Dermatology

The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It plays a vital role in many aspects of our health, helping to protect against injury and infection, regulating body temperature, synthesising Vitamin D and even providing us with our sense of touch.  

Unfortunately, there are a number of ways the skin can be damaged. These include:  

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

It can be easy to feel quite self-conscious about skin problems, particularly where they affect more visible places such as the hands and face. Although some skin conditions will resolve naturally, many others will need treatment to properly relieve symptoms.

Dermatology is the area of medicine involved with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the skin, hair and nails A doctor who specialises in this area is known as a Consultant Dermatologist. For any skin, hair or nail concern, a Dermatologist will always be the best person to see for assessment and guidance about the best treatment.

At The Blackheath Hospital in London, our Consultant Dermatologists offer diagnosis and treatment for a very wide range of skin symptoms and conditions. Whether you are concerned about a mole that has changed shape and/or colour, embarrassed by an angry red rash or frustrated by itchy skin, a consultation with a Dermatologist is a very sensible course of action. Why not book your visit with one of our experienced Dermatologists today? 

The Dermatology team at Blackheath Hospital treat a variety of skin conditions. Commonly seen rashes include: 

• Acne – a common skin problem that can last for many years.  It causes spots and blocked pores on the face, neck and back. In more severe cases it can lead to scarring 
• Contact dermatitis – an itchy rash, caused by skin contact with an allergen such as an irritant chemical 
• Eczema – can affect all ages. Causes dry, sore or itchy skin 
• Psoriasis – a long-term skin condition that causes areas of red, scaly skin 
• Rosacea – a facial rash. Tends to affect people who are prone to flushing  
• Hives (urticaria) - itchy, red swellings on the skin 
• Infections – including athlete’s foot or ringworm 

The Dermatology team can also investigate and treat problems with skin lumps, including: 

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

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

Whatever your particular symptoms, the experienced Dermatology team at The Blackheath can easily and quickly provide you with expert assessment for peace of mind.  If any treatment is needed, this is easily arranged for you.

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

• The symptoms you have (for example, a mole that has been slowly changing colour) 
• When you first noticed these symptoms 
• Whether you have tried any treatment already, such as prescribed medication 
• Whether any of your symptoms is causing you particular worry (for example, are you concerned about the possibility of skin cancer?)

They will carefully examine the affected area of skin. Depending on your symptoms, they may want to carry out a full skin examination. They may use a special handheld magnifying device (known as a dermatoscope) that can be helpful when diagnosing moles and skin lesions.  

For some skin conditions, further investigations can be helpful. These include: 

• Blood tests 
• Bacterial skin swabs or mycology tests (fungal analysis)   
• Allergy testing – used to determine which substances cause you to have a skin reaction 
• Biopsy - a small sample of skin is removed and sent for further analysis  

Your Dermatologist will arrange any tests required at the earliest opportunity. Once the results of any tests are back, they will talk with you about treatment options. Treatment for skin conditions may involve: 

• advice about daily skin care 
• prescribed topical medication (creams and ointments)  
• tablets 
• cryotherapy (freezing treatment) 
• skin surgery 

It may also be found that no treatment is required. For example, a harmless mole can be left.  

Types of skin surgery carried out by the Dermatologists at The Blackheath include: 

• Removal (excision) of skin lesion – carried out under local anaesthetic. The skin lesion is then sent for analysis under a microscope 
• Mole removal 
• Skin cancer surgery – depending on its type, size and location on the body, this may be referred to a plastic surgeon at Blackheath. 

Your Dermatologist will review the results of any treatment at certain intervals. If adjustments are needed (for example, changing to a different or higher dose topical medication), this is easily arranged. If your symptoms come back, or if you have any questions or concerns at any time, it is easy to arrange another appointment to see your Dermatologist for further help. 

People living in London and the surrounding areas choose The Blackheath Hospital for their skin treatments for a variety of reasons. Many are referred to us by their GP, another healthcare professional or their personal medical insurance provider. Others have been recommended to us by their family and friends. A doctor’s referral is always helpful, but you can self-refer if necessary to avoid delay.

When you visit a Consultant Dermatologist at The Blackheath Hospital, you will benefit from:

• Fast access to a specialist in skin health – When a skin condition is causing you concern, the last thing you want is to be waiting week (or even months!) to be seen by somebody. We will arrange an appointment for you with an accredited Consultant Dermatologist at the earliest opportunity, so that you can see the benefits of any treatment sooner. 
• Easy to book: We offer Dermatology appointments throughout the week. We treat patients with private medical insurance and those who are self-funding with one of our self-pay packages. For your convenience, bookings can be made online or by telephone.
• Remote consultations available – Most consultations for skin problems are carried out in person at Blackheath, where the skin can be expertly examined. If necessary (and where clinically appropriate), we can offer remote consultations by telephone or online video call. 
• Treatment just for you – Your Dermatologist will explain any suitable treatment options and help you choose a suitable treatment for your condition.  
• Multidisciplinary team - Your Dermatologist is supported by a number of other healthcare professionals including nurses, plastic surgeons and radiologists. With quick access to leading experts in different medical fields where required, you will always receive the best treatment for your condition, from the most suitable person.
• Patient Satisfaction – In an independent survey, 97.9% of the people we treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend Blackheath Hospital to their friends and family.

Our experienced team of Consultant Dermatologists would be delighted to help treat your skin complaint. If you’re troubled with any type of problem with your skin, hair or nails, why not book your appointment today? We look forward to welcoming you to The Blackheath Hospital soon.