Dermatology

The inpatient ward provides care for patients with dermatologic conditions requiring advanced diagnostics or treatments not feasible in outpatient or Day Service settings. Examples include: Patients with multiple or extensive skin cancers and comorbidities, Melanoma patients, including diagnosis, staging, surgery, and follow-up, Chronic skin ulcers, Autoimmune bullous diseases such as pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid, Erythroderma.

he dermatologic surgery division performs excisions of benign and malignant skin lesions, either during inpatient admissions or via the Day Service program. Procedures include: Skin biopsies at any anatomical site, Removal of nevi, epithelial skin cancers (BCC, SCC, keratoacanthomas), melanoma, lipomas, cysts, seborrheic keratoses, and Kaposi sarcoma, Nail surgery, Removal of xanthelasmas and angiomas. Procedures are performed under local or general anesthesia, employing surgical techniques ranging from simple sutures to complex reconstructions, including flaps and grafts.

Il The Day Service focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant dermatologic neoplasms (e.g., melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers) that require surgical excision. Additionally, the service offers Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for patients with multiple actinic keratoses or superficial basal cell carcinomas who are not candidates for surgical excision or prefer non-surgical options. The Day Service is designed for same-day care, allowing patients to return home after the completion of scheduled procedures. 

This clinic serves as the initial level of specialist evaluation. The General Dermatology Clinic diagnoses and treats a wide range of skin and skin appendage conditions, including dermatitis, eczema, urticaria, erythema, acne, psoriasis, vitiligo, hair disorders, nail diseases, and sweat gland dysfunctions. These conditions may have various etiologies, including viral infections (e.g., warts, molluscum contagiosum, herpes zoster), sexually transmitted diseases, and immune-mediated disorders, such as bullous diseases (e.g., pemphigus, pemphigoid). The clinic also evaluates patients with melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, which represent some of the most prevalent malignancies and are increasing in incidence. During dermatologic consultations, the specialist performs a clinical and dermoscopic assessment of suspicious skin lesions and develops the most appropriate medical or surgical treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs.

Chronic ulcerative lesions are notoriously challenging to treat, with therapeutic responses that vary significantly and often lead to long-term chronicity. Such ulcers are frequently secondary to over 100 underlying conditions, with the most common being diabetes, vascular diseases, and autoimmune disorders. The Chronic Ulcer Clinic offers the following services:

• Basic wound care
• Advanced wound care
• Simple bandaging
• Compression bandaging
• Culture testing (on medical prescription)
• Education on self-care for managing lesions, including cleansing and disinfection techniques.
• Training in the prevention and management of chronic wounds.
• Counseling and information on prevention, treatment, and strategies to maintain health and autonomy. For patients with more complex clinical presentations, the specialist may recommend elective inpatient hospitalization in the dermatology ward for comprehensive care.

This clinic specializes in identifying and diagnosing benign and malignant melanocytic skin lesions. For lesions requiring ongoing observation, scheduled dermoscopic monitoring is provided. In cases of atypical or evolving nevi, the specialist will arrange for surgical excision during the visit. The clinic utilizes digital imaging systems, enabling dermatologists to archive dermoscopic images of patients' nevi and monitor their progression over time.

This clinic also manages melanoma follow-up care within a Day Service framework, offering structured long-term surveillance.

Located within the dermatology Day Service on the hospital’s second floor, this clinic provides services in surgical dermatology and Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). It evaluates patients in follow-up care for precancerous skin conditions (e.g., actinic keratoses, Bowen’s disease, superficial basal cell carcinomas) and non-melanoma skin cancers who have undergone surgical procedures or PDT. Regular clinical monitoring of these patients allows for the assessment of surgical outcomes and enables the early detection and diagnosis of evolving or malignant skin lesions.

This clinic provides specialized treatments including curettage, cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen application), and diathermocoagulation for the management of various dermatologic lesions, such as:

• Molluscum contagiosum
• Flat and common warts
• Genital warts (condylomas)
• Pendulous fibromas
• Actinic keratosis
• Seborrheic keratosis
• Cherry angiomas and pyogenic granulomas
• Steroid injections for keloid management

These services are offered on an outpatient basis for minor lesions and as part of the Day Service program for multiple or extensive lesions, as indicated by the specialist following an initial consultation.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive, non-surgical treatment specifically designed for superficial skin tumors, including: Actinic keratosis, Bowen’s disease, Superficial basal cell carcinoma.

This therapy involves the application of a topical photosensitizing agent that, when activated by a specific wavelength of visible light, selectively destroys tumor cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.

Phototherapy involves the use of specialized equipment to artificially replicate ultraviolet radiation, mimicking the therapeutic effects of natural sunlight. This technique utilizes different types of UV radiation (UVA, UVB, and narrowband UVB) for the treatment of various dermatological conditions, including: Psoriasis, Vitiligo, Atopic dermatitis, Cutaneous lymphomas, Pityriasis lichenoid.

The Allergy Clinic provides comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services for a wide range of allergic conditions, including:

• Respiratory allergies (e.g., allergic rhinitis, asthma)
• Food allergies and intolerances
• Insect sting allergies (e.g., Hymenoptera venom reactions)
• Drug allergies
• Latex allergy
• Contact allergies, such as reactions to: Metals, Cosmetics, Perfumes, Hair dyes, Fabrics, Dental and orthopedic materials
• Chronic spontaneous urticaria
• Atopic dermatitis

During an allergy consultation, the specialist evaluates the patient’s condition to determine the type of allergy and develops an individualized treatment plan.

Based on the consultation, various diagnostic tests may be performed, including: Prick tests, PATCH tests, PRIST and RAST tests.

For conditions such as chronic spontaneous urticaria and atopic dermatitis in adolescents and adults, biotechnological treatments are available.