The skin is one of the first things you notice when meeting someone, shaking their hand or even greeting them with a kiss. A glowing skin represents beauty and health, and you will find self-confidence radiating in your personality when blessed with a perfect skin.
Visible skin problems can quickly make you lose confidence. Skin problems should always be taken seriously with a visit to a doctor or dermatology clinic to help reduce the distress that persistent symptoms can cause. Finding the best dermatologist or skin doctor in Nairobi can sometimes be difficult.
Our team of beauty therapists, medical officers, dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon will help you in your quest to a better, healthier and glowing skin. As a skin clinic in Nairobi we have almost 10 years of experience with all types of skin.
Our experienced clinicians will visually inspect your skin and assess skin lesions and (if necessary) scan them using state-of-the-art scanning equipment to analyse and detect even the smallest changes. The procedure is painless, quick and safe.
Appropriate advise and dermatological therapy can be initiated by the dermatologist or skin doctor.
Mole mapping uses full-body digital imaging to find new lesions on your skin and monitor changes in existing moles that could develop into skin cancers or melanoma. Using eDermoscopy, this state-of-the-art method allows sooner intervention should any changes be observed.
Looking at the skin which is our largest organ, a high incidence of morbidity and mortality causes huge burdens on patient’s health and also cost for the medical insurance industry. Where prevention of skin damage is lead by education, use of protective clothing and sunscreens, prevention of progression of skin lesions to skin cancers is of paramount importance. The only way to do this is through professional, expert screening of the existing skin and close follow up of those patients who are at highest risk. Vitality Fountain Clinic Skin addresses skin issues and has a skin cancer screening function. Dr. Tilman Stasch the Director of Vitality Fountain Clinic has extensive experience in skin cancer screening.
Skin Cancer Screening
Mole mapping may include a clinical skin examination and dermoscopy to identify and evaluate lesions of concern for those at high risk of malignant melanoma. Mole mapping is intended to diagnose melanoma at the earliest possible stage, by identifying new moles or changes in preexisting moles. These features may be suspicious of melanoma if the lesion also has a disordered structure clinically or on dermoscopy. It is important to note that while some lesions are obvious potential cancer growths, others may not be apparent despite the close-up dermatoscopy images. These moles may be excised (biopsied) and examined further using histological techniques. Should this be the case, we will discuss in detail the need to biopsy your lesion. Reports from the mole mapping session will be compiled and sent to you approximately 4-6 weeks after the appointment; they are detailed and take a considerable amount of time to compile. These reports will help the patient to monitor all mapped moles for changes in size, shape and colour.
Advantages of Mole Mapping
- The previous record can be used to determine whether a lesion of concern is new or has changed.
- If the doctor determines that a lesion has the criteria for removal, this can be done at the earliest possible stage, reducing the risk of melanoma and minimizing surgery as well as expensive treatment of disseminated malignant melanoma.
- If a lesion is new or has changed, but does not reach the threshold for removal, it can be reimaged and watched carefully.
- Lesions that do have not structural disorder and have not changed are very unlikely to be melanoma and so may not need to be removed, reducing the potential cost, risks, and complications of surgery.
- Reassurance to patients and their health practitioner(s).
- Other lesions like basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas can be identified and treated.
What Mole Mapping Usually Involves for the patient:
Patients are likely to undergo the following steps:
- They will be asked to remove at least the outer clothing. Lesions of concern hidden by the underwear should be pointed out to the practitioner. Makeup, nail polish, and jewelry should be completely removed prior to the procedure. Long hair tied up.
- Risk evaluation (ie, medical and family history, skin typing, sun exposure).
- Patient education regarding sun protection, moles, and melanoma
- Skin examination by a health professional (always a trained doctor).
This may involve:
- Marking spots on an outline drawing of the patient to indicate the position of skin lesions of concern, particularly moles and freckles.
- Digital recording of moles of concern using the most modern dermatoscopy units and software available to keep images in a standardized form and format (Fotofinder Handyscope).
- Photographs or digital images of the whole body’s skin surface. These can be reviewed at a later date to see if there are any new skin lesions or whether preexisting skin lesions have grown or changed color or shape.
- Evaluation of the images by an expert in skin Cancer.
- A report and Copies of the images to the patient and/or the referring health practitioner including suspected diagnoses and recommendations for treatment of lesions of concern to aid in Skin Self-Examination
Follow-up:
- 3 to 6 months for lesions of concern that are not removed
- 1 – 3 years or as recommended by the doctor for all routine follow-up Suitability for Mole Mapping.
Mole mapping is particularly useful for individuals who have:
- Many moles (more than 20 to 100)
- Atypical or Dysplastic Nevi – moles that are large or of unusual color(s) or shapes
- Moles on the back, which may be difficult to keep an eye on
- Previous history of melanoma
- Strong family history of melanoma
- Moles and fair skin that has been severely sunburned
- Concerns about individual moles or freckles, eg, because of their appearance or recent change
We all get lumps, bumps and marks on our skin. Most are completely harmless, but it can be worrying to find a lump or skin mark, especially if one is not familiar with the differences between bad and good skin lesions.
