Skin Conditions
Your skin is your protective barrier to the outside world. It keeps infections out, and it keeps water and everything else in. Sometimes your skin barrier doesn’t function as it should, giving us conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Sometimes it gets injured from the outside world, giving us conditions like skin cancer. Dr Chatfield has completed additional qualifications in dermatology and skin cancer recognition and management suitable for primary care.
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Services
This is not an exhaustive list of services - if you have questions about something that is not covered below please book in an appointment to discuss your needs.
Acne
A skin condition that has multiple treatment options available from your doctor. Book an appointment to construct a personal treatment plan and timeline for clear skin. It's best to act quickly and begin treatment to prevent the permanent scarring that can occur over time with acne.
Skin cancer removal
Skin cancer is treated in several ways depending on the type of cancer. Dr Chatfield offers all of the following services and will recommend the most suitable treatment.
Medical: some low grade cancers can be treated with non-invasive creams, such as 5-FU and immune modulating gels.
Cryotherapy: some skin lesions get frozen off with liquid nitrogen. Because freezing areas of the skin can be less precise it isn’t suitable for everywhere on the body
Surgical: this ranges from scraping off thin cancers and then burning off the cancer cells, to fully physically removing the cancer and surrounding skin and suturing the wound closed.
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Conservative: believe it or not, some pre-cancers are so small and minor that they can be left alone. It is important that these are monitored with digital photography to make sure they do not grow into more worrying cancers later.
Skin checks
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in Australia. In fact, Australia and New Zealand have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. A formal skin check happens during a long appointment and is an opportunity for your Doctor to look at any skin lesions that you are concerned about and to proactively look for skin cancer on your entire body.
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Your Doctor can make a plan with you about what lesions need treatment and which ones you should watch in future. You can read about how to prepare for your skin check and what to expect in our guide.
Cosmetics
Our skin is the first thing about us people see. The evidence about the importance of cosmetics to individuals and our mental health is clear. There are modern and straightforward treatments available for anything from unwanted skin tags, to blemishes and sun damage. It is important to discuss any cosmetic treatment with your doctor to make an individual plan tailored to you.
Eczema
Eczema is extremely common in Melbourne. Eczema can be safely and easily managed with good support and education.
Psoriasis
Having had several close friends and family suffer with psoriasis, Dr Chatfield has a particular interest in the management of psoriasis in primary care, and in managing the multi-system complications of psoriasis, including early recognition of psoriatic arthritis and managing cardiovascular risk factors. While some psoriasis requires early secondary care interventions, many psoriasis sufferers can be safely and effectively managed by their GP alone.