Dermatology specialists at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, offer comprehensive care for common and rare skin, hair and nail diseases. Offering care for people of all ages, our dermatologists are leading authorities in skin care whose expertise draws patients from all over the Midwest. The dermatology team at Rush offers safe and innovative treatments based on years of experience as well as the latest scientific research.

Comprehensive dermatology services for adults and children include:

• Innovative treatments for common conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis. Services include special treatment and testing for people with contact dermatitis.
• Ethnic Skin and Hair Clinic: Rush Dermatology offers a comprehensive center for the evaluation of cutaneous and hair disorders unique to different ethnic groups.
• State-of-the-art treatments for all forms of skin cancer. Special services include:
  • The CTCL Clinic provides multidisciplinary care for people with a rare type of cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Treatments include topical and systemic approaches as well as extracorporeal photopheresis. Rush is one of only a few centers in the Midwest offering this treatment.
  • The Melanoma Surveillance Clinic provides innovative intervention and treatment strategies for melanoma, including the use of photographic surveillance to track high-risk moles over time.
  • Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), which has the highest cure rate of any procedure for skin cancer. During Mohs surgery, the surgeon uses the microscopic evaluation of tissue to remove the very last traces of cancer cells. Only surgeons who have extensive, specialized training in the procedure can perform this procedure.
• Ultraviolet light therapy for the treatment of many skin diseases, including psoriasis, eczema and vitiligo.
• An array of cosmetic dermatology services, including:
  • Antiaging therapies, such as Botox and collagen injections.
  • Chemical peels and microdermabrasion to make skin smoother and improve acne, wrinkles and skin discoloration.
  • Advanced laser therapy to decrease excess hair growth and reduce lines and scars.
  • Varicose vein treatments, including laser therapy and sclerotherapy, which involves the injection of special solutions into the veins to reduce their appearance.
• Pediatric Dermatology Clinic:  A specialty exists for the diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair and nail disorders in children.

In addition, the department tests the efficacy of new treatments for different skin diseases through its Clinical Pharmacology Unit. Clinical studies is complemented by a basic science laboratory, where investigators are conducting state-of-the-art research on mast cell biology and mastocytosis.

Michael D. Tharp, MD, is chairperson of the Department of Dermatology at Rush. For profiles of dermatologists at Rush, see the links under "Find a Doctor," in the index at left.

Dermatologists at Rush have specialized training and experience in all types of common and rare skin conditions and are actively involved in scientific research. They draw on the expertise of other specialists at Rush to provide multidisciplinary care for patients with skin cancer. The staff includes physicians who are also boarded in internal medicine, making them experts in the skin manifestations of systemic disease. Our faculty includes a practicing dermatopathologist, providing expertise in the interpretation of cutaneous pathology. Other staff members include nurses experienced in the care of patients with dermatologic conditions, as well as research scientists.