General dermatology care
From treating eczema and acne to providing preventive skin cancer screenings, we’re here to diagnose, treat and help you keep your skin healthy for life.
What is a dermatologist?
A dermatologist is a doctor who has specialty training in diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions that affect your skin, hair and nails. These conditions can range from eczema and excessive sweating to skin cancers, like squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell cancer and melanoma.
Get dermatology care
Our experienced dermatologists will work with you to diagnose, treat and manage your condition. They’ll also teach you how to prevent future issues.
When to see a dermatologist
Noticing a few extra hairs in the shower drain or a new mole on your body? For the most part, these are completely normal. However, if you have a skin, nail or hair issue that isn’t improving with over-the-counter treatments or is getting worse, it may be time to see a dermatologist.
Our dermatologists have experience in evaluating, diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions. Some of these conditions include:
Atypical moles, or unusual-looking moles, are benign (growth that is not cancerous) and can occur anywhere on the body. However, having atypical moles can increase your risk of melanoma, so it’s important to be aware of them and talk with a dermatologist about any changes you see.
Spotting abnormal changes in your moles
When looking for abnormal changes, remember the following warning signs:
A = Asymmetry. Most melanomas are asymmetrical, meaning if you draw a line down the middle, the two halves don’t match.
B = Border. Regular moles have smoother, more even borders, while melanomas tend to have uneven borders.
C = Color. Benign moles are typically a single shade of brown. Melanomas may have different shades of brown, tan or black. As a melanoma grows, you may see red, white or blue coloring.
D = Diameter and darkness. Pay attention to moles that are the size of a pencil eraser or larger. Also, look for moles that are darker than others.
E = Evolving. Changes in size, shape, color or new symptoms, such as bleeding or itching may all be warning signs.
Diagnosis and treatment
To diagnose your condition, your dermatologist will discuss your symptoms with you and may perform tests, including a biopsy, which involves taking a sample of tissue to be examined more closely. Then your doctor will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan.
While most conditions can be treated with medication and non-surgical treatment, some conditions may require surgical treatment.
Depending on your situation, your dermatologist may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
Used to treat non-melanoma skin cancer, Mohs surgery involves the removal of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma cancer cells, while saving the greatest amount of skin tissue possible.
This surgery is performed by a Mohs surgeon. Learn more about Mohs surgery.
Dermatology at Geisinger
Keep your skin, hair and nails healthy – with a little help from our dermatologists’ training and experience. From diagnosis to treatment and management of your condition, we offer:
- Personalized treatment – You’re unique, and so is your skin. After diagnosing your condition, your dermatologist will partner with you to create a treatment plan that works for you. After treatment, we’ll make sure you’re armed with the education necessary to help prevent future issues.
- Big-city treatments in your backyard – With locations throughout central, west and northeast Pennsylvania, you don’t have to travel far to get the treatment you need or want. From Mohs surgery to cosmetic dermatology procedures, like laser hair removal, we’ve got you covered.
- Long-lasting results – The right treatments and education will help you avoid recurrence of your condition. As the body’s largest organ, our skin protects us from outside elements. We’re here to help you keep it healthy for life.