Skin cancer screening with dermoscopy (melanoma and non-melanoma) in Centro dermatological IDDA

Centro Dermatológico IDDA is a multi-specialty dermatology center in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The facility provides clinical, aesthetic, and surgical care for adults and children in one specialized building. Five doctors make up the medical team. They focus on diagnostic-first planning for skin, hair, and nail conditions.

Specialized Medical Departments

The clinic operates through five key service areas:

• Clinical Dermatology: Evaluation of chronic conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis.
• Aesthetic Medicine: Medical procedures for skin texture and rejuvenation.
• Dermatologic Surgery: Reconstructive and therapeutic procedures for skin lesions.
• Cutaneous Oncology: Skin cancer detection and removal.
• Trichology: Dedicated unit for hair and scalp disorders.

Dermatologic Surgery and Skin Oncology

Dr. Jessica Núñez leads the surgical and oncology services. Her focus is early detection of skin cancer. The clinic manages localized skin cancers through planned surgical excision. Surgeons use flaps and grafts to reconstruct defects after removing a lesion. Most procedures are outpatient with local anesthesia.

For tissue confirmation, the clinic performs several biopsy methods:

• Punch biopsy: Obtains a small cylinder of skin using a circular instrument.
• Shave biopsy: Removes superficial layers of the skin.
• Incisional and excisional techniques: Used for larger or deeper tissue samples.

The surgical team studies every removed specimen through histopathology. This confirms accurate diagnosis and clear margins.

Aesthetic Medicine and Rejuvenation

Dr. Natalie López heads aesthetic services. She focuses on skin quality and volume restoration. The clinic uses Botox® to treat dynamic expression lines on the forehead and around the eyes. Specialists also provide facial rejuvenation using hyaluronic acid, collagen biostimulators, and chemical peels. After a medical evaluation, patients may receive a Hollywood Laser Peel to improve skin texture.

Pediatric dermatology care is available for infants, children, and adolescents. Specialists treat common childhood conditions such as atopic dermatitis, molluscum contagiosum, and juvenile acne. The pediatric team also monitors infant hemangiomas and pigment changes like vitiligo.

Diagnostic Technology

The clinic uses high-resolution digital tools to monitor skin health and detect abnormalities early. Specialists perform digital dermatoscopy and mole mapping to track changes in pigmented lesions over time. This helps doctors decide if a mole needs immediate biopsy or regular monitoring.

Trichoscopy is used within the trichology unit to diagnose alopecia subtypes. These include androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata. This imaging examines the scalp and hair shafts at high magnification. For inflammatory conditions like psoriasis, the clinic combines clinical history with microscopic examination of skin samples.

Services for International Patients

International patients receive care primarily in Spanish. For those who cannot travel for every visit, the clinic offers teleconsultation via WhatsApp. This allows for remote evaluation, treatment planning, and follow-up monitoring. Doctors provide structured aftercare guidance digitally – including wound care instructions and signs of infection to watch for.