Skin Health Checks
As part of any consultation, Dr. Ophelia is always ready to perform a full skin examination to look for skin pre-cancers or cancers. As part of your management plan, Dr. Ophelia will give personalized advice regarding sun protection and skin surveillance.
Benign age and sun exposure related skin changes
The natural aging process and excessive sun exposure results in significant changes in the skin. Some of these changes may be of cosmetic concern, and if they are affecting you Dr. Ophelia can advise on effective treated.
Sun spots and redness can develop with age and as a result of excessive sun exposure, particularly in fair skinned individuals. Both can be treated successfully with intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) or lasers more targeted at pigment or blood vessels.
Seborrhoeic warts or keratosis, are waxy like ‘stuck on’ lesions that can be quite itchy. There is a genetic tendency and usually increase in number as you age. It is important to remember that seborrhoeic warts or keratosis are benign skin lesions that do not progress to skin cancer. However, if your seborrhoeic warts or keratoses are causing concern for cosmetic reasons or are symptomatic, they can easily be treated with cryotherapy or surgically removed.
Furthermore, the development of fine lines, wrinkles and loss of volume are other age and sun related changes that can occur. Dr. Ophelia can provide muscle-relaxing injections, dermal fillers and laser based treatments to treat these changes, if they are of particular concern to you.
Actinic keratoses
Actinic keratoses are red, scaly areas of sun damage. There is a small chance they could progress into the squamous cell carcinoma type of skin cancer, so Dr. Ophelia would recommend treating them. Actinic keratosis can easily be treated with cryotherapy, topical chemotherapy creams, photodynamic therapy (PDT) or surgical treatment.
Non melanoma skin cancers
Non melanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, are often related to excessive sun exposure and ageing.
Basal cell carcinomas
Basal cell carcinomas or ‘rodent’ ulcers are tumours that grown slowly, often over a period of years. Basal cell carcinomas usually present on sun exposed areas of skin, but can occur anywhere. Dr. Ophelia will undertake a clinical diagnosis and may recommend a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and plan the most appropriate treatment. Her treatment options include liquid nitrogen therapy, topical chemotherapy regimens, photodynamic therapy (PDT), surgical removal by shave removal or excision, Mohs micrographic surgery or radiotherapy.
Solar lentigos and lentigo maligna
Solar lentigos (or age/ sun spots) are manifestations of sun exposure and age, particularly in fair skinned individuals. Dr. Ophelia may recommend a skin biopsy be taken to exclude the possibility of any cancerous changes. Solar lentigos can be treated with light or laser based therapies such as intense pulsed light laser (IPL), NdYag or pulsed dye laser (PDL). Sometimes solar lentigos can develop cancerous changes, known as lentigo maligna, which can be treated with topical chemotherapy cream or surgical removal.
Melanomas
Melanoma is when there is uncontrolled growth of the pigment cells (melanocytes) in the skin. Sun exposure and genetic predisposition are known to play roles in the development of melanoma. Usually a mole is noted to be new, or an existing mole changes rapidly. In such case, for any suspicious mole, Dr Ophelia would recommend removing it surgically. The tissue removed is then analysed by a Consultant Histopathologist. All melanoma diagnoses are discussed in a multi-disciplinary team meeting to ensure gold standard care. At this point Dr. Ophelia will discuss the diagnosis and management options available to you, which usually includes further surgery and possible imaging.
Why visit Dr. Ophelia for your skin health check?
Dr. Ophelia Veraitch is an award-winning and highly respected Consultant Dermatologist. Specialising in a wide variety of hair and skin conditions, Dr. Veraitch works with every patient individually, working to truly understand the issue at hand, the products and regime a client utilises plus the mental and physical impact this condition has on their daily life. Following a detailed assessment, Dr. Veraitch expertly develops a personalised treatment plan which will help produce results, and ultimately change every one of her patient’s lives for the better.
What are my next steps?
Book a consultation with Dr. Ophelia, who will diagnose your condition and offer treatment options going forward, Click the link below to start the process.
Book a ConsultationFAQs
What should I expect from a consultation with Dr. Ophelia Veraitch?
You are at the centre of a consultation with Dr. Ophelia Veraitch. From openly discussing your skin and hair concerns to having the opportunity to ask any questions, she will also delve into what products you currently use or have used in the past. Dr. Veraitch will need to understand how your condition affects you and the impact that it is having on your life.
Following this, you will receive a thorough examination and Dr. Veraitch will review any photos that you bring along to support the diagnosis. Clinical photographs may also be taken in order to assess your response to treatment.
In most cases, a diagnosis can be offered at this stage of the consultation and written details of the condition and proposed treatment options will be provided. This will enable you to consider all options at home before making a final decision as to which course of treatment you prefer. Dr. Veraitch will also prepare a personalised care plan for you to take away at the end of your consultation.
In some cases, further investigations, such as blood tests or a skin biopsy, might be required before a final diagnosis can be made. If necessary, these will be arranged either following your appointment or on a separate visit.
Following your appointment, Dr. Veraitch and her team are happy to answer any questions you might have, to ensure that you understand and have confidence in your treatment plan.
Only treatments supported by solid evidence will be recommended.
What kinds of conditions can Dr. Ophelia Veraitch treat?
Dr. Ophelia Veraitch is highly experienced in Medical Dermatology and is able to diagnose and treat all skin and hair conditions including:
– Acne
– Rosacea
– Eczema
– Psoriasis
– Skin cancers
– Pigmentary disorders, including melasma and vitiligo
– Alopecia (androgenetic, alopecia areata, lichen planopilaris/ frontal fibrosis alopecia)
What kinds of treatments does Dr. Ophelia Veraitch offer?
Dr. Ophelia Veraitch will recommend the best course of treatment based on her assessment of each individual patient. Services include:
– PRP/ PRF hair restoration
– Steroid injections
– VIPEEL chemical peels
– Skin boosters
– Wrinkle injections
– Dermal fillers
– Ellanse collagen stimulation
– Aqualyx fat dissolving
– Lanluma cellulite and body sculpting
– Fractional resurfacing laser
– Intense pulse light, Vascular lasers
– ND:YAG laser hair removal
– Steroid injections
– Skin Surgery
How do I book an appointment?
To book an appointment, visit our booking page and complete the form. Alternatively, you can contact the medical PA to Dr Ophelia by phone: +44 (20) 7022 9888 (available Monday - Friday 9am-5pm) or email: pa@drophelia.com.
Dr Ophelia is available for appointments in clinic on Tuesdays, Fridays and some Saturdays.
How much does it cost?
The price for an initial consultation with Dr. Ophelia Veraitch is £375 for a 30 minute standard medical dermatology consultation (e.g. acne, eczema, rosacea, pigmentation, mole checks, cosmetic concerns etc.). Hair patients can require more time, and therefore we book new hair patient consultations in for 45 minutes at a cost of £400. Follow up consultations are £225. Recommended treatments will be costed up and shared with the patient accordingly.