About the Department of Dermatology and Allergology at Dermatology Clinic am Luegplatz Duesseldorf
The Department of Dermatology and Allergology at the Dermatology Clinic am Luegplatz Duesseldorf offers the full range of services in its areas of specialization. The medical facility diagnoses and treats diseases of the skin, hair, and nails, as well as allergic diseases affecting the skin. The department's specialists have impressive clinical experience and expert knowledge to provide effective treatment for dermatological diseases of any complexity, ranging from acne, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and infectious skin diseases to precancerous conditions and skin cancer. The department also provides aesthetic procedures to rejuvenate the skin of the face, décolleté, and hands. These include Botox and hyaluronic acid injections, microneedling, chemical peels, and others. Doctors use only the highest-quality materials and comply with all hygiene and safety standards. The department's dermatologists have the latest generation of laser equipment at their disposal, which they use to successfully remove moles, warts, age spots, spider veins, tattoos, and unwanted body hair. The medical facility also performs laser scar revision. The department's specialists prefer an individual approach and strive to satisfy the needs and wishes of each patient.
The Head Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Peter Arne Gerber. From 2004 to 2019, the specialist worked in the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital Duesseldorf, where he gained invaluable clinical experience treating common and particularly complex skin diseases. Prof. Gerber is the author of more than 200 scientific articles and over 120 publications on the online platform PubMed. The doctor has received numerous awards and honors, including the "Beauty Care Preis" from the German Society of Dermatology (DDG), the Oscar Gans Award from the German Society of Dermatology (DDG), and the Heinz Maurer Award. Prof. Peter Arne Gerber is President of the German Society of Aesthetic Surgery (GÄCD), Board Member of the German Society of Laser Dermatology (DDL) and the German Society of Dermatology (DDG), as well as Speaker of the German Society for Aesthetic Botulinum Toxin Therapy (DGBT).
The department's medical team regularly sees patients with skin cancer. The most common types of skin cancer encountered in clinical practice are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Dermatologists also have experience treating rare types of skin cancer, such as Merkel cell carcinoma and Kaposi's sarcoma. Should skin cancer be suspected, the dermatologist will conduct a clinical examination, visually assessing the skin and palpating regional lymph nodes in the area of the pathological neoplasm. Next, dermatoscopy and biopsy are performed, followed by a histological examination. If tumor metastasis is suspected, doctors additionally conduct an ultrasound scan of the regional lymph nodes, CT scans, and/or MRI scans to exclude distant metastases. It is worth noting that the department has state-of-the-art equipment for total body mapping. During the procedure, digital images of the body surface are generated to identify all visible neoplasms on the skin (moles, warts, and hemangiomas); After some time (according to the recommendations of the attending physician), the diagnostic procedure will be repeated, which makes it possible to objectively assess changes in the skin, if any. Total body mapping is of particular value for the prevention of skin cancer because it allows for the timely detection of the slightest pathological changes and treatment.
The department uses highly effective modern methods to treat skin cancer. A treatment regimen is developed individually. The main factors influencing the choice of treatment method are the type of cancer, tumor size, and stage of cancer. Small superficial tumors are treated using photodynamic therapy, cryotherapy, and laser ablation. These methods are non-invasive and require only local anesthesia. For large skin tumors in advanced stages, surgical treatment is indicated, namely Mohs micrographic surgery. When performing the surgical procedure, the surgeon excises the tumor tissue layer by layer, conducting an immediate histological assessment of the removed skin fragments. Mohs surgery is highly effective because it allows for the full excision of the tumor while practically not removing healthy tissue. Depending on the clinical case, surgery may be supplemented with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.
The department's doctors also treat benign diseases of the skin and its appendages, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, neurodermatitis, autoimmune diseases with skin lesions, allergic skin manifestations, alopecia, onychomycosis (nail fungus), etc. The above diseases respond well to drug therapy with pills, ointments, and gels. In some cases, the use of medications may be combined with phototherapy, photodynamic therapy, and/or laser procedures.
The medical facility has advanced laser rooms in which physicians perform laser removal of spider nevi, angiomas, rosacea, pigment spots, acne, warts, tattoos, and unwanted body hair. The area of expertise of the department's dermatologists includes laser scar revision using the innovative UltraPulse Encore CO2 laser and the non-ablative ResurFX laser. Laser equipment is also used for skin rejuvenation. For example, the LaseMD laser device is used here to inject concentrated anti-aging facial serums. Laser procedures are performed by Prof. Dr. med. Peter Arne Gerber, Head Physician of the department. The specialist has a Diploma in Aesthetic Laser Medicine (D.A.L.M.) from the German Academy of Dermatology (DDA), is a Board Member of the German Society of Laser Dermatology (DDL), and is ranked among the best dermatologists specializing in laser therapy, according to the Focus magazine.
The department also offers a variety of effective cosmetic procedures for skin rejuvenation, the most popular of which are botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid injections, Radiesse injections, microdermabrasion, microneedling, chemical peels, and the Kleresca® procedure.
The department's main clinical activities include the following:
- Dermatology
- Diagnostics and treatment of skin cancer
- Treatment of superficial skin tumors using laser ablation, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and medicinal ointments and gels
- Mohs micrographic surgery for advanced stages of skin cancer
- Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy for advanced skin cancer
- Diagnostics and treatment of benign skin diseases
- Treatment of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, neurodermatitis, autoimmune diseases with skin lesions, and other pathologies using drug therapy, phototherapy, photodynamic therapy, and laser procedures
- Aesthetic dermatology
- Hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin injections
- