Clinical Services

Duke’s Autoimmune and Blistering Diseases Clinic specializes in the treatment of patients with:

• Blistering diseases of the skin, including dermatitis herpetiformis, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, cicatricial pemphigoid, and linear IgA dermatosis
• Immune mediated diseases of the skin, including skin diseases associated with lupus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, vasculitis, vasculopathy, and calciphylaxis
• Skin diseases associated with other immune diseases, including pyoderma gangrenosum, sweet syndrome, erythema nodosum, and neutrophilic dermatosis

Treatments with new biologics, immunosuppressive medications, and other anti-inflammatory agents are available. Patients have access to active clinical investigation and clinical trials investigating new treatments and causes of these diseases.

Sabrina Alessi César, MD, PhD

Russell P. Hall, MD

Daniela Kroshinsky, MD, MPH

Matilda Nicholas, MD, PhD 

Anne Marano, MD

Samantha Polly, MD

Locations

3K Clinic, Duke South
40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC 27710

Dermatology @ Dawson Hall
77 Vilcom Center Drive, Ste 210, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Dermatology @ South Durham
234 Crooked Creek Pkwy, Ste 300, Durham, NC 27713

Allergic contact dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that occurs when a person is allergic to a substance that is touching his or her skin.  Duke dermatologists use patch tests to determine which allergen is causing a patient's skin to be inflamed.  In this test, small amounts of potential allergens are applied to patches that are then placed on a patient's skin. The dermatologist examines the patient's reaction to the substances to see if an allergy is present.  Once the doctor has determined the allergy, patients are able to avoid that substance and receive medication for any current rash.  A consultation may be necessary prior to the placement of patch tests.

Rabina Walsh, MD

Location

Patterson Place
5324 McFarland Drive, Durham, NC 27707

Patients with suspected or proven cutaneous lymphoma or lymphoproliferative disorders, such as lymphomatoid papulosis, are seen in this dermatologic oncology clinic. New patients should expect to have skin biopsies performed and to have their referring physician send results of any pathology, radiology or blood work prior to their clinic visit. Ideally, patients should, with the approval of their referring physician, stop any topical therapy 2 weeks prior to their initial visit to the clinic.

Elise Olsen, MD

Location

3K Clinic, Duke South
40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC 27710

Our general and medical dermatology clinics focus on a wide range of diseases that affect the skin, hair and nails. 

General dermatology clinics are available at our five locations.

Evaluation and management of patients infected with HIV with cutaneous problems and/or patients with cutaneous manifestations of sexually transmitted disease.

Sarah Wolfe, MD

Locations

Patterson Place
5324 McFarland Drive, Suite 210 , Durham, NC 27707

The Duke Hair Disorders Clinic is under the direction of Dr. Elise Olsen, former President of the North American Hair Research Society and author of the textbook Hair Disorders: Diagnosis and Treatment.
 
Patients with hair loss or hair overgrowth disorders that are physician-referred will be evaluated and a diagnosis and treatment plan developed. All patients are evaluated with a complete history, physical examination, and, if necessary, laboratory studies. Evaluation often involves scalp biopsy and microscopic examination of the involved hairs.

Elise Olsen, MD

Locations

3K Clinic, Duke South
40 Duke Medicine Circle. Durham, NC 27710 

Our specialty clinic believes in a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and management of hidradenitis suppurativa.  We are committed to improving our patients' quality of life by delivering tailored care to those affected by this chronic, and sometimes incapacitating, painful skin disease.  We are dedicated to delivering a personalized plan that will incorporate targeted medical and procedural management after careful assessment of individual lesions and extent of skin involvement.  We also focus on a more holistic approach to identify and address modifiable factors not confined to the skin that tend to be co-associated with hidradenitis and contribute to the overall disease morbidity.  These include pain, depression, heart disease, obesity, joint disease, infections, bowel disease and smoking.  We work as a team at Duke to coordinate care among different specialties to achieve the best possible outcome for our patients.

Tara Jaleel, MD

Location

3K Clinic, Duke South
40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC 27710

The Duke Dermatology Laser Center is committed to providing the highest quality and most technologically advanced care to people suffering from a variety of skin conditions.

Conditions treated include:

• Portwine stains and other congenital vascular malformations
• Hemangiomas
• Poikiloderma
• Rosacea
• Telangiectasia
• Broken blood vessels
• Cafe au lait birthmarks
• Resistant warts
• Fraxel treatments​
• Hidradenitis Suppurativa

 Sabrina Alessi César, MD, PhD

Claude S. Burton III, MD

Tara Jaleel, MD

Location

Dermatology @ Dawson Hall
77 Vilcom Center Drive Ste 210, Chapel Hill NC 27514

Dermatology @ South Durham
234 Crooked Creek Pkwy, Ste 300, Durham, NC 27713

For answers to frequently asked questions about the laser procedure, type of laser, cost of procedure, etc., please read the Dermatology Laser FAQ's.

Mohs surgery, also known as microscopically controlled surgery, was developed by Frederic Mohs, MD, for the treatment of certain skin cancers.  Performed under local anesthesia, the technique combines surgical removal of the skin cancer with immediate microscopic examination of the removed tissue in order to identify any residual cancerous tissue.  The surgeon continues the process of removing tissue and studying it under the microscope until all cancer has been removed. Following skin cancer removal, wounds are also reconstructed using a number of sophisticated techniques to preserve function and appearance.

