Definitely the latter. See my Commentary 1 in the attached paper (page 182).

Thanks dear Plonka for prompt reply and the coincidence of our opinions. Will revise your comment in that page.

Dr Bashir, dermatology as a field of medicine has been gaining importance.

Skin being an interface between the internal and external environ plays a vital role.

much thrust was given to dermatology as a field of itches and scratches earlier but with

the rise in longevity it  has given physicians time to think and understand skin better.

Dr Venkata I agree with you as dermatology to other specialities and internal medicine specificaly is superficial as manifested but now after advances in research considered as the clue for disease and staging I.e manifestations for internal diseases. 

I think it is both. Some skin diseases such as chronic discoid lupus erythematosus have little or no systemic involvement. It is basically a skin disease.

Here comes a strange comment: one of the functions of skin could be to exhibit the healthiness of a person, his/her attractiveness and good genes. Therefore, one could theoretically argue or hypothesize that skin is in that sense used to show off ones qualities and lack of internal and skin diseases. Does that make sense? Humans are strange animals in the sense that we are quasi naked and put a lot of emphasis on external beauty (animals probably do as well and a mammal with messed up pelage may not be a good mating partner...).

However, from a medical point of view, the skin is an organ on its own right and has processes that are very distinctive cutaneous (hair, sweat, nails, lots of adnexa that are specific for the skin; important immune functions etc.). Of course, it is very difficult to regard most skin diseases as purely cutaneous. Most of them involve the immune system, many are expressions of other diseases (diabetes and chronic wounds...).  To turn this question upside down: which organ can really stand on its own and diseases been understood by solely looking at events within an individual organ? Most adult-onset diseases that plague the Western world are very complex and involve many organ systems.

Dermatology is also more than just about diseases, isn't it. Understanding the normal processes within the skin is part of it or at least of cutaneous biology, if you don't want to use the medical term dermatology. So I would deviate completely from your question and say, dermatology is the science of cutaneous biology and the processes that lead to skin diseases. Dermatology is a weird term anyways since the introduction of the term epidermis: most people working in cutaneous biology are probably epidermatologists...

Dr Alase, do you see that Psoriasis is basically (pure) skin disease. 

Dr Andl I sgree eith you as dermatology is the science of cutaneous biology and the process that lead to skin manifestations expressed as diseases

physiology biology and pathology, of skin. a combination of all of these make study of skin.

Egyptians, were probably the first  to know about and use cosmetology.

The art of good looking, maintaining spotless skin, smooth soft fair and young, is also a part of dermatology  

Dr. Bashir, Psoriasis is a complex disease which has both systemic involvement and cutaneous manifestations. It is also a multi organ disease. 

Dear Venkata yes skin and cosmotology are expressed As skin art.

Both

Number of Internal diseases manifest as skin lesions, in Paediatrics age group Zinc deficiency manifest as ecroderma entropathica, similarly

number of tumours are diagnosed by skin lesions

Both are correct

Animal skin diseases are  really one  dermatological challenge  (parasitological agents so) and the cutaneous manifestations of a few  internal diseases are still rare ( hepato-cutaneous syndrome, feline paraneoplastic alopecia as feline thymoma or pancreatic carcinoma per ex.)

Dermatology encompasses both dermatoses and skin signs of internal disease

Both.

Dear all you think that what's known as pure dermatological conditions are not realy connected to something missed internally and pointing to that we don't discover yet.

Skin lesions are often cutaneous expression of internal disease or syndromes. Sometimes a pure cutaneous disease may  have an extracutaneous involvement (e.g. mastocytosis)

Like medicine in general, dermatology is  "a science of uncertainty and an art of probability" (Osler)

Is Medicine an Entity of its own or a part of Biology in general?

Is the World a planet or part of the Universe?

Those are all phiilosophical questions, also the questions regarding skin disorders.

Of course does the skin interact with other organs, but it is a science and entity of its own, ther is no doubt about that...

i fee it is both the condition. As many skin condition have only cutaneous manifestation , and otherwise , many internal condition manifested with cutaneous changes. So, clinician should keep in mind of both the condition during treatment

dermatology a reflection of the interior. a mirror to the exterior.

you can see yourself as a spot diagnosis expert, see how treatment reflects, innovate, manipulate,

think yourself as an artist of beauty, paint peel and lase,

sooth the hands that itch, heal the cracks that bleed, wipe the eczemas that weep,

erase the scars, lighten the marks, tighten the sagging skin, fill the fine lines, and it goes on.

The artist in you will never die so long as there is a mirror on the wall.

I agree with what Abhijit Dutta has said. Many dermatological problems are a sign of systemic disease but some are (as far as we know) only contained within the skin.

I appreciate that sentence mentioned in dr Salinger comment ( as far as we know) as some of what's known as the pure dermatological diseases as Psoriasis or dermatitis are associted with many other autoimmune diseases known as systemic or internal diseases which make us consider them manifestations more than associated. 

Dermatology is the science covering all aspects of skin either  from the point of view of phisiology and disease.

It is both.Dermatology is a science ,which studies skin diseases  and skin manifestaions of internal diseases which may give a clue to the latter

I agree it is both just as there is overlap between ENT and Pulmonology, between Psychiatry and GI, and between Endocrine and Nephrology. There is overlap between Dermatology and Internal Medicine.

It is both .I  consider dermatology a science of skin diseases , Cosmatology  and a science of skin manifestations of internal diseases

Thak you all as discussion enriched debate raised long time as skin disease or skin manifestations is the wright expression for that branch of medicine. 

Over the past few years dermatology has been gaining importance. The development of the science of dermatology which began as humble as treating scabies and eczemas and fungal infections, grew in depth to understand the intricate nature of the skin as a reflection of the internal milieu.

Dermatopathology, immunology, cosmetic surgery, laser, medical cosmetology, fillers, Botox,  have changed the picture of dermatology from treating itches to improving quality of life, improving appearance,

Today the world of dermatology is almost a bridge for pediatric, and internal medicine.

from womb to tomb dermatologists understand each and every skin ,their needs, their tone and most importantly diagnose hidden diseases.

Thanks Venkata you are putting finger in the wright letters dermatology was considered a branch of medicine that rubbing skin to minimize the itching and now take it's place as one of the top specialities in medicine as science of skin manifestations of internal diseases that make reaching diagnosis easier and faster.

Thank you Dr Adil Bashir. Neonatal dermatology is the new science or subspeciality that needs to be focused.

Stem cell treatment for congenital disorders like icthyosis, erythrodermolysis foetalis can be  considered

 Yes immunogenetic express antigens accused gene transduction and then gene expression and in my opinion this could be the future clue for most of what's known now as genetic disease and genodermatosis.

During the years dermatology has evolved in many direction being a bridge among many other medical branches. It  is to be considered ,in my opinion, a real science strictly connecting the medical and biological  knowledges not only with the human health but also with the many environmental problems. This is also the reson why dermatologist have to work in team with chemical engineers, biologists, ambietalists ,expert of nanoscience,etc.

Skin is an endocrine gland. Therefore, it reflects what is going on in our bodies. I'm wondering why do most of dermatologist are so superficials while they foucsing on steroids.

Dear Khalid, superficiality in dermatology is coming from just looking to skin lesion and spending precious time to how to vanish from that lesion annoying our patient to satisfy him, yes skin is an endocrine gland , third kidney biggest immune system all those organs together to  show us and reflect image of internal and make things more clear with get inside to see.