Dermatology in Dorchester

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and plays an important role in our health. It helps protects us against infection, regulates our body temperature, synthesises Vitamin D and provides us with our sense of touch. Despite being such an important part of our body, we often ignore it until something goes wrong!

Skin complaints have many causes, including:

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

It can be easy to feel self-conscious about many skin complaints, particularly those that occur in more visible areas, such as the hands or face. Skin problems may cause soreness, itchiness, disturbed sleep and even affect what we wear. Although some skin conditions will resolve naturally, many others will need treatment to adequately relieve symptoms.

A consultant dermatologist is a medically qualified doctor who has specialised in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the skin, hair and nails.  If you have any type of problem in these areas, a dermatologist will always be the best person to see for expert assessment and treatment. 

At The Winterbourne Hospital, our three experienced consultant dermatologists offer diagnosis and treatment for a range of skin conditions. Whether you’re frustrated by an unsightly rash, worried about your moles or a new skin lump, or concerned about long-term sun damage to your skin, a consultation with one of our dermatologists is a sensible course of action. Why not book your visit with them today? It’s easy to do and you’ll be able to choose an appointment time that suits your schedule. 

The Dermatology team at The Winterbourne Hospital see and treat a wide range of skin conditions. Commonly seen rashes include:

• Acne – a common skin complaint and one that can last for years. It causes spots and blocked pores on the face, neck and back and may lead to permanent scarring 
• Contact dermatitis – an itchy rash caused by the skin coming into contact with an allergen such as an irritant chemical
• Eczema – a dry, sore and/or itchy skin condition. Can occur in all ages
• Psoriasis – causes patches of red, scaly skin. A long-term condition, it may be linked to other health problems such as arthritis
• Rosacea – a facial rash that tends to be more common in people who are prone to flushing
• Hives (urticaria) - itchy, red swellings that can also affect the lips and eyelids (angioedema)
• Infections – including athlete’s foot and ringworm

The Dermatology team at The Winterbourne also investigate and treat problems with skin lumps or suspected lesions. These include:

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

They also diagnose and treat skin pigmentation disorders (which affect the colour of the skin), scalp conditions and hair loss.

Whatever your symptoms, the Dermatology team can provide you with expert assessment, quickly.  If any treatment is required, this will be arranged for you here at The Winterbourne.

When you first visit with your Dermatologist at The Winterbourne, they will ask you about your skin problem.  They will want to know things like:

• What symptoms you have (for example, a new lump on the skin or an itchy rash that hasn’t cleared up)
• When you first noticed these symptoms and whether they’ve become more pronounced over time
• Whether you’ve already tried any treatment, such as prescribed medication
• If you have any particular concerns (for example, are you worried that you may have some type of skin cancer?) 

They will examine the affected area, but it’s important to know that for some conditions they may need to carry out a full skin examination to properly assess the health of the skin all over your body. They may use a special magnifying device known as a dermatoscope to help assess and diagnose moles and skin lesions.

For some skin conditions, additional investigations may be required, including: 

• Blood tests
• Bacterial skin swabs or mycology tests (fungal analysis)   
• Allergy testing - certain substances (known as allergens) can trigger reactions in the skin. Allergy testing determines the specific allergens that cause skin reactions for you personally 
• Biopsy - a small sample of skin is removed and sent for further analysis 

Your Dermatologist will arrange any tests and investigations needed. Once any results are back and a diagnosis has been confirmed, they will discuss 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)
• Skin surgery

Sometimes, no treatment will be needed.

If skin surgery is required, this can be carried out by your Dermatologist. This may include: 

• Excision (removal) of skin lesion under local anaesthetic – this is sent for analysis under a microscope (histology)
• Mole removal – may be for cosmetic or health reasons
• Skin cancer surgery

The results of any treatment will be reviewed, and your Dermatologist can adjust treatment where needed for better symptom relief. If symptoms come back, or if you have any questions or concerns at any time, it is very easy to arrange a follow-up appointment to see your Dermatologist again. 

Many people choose to visit our Dermatology team because of a recommendation from a friend or family member. Others are referred by their GP or private medical insurance provider. Some choose to self-refer in order to get help sooner.

As the only local private hospital, many of our patients are from Dorchester and other parts of Dorset, but some also travel from further away to visit with us.

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

Rapid access to an expert in skin health – You will see an accredited Consultant Dermatologist as soon as possible, so you’ll be able to see the benefits of any treatment needed sooner. 

Easy to book: We offer appointments throughout the week, and bookings are easily made by telephone or online. We treat people with private medical insurance and those who are self-funding. 

Remote consultations available – Most consultations for skin problems are carried out in person at The Winterbourne. We can also offer remote consultations by telephone or online video call if needed and where clinically appropriate.

Support from a multidisciplinary team - Your Consultant Dermatologist works closely with other specialities to ensure you receive the best treatment and support. 

On-site parking – We’re situated just one mile south of Dorchester town centre and have a car park with 40 spaces.

Patient Satisfaction – In an independent survey, 98.4% of the people we treated said they were likely or highly likely to recommend The Winterbourne Hospital to their friends and family.  

Our experienced team of Consultant Dermatologists would be delighted to help treat your skin complaint.  They will investigate the cause(s), discuss treatment options with you and then arrange any treatment needed as soon as possible.  If you are concerned with any type of skin complaint, why not get in touch today to book your appointment?