Subspecialties in Dermatology
The Department of Dermatology at the University of Massachusetts offers an extensive selection of subspecialty clinics and services.
Cosmetic Dermatology
Procedures include botulinum toxin injections, superficial chemical peels and dermabrasion. Fillers will also be available in the near future.
Dermatopathology
Our dermatopathology service is housed in a state of the art facility and processes over 15,000 skin specimens from dermatology clinics at UMass as well as from other dermatology practices in central MA.
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 Program
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
The University of Massachusetts Dermatology laser program is directed by Mark J. Scharf, M.D. 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
In addition, second year and third year residents have the opportunity to work with Karen Wiss, M.D. in her pediatric laser clinics. In these clinics, a number of conditions, including port wine stains, angiofibromas, and epidermal nevi to name a few, are treated in day surgery or in the outpatient laser clinic.
Mohs Surgery
Dr. Frederick Mohs 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.
Contact Dermatitis
The contact dermatitis clinic, are intergrated into medical and pediactric 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.
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.