Departments

Our dermatologists are here to help improve the health and appearance of patients’ skin, and to diagnose and treat both benign and malignant skin conditions. We provide specialized care for the full spectrum of skin disorders, including acne, alopecia areata, psoriasis, inherited skin disease, and skin issues arising after organ transplant and during cancer treatment. We are one of two centers in the state with a pigmented lesion clinic, phototherapy center, and cutaneous lymphoma clinic. The clinical research efforts of our dermatologists have contributed significantly to the treatment of skin tumors such as melanomas and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. We are actively exploring the uses of advanced technologies such as photopheresis, a therapy for life-threatening and debilitating diseases like cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and graft-versus-host disease. A large portion of the department's research is performed through two separate research entities—the Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer Center and the Spitzoid Neoplasm Repository.

We offer sophisticated approaches for the management of skin cancers, ranging from the most common to the most complicated or rare. At the heart of our program is microscopically controlled excision, known asMohs surgery, the most successful treatment to cure recurrent or other high-risk skin cancers. We have been offering the procedure since 1998, and today, our physicians perform 3,500 Mohs surgeries each year. Mohs surgery has revolutionized the treatment of such skin cancers as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and the chances of lasting, disfiguring scars are minimized. In this procedure, the cancer is removed layer by layer, and, after each step, the tissue is examined under a microscope, allowing our dermatologists to confirm that all of the cancer cells have been eliminated as the surgery progresses. This maximizes the chances of removing all of the abnormal cells while still preserving as much of the normal skin tissue as possible.

The Skin & Kidney Cancer Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital brings together an extensive, multidisciplinary team to diagnose, treat, and care for patients with all types of skin cancers, including melanoma, as well as kidney cancers. Established over 30 years ago, our program includes experts in surgery, medical oncology, dermatology, urology, pathology, dermatopathology, radiology, genetics, and radiation oncology. Members of the team are national and international leaders in clinical and laboratory research focusing on improving treatment and outcomes for our patients. From patients who present with an early-stage diagnosis or more complex, metastatic disease, our team is prepared to provide each patient with the most comprehensive and cutting-edge treatment available. Each patient’s care is reviewed by our multidisciplinary care team to develop a personalized treatment plan. Clinical trials are also available to patients through Yale Cancer Center, bringing the latest treatment options to our clinics to benefit patients. Our doctors are at the forefront of melanoma and kidney cancer treatment and research, including novel immunotherapy approaches and the genetic characterization of kidney cancers. Smilow Cancer Hospital places great emphasis on taking care of all of our patients’ needs through a network of supportive care services. Nurses with dedicated knowledge and skills care for our patients through the continuum of their treatment. Patients and their families also have access to social workers to provide psychosocial support, as well as pastoral support, nutritional counseling, physical therapy, palliative care, and integrative medicine. After the initial diagnosis—and depending on the presentation of the disease—each patient is evaluated by our dermatologists, surgeons, urologists, and/or medical oncologists. For some presentations of melanoma and other skin cancers, particularly in the early stages in which disease has not spread beyond the primary site or lymph nodes close to the primary site, surgery may the preferred initial treatment. Specialized surgical expertise is essential for the management of melanoma and other skin cancers, which can occur on any skin site and even in areas not exposed to the sun. Some skin cancers appear in delicate areas such as the face, nose, ear, or hand and often require the expertise of a plastic surgeon. For certain regions of the body, our team collaborates with other highly trained surgical subspecialties, including thoracic surgery and neurosurgery. To care for kidney cancer, we work closely with oncologists and urologic surgeons. In the early stages of melanoma, pathology results from the tumor will determine the risk of developing metastases (spread to distant organs) in the future. If the results indicate a high risk for melanoma metastases, treatments are available to reduce the risk and possibly prevent or delay melanoma recurrence. Adjuvant therapies (or therapies given after surgery

When skin conditions must be treated with surgery, we offer patients the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art surgical techniques available, including Mohs Surgery for recurrent or high-risk skin cancers. We treat skin diseases ranging from the most common conditions, to the most complicated or rare skin cancers. Our team includes physicians, registered nurses, and other clinicians who collaborate to provide compassionate care to our patients. Our team also works closely with specialists in other departments, including plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, head and neck surgeons, and radiation cancer experts, allowing patients to get the full benefit of a multidisciplinary approach to a range of skin conditions.

The Yale Onco-Dermatology Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital serves the dermatologic needs of cancer patients in Connecticut and beyond. We treat concerns including very dry skin, itching, and skin changes that arise as side effects from chemotherapy. We also treat rashes, nail and hair changes, skin infections, cancer involvement of the skin, radiation dermatitis, and other changes due to radiation. We also provide dedicated care for patients with skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, ranging from rigorous skin screening examinations to optimized prevention and therapy.

Since the field of dermatopathology began in 1792, Yale dermatologists and dermatopathologists have earned their place amid the discoveries, innovations, and milestones that have shaped the field. Today, Yale Dermatopathology is currently the most sophisticated and technically advanced laboratory in the region. In our Dermatopathology Lab, our team of highly specialized, board-certified histotechnologists brings a combined 100 years of experience to helping dermatologists provide the most accurate, timely diagnoses to their patients so they can begin the right treatment right away. Our services include examination of the following: Malignant melanoma Melanocytic nevi Cutaneous T cell lymphoma Psoriasis Lichen planus Basal cell carcinoma Kaposi’s sarcoma Erythema multiforme Leukocytoclastic vasculitis

The largest center for specialty dermatology in Connecticut, Yale’s Department of Dermatology is among the oldest in the United States. Our doctors and nurses provide safe, compassionate, and innovative care to all members of our community. We offer treatment for skin conditions, all of which can interfere with quality of life. Cutting-edge therapies are often the only hope for patients with resistant dermatologic illness, which affects the whole skin surface. Our physicians are deeply rooted in research, including the exploration of new technologies such as photopheresis for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and graft-versus-host disease. Our patients often benefit from early access to new treatments and therapies discovered by researchers at Yale. Specialized clinics for organ transplant patients, photopheresis, ichthyosis, and inherited skin disease One of two centers in the state with a pigmented lesion clinic, phototherapy center, and cutaneous lymphoma clinic Cutting-edge microscopically controlled excision (Mohs technique) for recurrence of high-risk cancers Technically advanced referral center for expert diagnosis of benign and malignant skin disorders Large dermatopathology lab, which processes 75,000 patient biopsies annually