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Park Avenue Suite 5 Coos Bay, OR 97420 |
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(541) 267-7543 |
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Dr. Maeyens is a certified Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology |
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Dr. Maeyens has received Special Certification in Dermatopathology |
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Seeing a Dermatologist is cost effective of both time and money |
| The American Academy of
Dermatology defines a dermatologist as “a
physician who has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of
pediatric and adult patients with benign and malignant disorders of
the skin, mouth, external genitalia, hair and nails, as well as a
number of sexually transmitted diseases. Dermatologists have
extensive training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of
skin cancers, melanomas, moles, and other tumors of the skin,
contact dermatitis and other allergic and non- allergic disorders
and in the recognition of the skin manifestations of systemic
(including internal malignancy) and infectious diseases. The
dermatologist also has expertise in the management of cosmetic
disorders of the skin such as hair loss and scars. To be certified
as a dermatologist, a physician must have had at least four years of
post-graduate training accredited by the Accreditation Council for
Graduate Medical Education. The first broad-based general clinical
year is followed by three years of intensive training in dermatology
including dermatopathology and dermatologic surgery. In addition to
the successful completion of the four years of required training,
the certification process includes a comprehensive examination
administered by the American Board of Dermatology. With this
background and knowledge, dermatologists are singularly qualified to
diagnose and treat the wide variety of dermatologic conditions as
well as benign and malignant skin tumors. Dermatologists also have expertise in the care of normal skin and in the prevention of skin diseases and skin cancers. Dermatologists perform many specialized diagnostic procedures including microscopic examination of skin biopsy specimens, cytological smears, patch tests, photo tests, potassium hydroxide preparations, fungus cultures and other microbiologic examination of skin scrapings and secretions. Treatment methods used by dermatologists include externally applied, injected, and internal medications, selected x-ray and ultraviolet light therapy, and a range of dermatologic surgical procedures. The training and experience of dermatologists in dermatologic surgery include electrosurgery, cryosurgery with the use of freezing surgical units, laser surgery, nail surgery, biopsy techniques and excisional surgery with appropriate closures, including flaps and grafts. Among some of the techniques used by dermatologists for the correction of cosmetic defects are dermabrasion, chemical peels, hair transplants, injections of filler materials into the skin for scar revision, sclerotherapy, and many different laser therapies. Patients seeking a dermatologist may come directly or may be referred by another physician.” This definition and additional information regarding dermatology as a specialty can be viewed on the American Academy of Dermatology web site: www.aad.org A certified specialist in dermatology may subspecialize and become certified for Special Qualification as in Dermatopathology and indicates this subspecialty by the phrase “Special Qualification in Dermatopathology” The American Academy of Dermatology states “While all dermatologists have training and experience in dermatopathology, Special Qualification in Dermatopathology, signifying advanced competence, can be obtained by either a board certified dermatologist or pathologist. Special Qualification involves further extensive training and experience in the evaluation of tissue specimens submitted from dermatologic patients. These evaluations include the examination and interpretation of microscopic slides of thin tissue sections and smears, and scrapings from lesions of skin and related tissues. The dermatopathologist has expertise in light and electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and laboratory management.” |
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| Why should I see a Dermatologist? When a Dermatologist examines a patient, he brings to that examination not only his expertise in physical assessment, but also unique insight from his specialized training on the cellular alterations (histology) of skin disorders (dermatopathology). Very often, he will biopsy the condition to correlate the physical findings with the histological changes of the disorder at the time of the visit before recommending treatment. This allows the dermatologist the opportunity to tailor treatment specifically to each patient’s unique problems and eliminates time and money wasted on ineffective treatments. No other specialist, internist or general practitioner can bring this dual expertise into the exam room. Furthermore, some family doctors will treat the condition first and refer the patient to a dermatologist only after treatment has been unsuccessful. However, once a condition has been treated, the clinical presentation can change, and unsuccessful treatment can complicate and/or prolong successful treatment. Therefore, it is cost effective of both time and money to see a dermatologist initially for evaluation of your skin disorder. This cost savings is confirmed by at least one major California HMO that, in recent years, has relaxed referral requirements to allow patients to self refer to dermatologists. |
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