Circle Dermatology Services

Checking your skin and knowing when to seek help

The British Skin Foundation offers useful guidance on checking your skin for any changes which should be looked at.  If you’ve spotted something you think needs attention, please contact your GP surgery.  Some GP surgeries may offer you an online chat, with you providing photos, or you may just arrange an appointment.

The sun and your skin

The British Skin Foundation has great advice on keeping your skin safe in the sun.

Steroid creams are used to treat many skin conditions.

When used properly, steroid creams are brilliant at treating many skin conditions.  However, there has been negative information on social media recently about steroid creams because of concerns about topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). This can lead to patients stopping their treatment too soon, which often causes their skin condition to flare up. Some patients also avoid using steroids during a flare, which can make the flare worse.

The National Eczema Society has produced leaflets to help you understand steroid treatment better, so that you can get the best out of your treatment.

• Topical Steroid Withdrawal – explains topical steroid withdrawal and provides guidance while waiting for an appointment

• Topical Steroid Factsheet – includes important information on:

• • Different strengths (potency)
  • How much to use
  • How long to use it for

Removal of benign (non-cancerous) skin lesions for cosmetic purposes is not routinely funded on the NHS.

In Dermatology care, “Procedures of Limited Clinical Value” (PLCV) refers to treatments which are generally considered to be cosmetic, lacking sufficient clinical evidence of effectiveness, and/or only effective in specific circumstances.  These are not usually funded by the NHS.  This policy is dictated by the local Integrated Care Board, whose aim is to ensure that NHS resources are used for procedures with clear clinical benefits.

However, following clinical assessment, treatment may be provided on the NHS for the following conditions:

• Benign pigmented moles
• Comedones
• Corns/callouses
• Dermofibromas
• Lipomas  
• Milia
• Molluscum contagiosum
• Seborrhoeic keratosis
• Skin tags (including anal tags)
• Spider angioma (naevus)
• Epidermoid/pilar (sebaceous) cysts
• Xanthelasma  
• Neurofibromata
• Non-genital viral warts in immunocompetent patients

Please note that one or more of the below eligibility criteria must be met for treatment on the NHS to be considered:

• Repeated infections of the lesion requiring 2 or more courses of antibiotics per year
• The lesion interferes with routine daily tasks such as disturbs sleep, impairs walking or restricts joint movement due to the location.
• The lesion causes obstruction of an orifice or vision
• The lesion causes regular pain
• The lesion bleeds during normal daily activity 
• The lesion causes pressure symptoms on nerves or other tissue
• The patient may need more invasive intervention in the future if the lesion is left untreated

Facial viral warts may be treated.

Lesions that are suspicious for malignancy and pre-malignant lesions will be treated or referred on a cancer pathway. This includes:

• Lesions with diagnostic uncertainty
• Actinic Keratosis and Bowen’s disease
• Lesions with pre-malignant potential
• Lipomas on the body >5cm, or in a sub-facial position, with rapid growth and/or pain (these will be referred to the Sarcoma clinic)

Those who are able to access private treatment – either through self-pay or via insurance – may be able to access treatment via a private dermatologist for conditions covered by PLCV policy.

We have clinical locations at:

• Beechwood House, 7 Summerfield Rd, Wolverhampton WV1 4PR
• Low Hill Practice, 191 First Ave, Wolverhampton WV10 9SX
• Phoenix Health Centre, 715B Parkfield Road, Wolverhampton WV4 6ED

Not every treatment is available at each site, but we will always give you a choice of location where we can.

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