tests based on patients' histories and physical examination findings.2% of time
  • Refer patients to other specialists, as needed.1% of time
  • Conduct clinical or basic research.1% of time

Still needs a person9 · 66% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Diagnose and treat skin conditions such as acne, dandruff, athlete's foot, moles, psoriasis, or skin cancer.16% of time
  • Perform skin surgery to improve appearance, make early diagnoses, or control diseases such as skin cancer.11% of time
  • Conduct complete skin examinations.11% of time
  • Diagnose and treat pigmented lesions such as common acquired nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, Spitz nevi, blue nevi, or melanoma.8% of time
  • Prescribe hormonal agents or topical treatments such as contraceptives, spironolactone, antiandrogens, oral corticosteroids, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics.6% of time
  • Provide therapies such as intralesional steroids, chemical peels, or comodo removal to treat age spots, sun damage, rough skin, discolored skin, or oily skin.4% of time
  • Perform incisional biopsies to diagnose melanoma.4% of time
  • Provide dermabrasion or laser abrasion to treat atrophic scars, elevated scars, or other skin conditions.3% of time
  • Instruct interns or residents in diagnosis and treatment of dermatological diseases.2% of time

Your week is not the average

Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.

Get my personal report

What this means

AI can speed up parts of this job, mostly the paperwork and information work around it. The core still depends on hands, presence or relationships.

What to do next

  • Do the 2 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
  • Get ahead on the 7 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Build on the 9 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Anesthesiologists38%Cardiologists53%Emergency Medicine Physicians64%Family Medicine Physicians58%General Internal Medicine Physicians39%Neurologists67%

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