Private dermatology in Nottingham: skin cancer checks, eczema, psoriasis and minor surgery

Spire's skin page says that consultant dermatologists provide diagnosis and treatment for a range of skin problems, and names skin cancer, eczema, psoriasis, acne and excessive sweating, known as hyperhidrosis. Listed procedures are excision of malignant skin cancers, removal of moles, cysts, warts and skin tags, scar revision for scars from burns, injury, surgery, acne or chickenpox, psoriasis treatment and hyperhidrosis treatment. Cancer tests are the only diagnostic service named.

The same hospital lists cosmetic services such as anti-wrinkle injections and scar revision among its wider treatments, and it has a one-stop breast clinic, spinal care and a children and young people service. For dermatology, the practical point is that Spire does not describe Mohs surgery, light therapy or photodynamic therapy on the page retrieved, so ask if you need those.

Spire is on Tollerton Lane about five miles south of the centre, with free unlimited parking and a taxi of about 15 minutes from Nottingham station. The hospital says consultations can be available in as little as 24 hours, which is a statement about the first appointment rather than about surgery dates.

Woodthorpe's dermatology page covers inflammatory conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis, along with dermatitis, fungal infections, warts, cold sores, skin cancer and suspicious moles, hair loss, nail disorders, vitiligo and scars. Surgical options include Mohs micrographic surgery for skin cancer, minor surgery for moles, cysts, skin tags and warts, and diagnostic biopsies.

Non-surgical treatments listed are photodynamic therapy, cryotherapy, UV light therapy, steroid creams and prescription medicines, laser treatments, chemical peels and dermal fillers. Diagnostic services are skin cancer screening and mole checks, dermatoscope examinations and skin biopsies. The page names a consultant dermatologist, but this guide does not repeat individual names, and you should look at the hospital's specialist directory.

The hospital is at 748 Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe, north of the centre, with two theatres and a 41-bed ward. It lists X-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound, which are rarely needed for skin problems but are helpful if a skin cancer needs staging. Free on-site parking is described, though one page describes it as limited. The hospital also describes complimentary consultant advice on some of its pages.

Nottingham University Hospitals describes its adult dermatology department as based in the Treatment Centre on the QMC campus, with 12 clinic rooms on Gateway A and three skin surgery theatres on Gateway G. It treats eczema, psoriasis and skin cancers including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and runs consultant and clinical nurse specialist clinics, light therapy and a day treatment unit, photodynamic therapy, patch testing, hair, nail and vulval clinics, teledermatology for rapid cancer diagnosis and Mohs micrographic surgery.

The department says light therapy runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, patch testing on Mondays and Fridays, photodynamic therapy on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the skin cancer multidisciplinary team meets on Thursday afternoons. Those details show how much of the work is delivered through specialised sessions, and they explain why a straightforward referral for a mole may be seen quickly while a complex eczema or patch-test problem needs a particular clinic day.

Referrals are accepted from GPs, hospitals and consultants through the NHS e-Referral Service. In practice, someone who pays privately for a skin check and is told a lesion is suspicious will usually be referred onward to this department or may have excision privately, so ask the private dermatologist what the plan would be and who receives the pathology report.

Skin cancer assessments begin with a dermatoscope, a magnifying device that shows pigment patterns. If a lesion is suspicious, a biopsy or excision is sent to a laboratory. Basal cell carcinomas are the most common and usually grow slowly, squamous cell carcinomas can spread more readily, and melanoma needs prompt treatment. Mohs surgery removes a cancer layer by layer with immediate microscopic checks, which helps spare healthy skin on the face.

Eczema and psoriasis are long-term conditions. Treatment may include emollients, topical steroids, light therapy or systemic medication, and a dermatologist will look for triggers, infections and psychological effects. Patch testing is used for suspected contact allergies, and it is a specialist service on the NHS at the QMC.

Acne can leave scars, and scar revision is a cosmetic choice rather than a medical necessity. Hyperhidrosis, warts, skin tags and cysts are common and usually benign. If you need a procedure for cosmetic reasons, check whether the hospital is a regulated provider and ask what aftercare is included.

• Dermatoscope check: first look at moles and pigmented lesions.

• Biopsy or excision: tissue sent for laboratory diagnosis.

• Patch testing: for suspected contact allergy.

• Light therapy and photodynamic therapy: for inflammatory disease and some pre-cancers.

Ask whether the dermatologist is a consultant on the specialist register and whether the hospital sends every removed lesion for laboratory analysis. If a cancer is found, find out who explains the result, whether a wider excision or Mohs surgery is recommended, and how the surgery would be arranged.

If your problem is long-term, ask who will prescribe and monitor treatment. Some drugs need regular blood tests, and a private consultant may need to share care with your GP or the NHS department. If you are insured, confirm whether cosmetic aspects of treatment are excluded.

Information in this guide was checked in October 2026 and changes over time. If a lesion bleeds persistently, grows quickly or you notice sudden widespread blistering, rash with fever or facial swelling, seek urgent medical help via your GP, NHS 111 or 999.