Dermatology in Northwood, Middlesex

Bishops Wood Hospital is located in Northwood in North West London, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. People visit us from local areas including Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Pinner, Ruislip and Amersham, as well as Uxbridge, Chalfont and Watford. We also welcome patients from across the UK as well as abroad. When you go private, you can choose which hospital and which consultant are the best fit for you.

Our skin is the largest organ in the human body and far more than a simple covering.  It plays a crucial role in our health, protecting against infection and injury, regulating body temperature, synthesising vitamin D and giving us our sense of touch.   We often pay it little thought until something goes wrong!

Skin complaints have many causes, including:

• Irritants and allergens
• Infections
• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• Underlying disease
• Injury
• Genetic factors
• Stress

People often feel self-conscious about skin complaints, especially those that affect the face or hands.  Some complaints are itchy, sore or uncomfortable and impact daily life, disturbing sleep and affecting what we can wear.  Although some skin conditions resolve naturally, others need treatment to help relieve symptoms.    

A Consultant Dermatologist is a medically qualified doctor who has special expertise in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the skin, hair and nails.  If you have one of these problems, seeing a dermatologist will allow you to get expert advice without delay.  

At Bishops Wood Hospital, our Consultant Dermatologists are able to offer diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of skin conditions. Whether you’re frustrated by an unsightly rash or worried about your moles or a new skin lump, a consultation with a Dermatologist will be a sensible course of action. Why not book your visit today?

The Dermatology team at Bishops Wood Hospital see a variety of skin conditions, including the following rashes:

• Acne – a very common skin problem that can last for years. It causes spots and blocked pores on the face, neck and back and may lead to scarring
• Contact dermatitis – an itchy rash caused by skin contact with allergens such as fragrances or irritant chemicals
• Eczema – a dry, sore or itchy skin complaint that can affect all ages
• Psoriasis – a long-term skin condition that causes patches of red, scaly skin. It may be linked to arthritis and other health problems
• Rosacea – a facial rash that often affects people who are prone to flushing
• Hives (urticaria) - itchy, red swellings that can also affect the lips and eyelids (angioedema)
• Infections such as athlete’s foot, ringworm and folliculitis

  The Dermatology team can also investigate and treat problems with skin lumps or ‘lesions’ including:

• Moles
• New skin lumps
• Growths due to sun damage
• Suspected skin cancers

Dermatologists also diagnose and treat problems with skin pigmentation, scalp disorders and hair loss. 

Whatever your problem, our dermatology team will provide you with expert assessment.  If you need treatment, this can be arranged for you simply and quickly here at Bishops Wood.

When you first meet with your consultant at Bishops Wood, they will ask you about your skin problem in detail.  They will want to know things like:

• What symptoms you have (for example, a new lump that bleeds and doesn’t heal)
• When you first noticed these symptoms
• Whether you’ve tried any treatment such as prescribed medication
• Whether you have any particular concerns (for example, are you wondering if you have skin cancer or allergies?)

They will then examine the affected area and may advise that you have a full skin examination.  They may use a dermatoscope (a handheld magnifying device) to diagnose moles and skin lesions.

For some skin conditions, further investigations may be necessary such as:

• Blood tests
• Bacterial skin swabs or mycology tests (fungal analysis)
• Allergy testing - certain substances can trigger skin reactions. Allergy testing helps determine the specific substances that are causing your skin reaction
• Biopsy - a small sample of skin is removed and sent for further analysis

Your Dermatologist will arrange any tests required. Once the test results are back, they will discuss suitable treatment options with you. Treatment for skin conditions may involve advice about daily skin care, prescribed topical medication (creams and ointments), tablets, cryotherapy (freezing treatment) or skin surgery.  Sometimes no treatment may be needed (for example, for a harmless mole).    

Types of skin surgery may include:

• Removal (excision) of skin lesion under local anaesthetic – the skin lesion is then sent for histology (microscopic analysis)
• Mole removal – may be for cosmetic or health reasons
• Moh’s surgery - microscopically controlled removal of skin cancer
• Complex skin cancer surgery - may be referred to a plastic surgeon at Bishops Wood.

If your symptoms come back, or if you have any questions or concerns, it is easy to arrange a follow-up appointment to see your Dermatologist again for help.

People living in Northwood or in other neighbouring areas choose Bishops Wood for their skin treatments for a number of reasons: Some have been referred by their GP or another healthcare professional, while others have been recommended to us by their family and friends. A doctor’s referral would be ideal, but you can self-refer if necessary to avoid delay. 

When you visit a Consultant Dermatologist at Bishops Wood Hospital, you will benefit from:

• Rapid access to an expert in skin health – You will see an accredited Consultant Dermatologist at the earliest opportunity, so that you can see the benefits of any treatment sooner.
• Easy to book: We offer appointments throughout the week, and bookings can be easily made by telephone or online. We treat patients with private medical insurance and those who are self-funding using one of our self-pay packages.
• Remote consultations available – Most consultations for skin problems are carried out in person at Bishops Wood. We can offer remote consultations by telephone or online video call if needed and where clinically appropriate.
• Tailored treatment – Your Dermatologist will discuss treatment options and help you choose a suitable treatment for your particular condition.
• Multidisciplinary team - Your Consultant Dermatologist is supported by a number of other healthcare professionals including nurses, plastic surgeons and radiologists. They work closely with other specialities to ensure you receive the best treatment and support.
• On-site parking – We’re very easy to get to and have FREE* car parking. *You will need to register your car details with us at Reception when you first arrive in order to benefit from free parking.
• Patient Satisfaction – In an independent survey, 94.1% of the people we treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend Bishops Wood Hospital to their friends and family. We continue to work hard to provide the highest level of care for everyone we treat.

We can help with your skin condition

Our experienced team of Consultant Dermatologists will be delighted to help treat your skin complaint.

They are able to thoroughly investigate the cause(s), discuss treatment options with you, and then arrange your treatment as soon as possible.

 If you’re troubled with a skin complaint, book your appointment online today. We really look forward to helping you.