She graduated from The University of Sheffield before training initially as a General Practitioner, and then in General Medicine securing MRCP, before specialising in Dermatology in Leeds.

She is on the General Medical Council’s Specialist Register (2718699) as a Consultant Dermatologist, acknowledging her expertise in skin disease. She is also an Honorary Professor at Hull York Medical School and enjoys teaching and training of students and post-graduate staff. She is actively engaged in skin research which enables up to date and evidence-based practice to be employed when delivering care for patients.

Professor Layton worked as a single-handed Dermatology Consultant in Harrogate for 12 years and set up a novel dedicated dermatology service at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, during this time demonstrating leadership and innovation. She appointed and trained a full team of staff to support local dermatology and set up the skin cancer service, alongside fully comprehensive dermatology outpatient and treatment facilities within the Trust.

She is fully trained in all aspects of skin disease and runs general dermatology clinics where she sees a huge variety of skin, hair and nail conditions including but not limited to the following: Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne, Rosacea and other general inflammatory/blistering skin problems, urticaria, fungal, bacterial and viral infections of the skin, alopecia areata, androgenic alopecia, all skin lesions whether benign or due to sun damage or skin cancer.

Professor Layton is highly trained in the assessment of skin lesions/moles and will be able to remove any suspicious lesions for diagnosis and management. She is a core member of the skin cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) in Harrogate and conducts weekly skin cancer and surgery lists.

Demand for dermatology services remains high, in part due to the year on year increase in skin cancer; this is significantly higher in Harrogate compared to the UK average incidence. Professor Layton was the prime mover in introducing Macmillan Trust to the concept of supporting cancer services within the Day Unit in Harrogate Health Care Trust. Previously, Macmillan Trust had not had any involvement with services for skin cancer and she was successful in demonstrating how worthwhile such an initiative could be. This has provided an arena for training and given opportunity to develop and maintain up to date skills in managing skin cancer.

Professor Layton’s research interests embrace a number of cross-cutting themes and have involved multi-disciplinary team working. Primary research interests lie within the field of the androgen-related skin disorders, acne, rosacea, dermato-oncology, hidradenitis suppurativa and wound care. Within the context of some of these conditions she has examined the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Her interest and research related to acne and rosacea has led to global collaborations and she has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and her expertise is recognised internationally.

• Androgen mediated disorders including acne and PCOS - she runs a dedicated supra-regional service related to this area of expertise
• Managing patients with pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions

• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
• Member of the British Medical Association
• Member of the British Society for Investigative Dermatology
• Member of the British Association of Dermatology
• Member of the British Society of Dermatological Surgery
• Member of the British Society of Paediatric Dermatology
• Member of The Dowling Club
• Member of the National Eczema Society
• Executive Board Member of PCOS UK
• Member of European Expert Panel for Acne