High Cure Rate

The Mohs technique has the highest cure rate of all skin cancer treatment methods and involves the surgical removal of the least amount of tissue possible in order to adequately treat the cancer.  Patients are normally referred to the Mohs unit by a dermatologist or other health care provider after a skin biopsy procedure has revealed the presence of a skin cancer.

Jonathan Cook, MD

 Christopher Stamey, MD

Locations

Duke Mohs Micrographic Surgery
5324 McFarland Dr. Ste 400, Durham, NC 27707

Duke Lightner Dermatology
11081 Forest Pines Dr, Ste 110, Raleigh, NC 27614

For answers to frequently asked questions about preparing for microscopically controlled (Mohs') surgery for the removal of skin tumors, please read the Guide to Skin Cancer and Mohs' Surgery.

Because of an upgrade in our technology, we are not offering comprehensive mole mapping at this time. We will update this site when our upgrade is complete. Please note that, generally, mole mapping is not performed during your first visit with us.

Sabrina Alessi César, MD, PhD

 Megan Jamison, MD

Robert Johr, MD

 Michelle Pavlis, MD

Locations

3K Clinic, Duke South
40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC 27710

Dermatology @ Dawson Hall
77 Vilcom Center Drive Ste 210, Chapel Hill NC 27514

Patterson Place
5324 McFarland Drive, Suite 210 , Durham, NC 27707

Dermatology @ South Durham
234 Crooked Creek Pkwy, Durham, NC 27713

Pediatric Dermatology,  at Duke Clinics, Duke Children's Hospital and Patterson Place, specializes in the care of children with common and rare skin disorders, whether acquired or genetic. Children are typically referred to our program by their pediatrician or primary care physician for consultation, treatment, and long-term management. Our Pediatric Dermatology specialists are dedicated to helping children and their parents better understand skin ailments and how to treat and cope with them.

Treatments

The Pediatric Dermatology division provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art evaluation and treatment for children with various types of acute and chronic skin disorders. Our services include:

• Consultations and second opinions
• Coordinated long-term management of chronic conditions
• Surgical and laser treatment of certain skin conditions

Some of the conditions most frequently treated by our division include:

• Nevi (moles)
• Hemangiomas
• Port wine stains
• Atopic dermatitis
• Psoriasis
• Genodermatoses
• Hyperhidrosis

Jane Bellet, MD

Daniela Kroshinsky, MD, MPH

Neil Prose, MD

Rabina Walsh, MD

Location

Patterson Place
5324 McFarland Drive, Suite 410 Durham, NC 27707

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medical treatment that uses a photosensitizing drug (a drug that becomes activated by light exposure) and a light source to activate the applied drug. The result is an activated oxygen molecule that can destroy nearby cells. Precancerous cells and certain types of cancer cells as well as acne and other skin conditions can be treated this way. The procedure is performed in a physician's office or outpatient setting.

Erin Lesesky, MD

Clare Pipkin, MD

Location

Patterson Place
5324 McFarland Drive, Durham, NC 27707

Phototherapy is the clinical approach to treating various skin condition ailments with the use of ultraviolet light.
 
Phototherapy is used for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis, chronic dermatitis, and other skin disorders.
Our services include:

• Ultraviolet-B (UVB)
• Narrowband UVB
• Total body PUVA, a combination of the drug psoralen (P) and long-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVA) to treat several severe skin conditions. Psoralen makes the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light.
• Hand/foot PUVA

Locations

3K Clinic, Duke South
40 Duke Medicine Circle. Durham, NC 27710

Dermatology @ South Durham
234 Crooked Creek Pkwy, Ste 300, Durham, NC 27713

Patterson Place
5324 McFarland Drive, Suite 210 , Durham, NC 27707 

Patients at high risk for melanoma of the skin (dysplastic or atypical nevi (moles), numerous nevi, personal and/or family history of melanoma) are eligible for the Pigmented Lesion Clinic. The Pigmented Lesion Clinic offers particular expertise to maximize early melanoma detection while minimizing the number of unnecessary biopsies.

We approach patients with melanoma in a multi-disciplinary fashion, working closely with our surgical, medical, and radiation oncology colleagues, as well as our dermatopathology team, to develop a carefully considered plan of care for each patient.  

Our services include:

• Dermoscopy: a process where a doctor uses a special magnifier to learn more about areas of concern.
• Mole mapping: because of an upgrade in our technology, we are not offering comprehensive mole mapping at the moment.  Please check back in a few weeks to see if our upgrade is complete
• Diagnostic and therapeutic removal of moles and early stage melanomas.

New patients should request pathology reports for all skin lesions previously removed and bring these reports with them to their first appointment.

Sabrina Alessi César, MD, PhD

Suephy Chen, MD

Megan Jamison, MD

Robert Johr, MD

John Murray, MD

Michelle Pavlis, MD

Daren Simkin, MD

Locations

3K Clinic, Duke South
40 Duke Medicine Circle. Durham, NC 27710

Dermatology @ Dawson Hall
77 Vilcom Center Drive Ste 210, Chapel Hill NC 27514
 
Patterson Place
5324 McFarland Drive, Suite 210 , Durham, NC 27707

Dermatology @ South Durham
234 Crooked Creek Pkwy, Ste 300, Durham, NC 27713

Providing dermatologic care and screenings in the pre and post transplant setting with a focus on managing drug side effects and mitigating the risk of cutaneous malignancy.

Melodi Javid Whitley, MD, PhD

Locations

Duke Lightner Dermatology
11081 Forest Pines Dr, Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27614

Patterson Place
5324 McFarland Drive, Durham, NC 27707