WhatsAppDiagnosis and Treatment of Skin, Hair and Nail Diseases
The Academic Hospital Dermatology Department handles the diagnosis and the medical and surgical treatment of all diseases affecting the skin, hair, nails and the oral and genital mucosa. With its dermoscopy and digital dermatology infrastructure, the department offers a broad range of treatment, from the early detection of skin cancer to biologic drug therapy and laser. Skin cancer treatment is coordinated with medical oncology and plastic and aesthetic surgery, and systemic dermatological diseases with internal medicine.
Contents
What Is Dermatology?
Dermatology is the medical specialty that diagnoses, treats and prevents diseases of the skin, hair, nails and mucosal tissues. Dermatologists manage allergic, infectious, autoimmune and tumoural skin diseases while also assessing the skin manifestations of systemic diseases. The department provides services in medical dermatology, dermato-oncology, trichodermatology (hair) and dermatological surgery.
Which Diseases and Conditions Are Treated?
The department applies medical, surgical and laser treatments in the following disease groups.
- Acne vulgaris: A chronic skin disease seen on the face, back and chest, presenting with blackheads and whiteheads, papules, pustules and cysts
- Eczema (atopic dermatitis): Chronic skin inflammation characterised by itching, redness and weeping discharge, mostly on an allergic background
- Psoriasis: A chronic autoimmune skin disease presenting with thick, red plaques accompanied by silvery scales
- Urticaria (hives): An allergic or autoimmune reaction with an acute or chronic course, manifesting as itchy weals
- Rosacea: A disease presenting with chronic redness, dilated blood vessels and acne-like lesions in the central part of the face
- Vitiligo: An autoimmune disease in which irregular white areas of skin colour form as a result of the loss of melanocytes
- Hair loss: All types of hair loss, including androgenetic alopecia (genetically caused thinning of the hair), alopecia areata (patchy loss) and telogen effluvium
- Nail diseases: Nail psoriasis, onychomycosis (fungal infection), ingrown nail and nail dystrophy
- Skin tumours: Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and benign skin lesions
- HPV warts (verruca vulgaris): Warts on the hands, feet and genital area caused by the human papillomavirus
- Fungal skin infections (tinea): Infections caused by dermatophytes on the feet, groin, trunk or nails
- Contact dermatitis: Redness and itching caused by contact with a chemical or allergenic substance
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis: A chronic inflammatory disease presenting with scaling and oiliness on the scalp and face
- Lichen planus: An autoimmune inflammatory disease involving the skin, oral mucosa or nails
- Herpes zoster (shingles): A painful band of rash caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus
When Should You Consult a Dermatologist?
The following are signs that call for a dermatology consultation; some presentations may require urgent assessment.
- A new mole or skin lesion that itches, hurts or bleeds
- A mole that changes in colour, shape or size (the ABCDE rule: asymmetry, border, colour, diameter, evolution)
- A skin rash of unknown cause lasting longer than three weeks
- Widespread itching, redness or peeling
- Localised or widespread loss of hair on the scalp
- Thickening, colour change or separation of a nail
- Sudden weals and swelling suggesting an allergic reaction
- A wound or crust that does not heal or that grows
- Chronic redness, vascular dilatation or acne-like spots on the face
Urgent situation: A sudden rash covering large areas of the body, fever or mucosal involvement (urgent consultation is required where Stevens-Johnson syndrome is suspected)
Diagnostic Methods
In the dermatology department, clinical examination is supported by a range of advanced methods to reach an accurate diagnosis:
| Method | What it is used for |
|---|---|
| Examination of skin lesions at 10-30 times magnification with handheld dermatoscopes or digital dermoscopy systems; it is the standard method for the early detection of melanoma and other skin tumours. | |
| Pathological examination of a small tissue sample taken from the lesion; it is the gold standard for a definitive diagnosis. It is performed as a punch biopsy or an excisional biopsy. | |
| To determine which substance a contact allergy has developed against, a standard allergen series is applied to the upper back and the result is assessed within 48-96 hours. | |
| Where a fungal, bacterial or viral infection is suspected, a culture is taken from a swab, scraping or biopsy of the lesion. | |
| A method of visualising the fluorescent properties of vitiligo, tinea versicolor and certain skin infections under ultraviolet light. | |
| Application of the dermatoscope to the scalp and hair shafts; used in the differential diagnosis of alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia and scarring alopecia. | |
| Performed to identify the triggering allergen in atopic dermatitis or chronic urticaria. |
Treatment Approaches
The treatment method is individualised according to the type and extent of the disease and the patient's general condition.
| Treatment | Scope and application |
|---|---|
| Corticosteroid creams, calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus, pimecrolimus), retinoids and antifungal creams are selected according to the disease. | |
| Oral antibiotics, oral retinoids (isotretinoin), antihistamines and immunomodulators such as methotrexate and ciclosporin. | |
| IL-17, IL-23 and TNF-alpha inhibitors for moderate to severe psoriasis; dupilumab for severe atopic dermatitis. Through their targeted mechanism of action these agents offer an option to patients who do not respond to conventional treatments. | |
| Narrowband UVB light is used to bring psoriasis, vitiligo and atopic dermatitis under control; PUVA is applied in more severe cases in combination with psoralen medication. | |
| Nd:YAG for vascular lesions, Q-switched lasers for pigmentation disorders and CO2 laser applications for warts and related lesions. | |
| Destruction of warts, keratoses and certain benign lesions by freezing with liquid nitrogen. | |
| Standard excisional surgery in melanoma, BCC and SCC; sentinel lymph node biopsy and Mohs surgery are considered where required. | |
| Corticosteroid injection in localised conditions such as keloid, alopecia areata and cystic acne. | |
| Early detection of changing lesions through annual or six-monthly digital dermoscopic mapping in patients in the risk group. |
Book an appointment with the Academic Hospital Dermatology Department.
Book an AppointmentDermatology at Academic Hospital
The Academic Hospital Dermatology Department carries out all services under one roof, from medical dermatology to dermatological surgery; dermoscopic follow-up, phototherapy and skin surgery are planned together with the hospital's other departments. The department works routinely with the following departments:
- Medical Oncology: systemic treatment planning in advanced melanoma and skin cancers
- Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery: repair and graft surgery after wide excision of skin tumours
- Internal Medicine: joint assessment of the skin manifestations of systemic diseases
- Pathology: histopathological examination of skin biopsies and definitive diagnosis
- Allergic Diseases: investigation of the triggering allergen in contact dermatitis and chronic urticaria
- Rheumatology: joint follow-up of skin involvement in psoriatic arthritis and connective tissue diseases
- Aesthetic Medicine: complementary procedures for scars, pigmentation and age-related skin changes
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions most frequently asked about the Dermatology Department are given below.
References
The general information given on this page about the diagnostic methods and treatment options for skin, hair and nail diseases is supported by the reliable health sources listed below.
- National Health Service, "Psoriasis: Overview and Treatment Options", nhs.uk
- World Health Organization, "Ultraviolet Radiation and Health", who.int
- National Institutes of Health, "Biologic Therapy in Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis", ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Mayo Clinic, "Melanoma: Symptoms and Causes", mayoclinic.org
The information on this page is for informational purposes only; it does not replace medical examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a healthcare institution regarding your complaints.
