The dermatology specialists at University Health are dedicated to helping you maintain the health of your skin. You can turn to these experts whether you need treatment for acne, a chronic skin condition like psoriasis or skin cancer.
When you need a dermatologist
We offer expert dermatology care for conditions that affect the skin, hair and nails. The care is provided by a board-certified dermatologist with years of experience, as well as a physician assistant and other highly competent health specialists.
Reviewed 7/1/2022
Skin care
True or false?
The skin is our body's largest organ. And just about everyone wants to put their best skin forward. It takes some work to keep our skin healthy—and looking its best. Is your skin care routine up to snuff? Find out with this quick quiz.
True or false?
You should use a moisturizer every day.
True. Moisturizer keeps water in your skin to keep it from drying out. It can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and make your skin look brighter and younger. For best results, apply moisturizer to your face and body right after bathing—when your skin is still damp.
True or false?
If you have sensitive skin, use skin care products that are labeled "unscented."
False. Even when labels say "unscented," many skin care products still contain fragrances. And fragrances can leave sensitive skin feeling irritated and dry. Look for a product that says "fragrance-free" instead.
True or false?
The best way to get your face clean is to scrub it.
False. Scrubbing can irritate your skin. So try this instead: Wash your face with lukewarm water and use your fingertips to gently apply a mild cleanser. Anything rougher than your fingertips—even a washcloth—can also irritate your skin.
True or false?
You should wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine.
True. Applying sunscreen every day helps prevent skin damage that could lead to wrinkles, age spots or even skin cancer. For the best protection, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
True or false?
Smoking can age your skin.
True. Tobacco smoke contains chemicals that can cause premature wrinkles and leathery skin. It can also leave you with a dull and dry complexion. Just another reason to kick the habit.
What's the best way to control acne? Can medicine make your skin sensitive to the sun? Discover the answers to these and other questions you might have about caring for your skin in our health information library.
Source: American Academy of Dermatology
Here are some of the many illnesses and disorders our dermatology team can address:
- Acne and acne scars.
- Actinic keratosis.
- Alopecia hair loss.
- Athletes' foot and ringworm
- Dermatitis, including eczema and contact dermatitis.
- Nail disorders.
- Skin infections.
- Skin cancer, including basal and squamous skin cancer and melanoma.
- Skin growths and warts.
Our dermatology services
Our team offers a full range of general dermatology services. In addition, here are a few of our specialty areas:
Skin cancer screening and treatments. These include:
- Preventive skin exams and mole checks. Regular skin exams can help us find skin cancer, including aggressive melanoma, early. That's when skin cancer treatment is most likely to be successful.
- Mohs micrographic surgery. Mohs micrographic surgery is the most accurate way to remove skin cancer, which is why it has a very high success rate. For this outpatient procedure, our specially trained Mohs surgeon uses a microscope during the surgery to meticulously remove all cancerous skin cells. This allows us to remove all the cancer that can be seen microscopically, preserve as much healthy skin as possible and minimize scarring.
- Traditional skin cancer removal. Our surgeon removes skin cancer during an office visit that usually takes only about 20 minutes. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and the incision is sutured up before you go home.
- Electrodessication curettage. This is a scraping procedure that destroys common basal and squamous cell skin cancers that occur just on the surface of the skin. This quick, in-office procedure takes only about five minutes.
Surgical dermatology. Our experts treat a range of dermatology conditions in addition to cancer with surgery, including noncancerous skin lesions and cysts, acne scars and nail disorders.
Light and laser therapy. Light (phototherapy) is a proven way to treat conditions such as eczema, pruritus, vitiligo and psoriasis. With consistent treatment, many of these diseases may be put into remission. In people with vitiligo, excimer laser treatments can help restore the color of their skin.
Patch testing for chemical sensitivity. If you are experiencing rashes that could be caused by a product you're using, we can help. We offer skin testing to see if you are sensitive to certain chemicals.
How to make a dermatology appointment
In addition to our dermatologist clinic at University Health, our specialists also see patients at our clinic in Independence.
To schedule a dermatology appointment, please call 816.404.7810.