Comprehensive Dermatology Services

A dermatopathologist is a specialist who focuses exclusively on diagnosing skin conditions at the microscopic level. While a general pathologist may examine a variety of tissues, dermatopathologists are highly trained in recognizing skin-specific conditions, such as skin cancers, inflammatory skin diseases, and infectious skin disorders.

Once the biopsy sample has been processed and analyzed, results are typically available within 1-2 weeks. We make every effort to provide you with results as quickly as possible.

A skin biopsy is usually performed with a local anesthetic, which means you will feel little to no pain during the procedure. Afterward, you may experience mild soreness or swelling at the biopsy site.

Once the results are interpreted by our dermatopathologist, your provider will discuss the findings with you in person or via a phone. Benign results may be communicated via our HIPAA compliant patient engagement platform (Klara). We will ensure you have all the information you need to move forward with your treatment plan.

Dermatologists diagnose and treat a wide range of skin, hair, and nail conditions—including acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, skin cancer, hair loss, warts, rashes, and more. We also provide cosmetic treatments for concerns like wrinkles, sun damage, and pigmentation.

This depends on your insurance plan. Some plans require a referral from your primary care provider. Please contact your insurance company or our office to confirm your coverage requirements.

Please bring a valid photo ID, your insurance card, copay if applicable, a list of current medications, and any relevant medical records or previous test results. If you're visiting for a specific concern, bringing photos or a list of symptoms can be helpful.

We recommend a full-body skin check once a year, especially for patients with a history of sun exposure, tanning bed use, or personal or family history of skin cancer. Your provider will suggest a schedule tailored to your risk level.

Yes, we offer a variety of cosmetic services, including Botox®, fillers, chemical peels, microneedling, and laser treatments. We also carry both medical-grade and over-the-counter skincare products to support your skin health at home.

Insurance companies, including Medicare, have very specific rules about what qualifies as preventive care. These visits—such as annual wellness exams and physicals—are intended for primary care providers (PCPs) like family medicine or internal medicine doctors.

Those appointments are billed using preventive care codes, which are often covered at 100% by insurance plans.

Dermatologists, however, are specialists. Our role is to evaluate, diagnose, and treat conditions involving your skin, hair, and nails. For that reason, dermatology visits are categorized as medical evaluations, not preventive care—even if your visit feels routine or is for a “skin check.”

Because dermatologists aren’t considered PCPs, we don’t use preventive care codes. Instead, we bill using Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes—such as 99203 or 99213.

These codes are based on:

• The reason for your visit

• What was examined or treated

• The level of discussion, diagnosis, and follow-up involved

Even if you come in for a precautionary skin exam, we’re still conducting a detailed medical evaluation and making professional decisions about your care. That’s why it’s billed using E/M codes rather than preventive ones.

Skin exams are not considered as preventive care by insurance companies. Therefore, we do not bill for general or routine skin checks. However, if a specific concern is identified during your visit—such as a suspicious mole, rash, age spots, or another diagnosable condition—we will bill your insurance based on that medical finding and the services provided to address it.

Sometimes patients ask if their visit can be billed as preventive to lower their out-of-pocket cost. Unfortunately, that’s not allowed.

If a dermatology office submits a preventive care code that doesn’t apply to specialists, the insurance company will likely deny the entire claim. When that happens, the insurer pays nothing—and the full balance becomes your responsibility.

By law, we must use codes that accurately represent the service performed and the provider type. Using the wrong code, even with good intentions, can lead to denied claims or billing issues.

We hear this often. Many patients contact their insurance company and are told, “Just ask your doctor to change the code to preventive, and it will be covered.”

Unfortunately, this is a common misunderstanding. Insurance representatives aren’t typically trained in medical coding or aware of provider-specific billing rules. While codes can technically be corrected in a billing system, that doesn’t mean a specialist can reclassify a medical visit as preventive.

If we were to submit a preventive code for a dermatology visit, it would still be rejected because it doesn’t meet the insurer’s criteria for preventive care. That’s why changing the code isn’t a viable solution.

It’s understandable to think of a skin check as a preventive visit. However, when a dermatologist examines your skin, we’re performing a medical evaluation—looking for signs of conditions such as skin cancer and discussing findings or next steps.

Because of that, your insurance company categorizes the visit as a medical service, not a preventive one.

We carry a curated selection of medical-grade and retail skincare products designed to treat various concerns such as acne, aging, dryness, and pigmentation. Our providers can recommend products tailored to your skin type and goals.

Absolutely. Dermatologists are trained to diagnose and treat conditions related to the hair and nails, including alopecia (hair loss), nail fungus, brittle nails, and more.

Any new, changing, or unusual spot should be evaluated by a dermatologist—especially if it's asymmetrical, has irregular borders, multiple colors, is larger than a pencil eraser, or bleeds easily. Early detection is key in skin cancer prevention.

You can call our office directly at 201-857-4200 or schedule an appointment through our website here. We offer both medical and cosmetic consultations, and our team will help you find a convenient time.