Noncosmetic skin-related procedures performed in the United States: an analysis of national ambulatory medical care survey data from 1995 to 2010.

[BACKGROUND] Demand for dermatologic care is increasing alongside a known shortage of physicians in the dermatology workforce. Changes in the volume of dermatologic procedures over time and the physician specialties involved in skin-related procedural care are not well characterized.

[OBJECTIVE] To determine the frequency of dermatologic procedures performed in the United States between 1995 and 2010 and to analyze the changes in the procedures and physicians performing procedures over time.

[METHODS] The annual volume of skin-related procedures performed by physician specialties and the rate of procedures performed per physician was determined from data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) between 1995 to 2004 and 2007 to 2010.

[RESULTS] Dermatologists and primary care physicians performed most procedures (54.7% and 19.5%, respectively).

[CONCLUSIONS] Dermatologists perform a larger volume of procedures than in the past, although the proportion of procedures performed by dermatologists is unchanged, and other physician specialties are performing more skin-related procedures to meet increasing demand.