Subspecialties in Dermatology
The Department of Dermatology offers an extensive selection of subspecialty clinics and services through its clinical partner, UMass Memorial Medical Center:
Contact Dermatitis
The contact dermatitis clinic is integrated into the medical and pediatric dermatology clinics. We use an 80-allergen patch test panel consisting of the most commonly implicated allergens as reported by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group.
Cosmetic Dermatology
Procedures include botulinum toxin injections, superficial chemical peels and dermabrasion.
Dermatopathology
Our dermatopathology service is housed in a state-of-the-art facility and processes more than 15,000 skin specimens from dermatology clinics at UMass Memorial Medical Center as well as from other dermatology practices in Central Massachusetts.
Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinic
This evolving multidisciplinary clinic manages approximately 50 patients with epidermolysis bullosa. The group is involved in the multi center EBCRC (Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinical Research Consortium).
Laser Clinics
Procedures involving VBeam, Carbon dioxide, long pulsed YAG, Q switched ruby and Neodynium YAG lasers.
Laser Dermatology
The UMass Memorial Medical Center Adult and Pediatric Laser Clinic is directed by Mark J. Scharf, MD. The program utilizes many types of lasers including the following:
- Carbon dioxide laser
- Pulsed dye laser (V Beam)
- Q switched Ruby laser
- Q switched Nd:Yag laser
- Long pulsed Nd:Yag laser
- Long pulsed Alexandrite
- Sciton Halo
Lasers are used to treat a variety of skin conditions including the following:
- Port wine stains in both adults and children
- Blood vessel growths such as telangectasias, hemangiomas, rosacea and spider veins
- Warts
- Tattoos: amateur, professional and traumatic
- Birthmarks
- Hair reduction
In addition, second year and third year residents have the opportunity to work with Karen Wiss, MD, in her pediatric laser clinics. In these clinics, a number of conditions, including port wine stains, angiofibromasand epidermal nevi, to name a few, are treated in day surgery or in the outpatient laser clinic.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Frederic Mohs, MD, developed Mohs micrographic surgery in the 1940s as a precise method of treating certain skin cancers. It combines surgical removal of the cancer with immediate microscopic examination of the removed tissue to ensure that the tumor is completely removed.
Pediatric Dermatology
Provides general outpatient pediatric dermatology clinics, laser and surgical clinics, inpatient consults, a multidisciplinary clinic with genetics, and a regional epidermolysis bullosa clinic.
Phototherapy
Our phototherapy unit is housed within the clinic and offers broadband and narrowband UVB phototherapy and PUVA.
Vitiligo/Alopecia areata
In order to complement basic, translational and clinical research on vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases in our division, this clinic focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with vitiligo, alopecia areata, and those with multiple autoimmune diseases. In addition to clinical care, this clinic provides specimens for translational research studies. Read more about vitiligo research.