The natural ageing process, sun exposure or hormonal pigmentation can cause skin marks, while lumps and bumps can be caused by a knock to the skin, slow growth of healthy skin lesions, or just spontaneously. Some of us are born with a birthmark, which should be observed over the years for changes, and many of us will develop moles, umps and bumps during our lifetime.
Most of these lesions on our skin are not harmful and therefore do not need any treatment, so you should not be too worried. Signs to look out for are any new bumps, a change to a mole or a red mark, recent growth of lumps or symptoms like pain or discomfort. It is then a good idea to speak to one of our specialist doctors and dermatologists. As skin experts, we will be able to examine your skin, put your mind at ease and suggest any treatments, if needed.
Skin Cancer Examination
Mole mapping always includes a thorough clinical skin examination and digital dermoscopy to identify and evaluate lesions of concern for those at high risk of malignant melanoma, as well as other skin cancers.
Mole mapping is intended to diagnose melanoma at the earliest possible stage, by identifying new moles or changes in preexisting moles. These features may be suspicious of melanoma if the lesion also has a disordered structure clinically or on dermoscopy.
It is important to note that while some lesions are obvious potential cancer growths, others may not be apparent despite the close-up dermatoscopy images. These moles may be excised (biopsied) and examined further using histological techniques. Should this be the case, we will discuss in detail the need to biopsy the lesion with the patient.
Melanin In Your Skin Determines The Skin Colour Along With Hair And Eyes. Excessive Pigmentation (Hyperpigmentation) Occurs When There Is Too Much Melanin In The Skin Or A Part Of Your Skin. The Result Is Discolouration And Dark Patches On The Face, Neck Or Any Part Of The Body Affected.
Hyperpigmentation may occur due to sun damage in the form of sun spots, liver spots, freckles, melasma and chloasma. It can affect people of all races and skin colours and can also increase with age.
Pigmented lesions such as age spots or freckles, melasma, post-inflammatory or sun exposure discolouration can be successfully lightened or removed with skin laser therapy, skin peel, Cosmeceutical brightening creams, microneedling or other advanced methods. All of these treatments are non-invasive, suitable for both the face and body and all skin colours, and will result in a more even skin tone.
Our expert skin therapists at The Source Medispa will help you: https://thesourcemedispa.com/services/laser-treatment/pigmentation-reduction
Everyone gets the occasional spot, but acne causes persistent pimples and blackheads when blocked oil glands in the skin become inflamed. While it is often viewed as a teenage problem, a significant number of adults experience acne too. Acne should always be treated expertly to limit the duration and severity of symptoms and to prevent scarring.
Our skin doctor and skin experts have an arsenal of acne treatments at their disposal, from topical skin creams that you apply directly to affected areas to peels, laser therapy or micro-needling to improve the acne.
We may suggest a cream or lotion if you have dry or sensitive skin, or a gel if your skin is prone to oiliness. The Lamelle skin product range caters for these issues.
Acne treatments can take a few weeks to have full effect and we are with you every step of the way to help you achieve the best possible results – whatever your age.
Laser therapy for your skin is a very effective way to get a clenaer skin, more youthful appearance without blemishes, age spots, blood vessels and wrinkles. Our skin specialists – under the guidance of a cosmetic surgeon – will adapt the laser therapy individually according to your needs. This may involve giving you a free laser spot test (patch test), to see how your skin reacts to the treatment. We would then tailor the laser therapy to give you the best results for your skin without complications.
To get effective results, the skin laser sessions must be spaced with a few weeks in between, so your skin can recover well. Usually, a few sessions are necessary to achieve the desired results.
We use 5 different types of laser to achieve the best results depending on what the skin issue is:
Q-Switched laser is used for treatment of:
Pigmentation (Melasma, lentigines, lentigos, hyperpigmentation, freckles, age spots)
To treat congenital pigmentation and birthmarks
Even skin tone and rejuvenation
To remove most tattoos effectively
The Erbium Fraxel (fractionated or fractional) laser:
To treat uneven skin, pigmentation, acne scarring and stretch marks
Sun damaged skin
Mild skin lesions like actinic keratosis
Atrophic scars (acne, chickenpox, traumatic)
Post-op scars
Melasma, lentigines, lentigos, hyperpigmentation, freckles, age spots
Facial wrinkles (around the eyes, mouth, generally)
The Erbium ablative laser:
To treat deep wrinkles and scars, rejuvenate the sun-damaged skin
To remove skin lesions like fibromas, warts, skin tags, keratosis and other non-cancerous lesions
Nd:YAG long pulse Laser:
To treat vascular lesions, blood vessels and facial redness, remove hair and for skin rejuvenation including acne reduction
DIODE LASER for PERMANENT HAIR REMOVAL
To permanently remove unwanted body hair – effective for all skin types.
To treat ingrown hairs successfully.
Our Lamelle products offer medically-validated care to protect your skin, maintain skin health, and improve visible signs of aging, skin damage and various skin conditions. These Cosmeceuticals can only be prescribed and dispensed by trained professionals (cosmetic doctors, dermatologists and plastic surgeons) because they contain high grade ingredients which offer true results in a controlled environment.
- Anti-Aging
- Pigmentation
- Problematic skin
- Dry and sensitive skin
- Serums and boosters
- Sun Screens