Dermatology Services
Your skin — the body's largest organ — plays an important role in keeping you healthy. Skin helps regulate your temperature and protects you from harmful bacteria and substances.
Together, your skin, hair, and nails form the integumentary system. A dermatologist is a consultant who treats the many conditions that affect this system. At UPMC, we treat these conditions in children and adults.
How to Make a Dermatology Appointment
We offer treatment for conditions of the skin, hair, and nails at:
Dermatology Conditions We Treat
Our consultants treat a range of dermatoses, or conditions that affect the skin. These conditions can include rashes, wounds, tumours, moles, and ulcers. Some of these may be systemic (impact the whole body).
Systemic skin conditions
- Alopecia areata: Hair loss that occurs when your immune system attacks the body's hair follicles. Other types of hair loss can result from factors such as stress, poor nutrition, or family history.
- Psoriasis: An immune system condition that causes skin cells to turn over too quickly. Red, scaly patches form on the skin, and some people develop a special type of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis.
- Rosacea: Redness or flushing that occurs in the skin, usually on the face. Experts don't know exactly what causes rosacea, but a combination of hereditary and environmental factors may be responsible for causing blood vessels to dilate quickly.
Skin infections
Fungi (moulds or yeast), bacteria, and viruses can cause some skin, hair, and nail conditions, including:
- Nail infections: Fingernails or toenails may become thick or discoloured or they may crack. Infections are more common after injury, in people with diabetes or immune system problems, or in people with circulatory issues.
- Ringworm: A ring-shaped itchy rash develops on the skin after exposure to a fungus.
Rashes and skin disorders
Some rashes and skin disorders affect the skin's surface. These conditions include:- Dermatitis: Skin inflammation that causes a rash, itching, or blisters. Many irritants can cause dermatitis, including allergic reactions and stress.
- Acne: Inflammation or pimples that form when pores become clogged.
- Eczema: Inflammation that causes dry, itchy skin. Affected skin sometimes releases clear fluid when scratched.
- Pruritus: Itching that occurs in the skin. Allergic reactions, chemical exposure, and parasites may make skin itch.
- Skin tags: Harmless growths that form on the skin.
Genital dermatoses
Sores, lesions, and rashes can occur on the skin of the genitals in men and women. Precancerous cell changes, sexually transmitted infections, and non-sexually transmitted diseases can cause dermatoses.
Skin cancer
Cancers of the skin occur when skin cells grow in abnormal ways. Skin cancers include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Our consultants provide diagnosis (including mole checks) and treatment of all skin cancer types.
Specialised Dermatology Services at UPMC
UPMC consultants provide comprehensive examinations of the skin, hair, and nails. We offer a range of specialised services to treat and correct skin conditions. We also offer preventive care to help keep skin healthy.
Our dermatological surgeons remove moles, skin tags, and lumps and bumps that may require further investigation. Our consultants also remove precancerous cells to prevent cancer. We correct dermatologic problems using:
- Biopsy: We take a sample of skin lesions or moles to examine them for signs of cancer and other disease.
- Cryosurgery: Consultants use liquid nitrogen to freeze problem areas of the skin.
- Laser surgery: We use focused energy (laser beams) to treat skin conditions.
Why Choose UPMC for Dermatology Care?
UPMC consultants are experts in diagnosing and treating all conditions of the hair, nails, and skin. We educate you about complex and common skin conditions and make sure you get the care you need. We are committed to the highest levels of treatment and care. Additionally, we are long term partners of the HSE (Health Service Executive) and private insurers, and work diligently to ensure everyone has access to high-quality health care, delivered in a timely fashion.
