General dermatology · private visits, no referral
Dermatologist in Wrocław – the HappyDERM clinic at ul. Barlickiego
A new mole, a rash that returns every few weeks, acne resistant to one cosmetic after another, itching of the skin without visible lesions, thinning hair or a nail that has changed colour. These are the matters patients most often bring to us. At HappyDERM the consultations are provided by consultant dermatologists and venereologists: dr n. med. Małgorzata Micał-Strąk and lek. Ireneusz Pijanowski. A visit lasts as long as it takes to examine the skin, take a history and establish what comes next.
The most frequent indications for a dermatological consultation
The same symptom may have entirely different causes. Redness on the face may be irritation after a new cream, but equally rosacea or seborrhoeic dermatitis, and each of these diagnoses is treated differently. That is why we do not begin with a procedure or with yet another cosmetic. First we establish what is actually happening to the skin, and only then do we propose treatment.
Acne and rosacea
We assess the type of lesions, what aggravates them and everything the patient has used so far. The therapy has to be sustainable over several months, because that is how long acne treatment usually takes. After 6–8 weeks we check how the skin is responding and how it tolerates the medication.
Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis
Chronic diseases recur, so alongside treatment of flares the patient receives a plan for the period between visits: how to care for the skin, when to reach for a medicine and when to come in earlier.
Viral warts and skin infections
Before removing a lesion we make sure what it is. The method (cryotherapy, electrocoagulation, topical treatment) is matched to the number of lesions, their location and whether the problem has recurred before.
Hair loss and the scalp
We discuss when the hair loss began, whether anything preceded it (illness, childbirth, surgery, diet) and we examine the scalp. Sometimes observation is enough, sometimes blood tests or treatment are needed.
Nails
A yellow, thickened or crumbling nail is not always a fungal infection. Nail psoriasis or the consequence of trauma look similar, which is why a mycological test is sometimes needed before antifungal treatment.
Moles and new skin lesions
A lesion that is growing, darkening, itching or bleeding is examined with a dermatoscope. When booking, please say whether it concerns a single mole or a review of the whole skin, because the length of such a visit differs.
What the first visit looks like
We begin with a conversation: how long the symptoms have lasted, what aggravates them, which medicines and cosmetics have been used, whether similar problems occur in the family. The doctor then examines the skin, if necessary with a dermatoscope. Finally the doctor explains what the most probable cause is, how to use the prescribed treatment and after how long the effect should be assessed. Not every visit ends with a prescription. Sometimes the doctor orders a blood test, a culture or a biopsy and establishes the treatment only once the result is available.
What to bring to the visit
- a list of medicines and supplements, including those applied to the skin,
- the results of earlier tests, if there were any,
- photographs of lesions that come and go,
- the packaging of creams, if you do not remember the names.
How to prepare
Please do not cover the lesions with heavy make-up or self-tanning products. For a nail problem, please remove the polish. Medicines prescribed by another doctor should not be discontinued on your own; it is better to bring them to the visit and discuss them.
When a skin lesion should not wait for the next free appointment
We give an earlier appointment to patients whose mole has appeared recently or clearly differs from the others, is growing, changing shape or colour, itching, oozing or bleeding without injury. The ABCDE rule (asymmetry, irregular borders, uneven colour, diameter over 6 mm, evolution) is helpful, but it does not replace examination. Some melanomas have none of these features, which is why any doubt is a reason to show the lesion to a doctor.
An extensive, rapidly spreading rash with fever, blisters or severe pain is a matter for the emergency department or the 112 number, not for a scheduled visit to the clinic.
The dermatologists at HappyDERM
dr n. med. Małgorzata Micał-Strąk
Consultant dermatologist and venereologist, doctor of medical sciences, aesthetic medicine physician. She sees patients in Wrocław and in Nysa. She combines general dermatology with aesthetic treatments, which matters for example in post-acne scarring or hyperpigmentation, where treating the disease and improving the appearance of the skin go together.
lek. Ireneusz Pijanowski
Consultant dermatologist and venereologist (second-degree specialisation). A graduate of the Military Medical Academy in Łódź, he completed his specialisation at the Department of Dermatology, Paediatric Dermatology and Oncology in Łódź. He has worked in dermatology clinics since 2002 and is a member of the Lower Silesian Branch of the Polish Dermatological Society.
A visit to the clinic or an online consultation
An online consultation works well for monitoring ongoing treatment, discussing test results or a problem that can be assessed from the history and good photographs — for example a recurrence of eczema the patient already knows. A new mole, a lesion requiring dermoscopy or a nail from which material must be taken cannot be examined through a screen. In such situations the doctor will invite the patient to the clinic after the online consultation.
Questions we hear at reception
Do I need a referral?
No. Visits at HappyDERM are private and anyone can book. What is useful, however, is the results of earlier tests and a list of the medicines you take.
Can a procedure be done at the first visit?
Minor procedures, such as cryotherapy of a viral wart, often yes, if there are no contraindications and the time of the visit allows it. Larger procedures are scheduled for a separate appointment, after qualification.
How much does a visit cost?
Current prices of consultations and treatments are in the price list. When booking, reception states the cost of the particular visit.
I have several skin problems. Can I discuss them all at one visit?
Yes, just say so when booking so that we can reserve more time. At the start of the visit, agree with the doctor which problem to begin with.
Should I stop medicines or cosmetics before the visit?
Medicines prescribed by a doctor should not be discontinued on your own. On the day of the visit, please do not apply make-up to the area being assessed, if possible.
Previous treatment did not help. What should I bring?
The names of the products, the dosage, how long they were used and how the skin tolerated them. On this basis the doctor assesses whether the problem lies in the diagnosis, in the way the product was used or in the medicine itself.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology: the ABCDE rule.
- NICE NG12: suspicious skin lesions and referral for diagnosis.
- American Academy of Dermatology: teledermatology.
The text is informative and does not replace a medical examination. The diagnosis and treatment are established by the doctor during the visit.
Book a visit to a dermatologist in Wrocław
Call or write, say what the problem is and whether the patient is an adult or a child. Reception will match the doctor, the location and the nearest available appointment.
Dermatologist in Wrocław – the price of a visit
- Medical visit – dermatological examination – PLN 280–350
- Online consultation with the option of issuing a prescription – PLN 220
- Dermoscopic assessment of melanocytic naevi – PLN 50–200
- Cryosurgical procedures (viral warts, soft fibromas) – from PLN 150
- Mycological testing for fungal infection – from PLN 100
We see patients privately, without a referral. The same price list applies in Wrocław, Nysa and Polanica-Zdrój – the full statement is available in the HappyDERM price list.
Skin diseases and problems we treat in Wrocław
Below are the pages devoted to particular diagnoses. If your problem is on this list, it is worth starting there — we describe the course of treatment and what can be expected.
- Acne and post-acne scars
- Rosacea and persistent facial erythema
- Psoriasis and seborrhoeic dermatitis
- Moles and new skin lesions — dermoscopic diagnosis
- Hair loss and diseases of the scalp
- Onychomycosis and other nail diseases
- Viral warts
- Itching of the skin without a rash and folliculitis
- Melasma and hyperpigmentation
- Hyperhidrosis
- Paediatric dermatology
Have you not found your problem on the list? That is normal — dermatology covers several hundred diagnoses. Please book a consultation and we will establish the diagnosis on site.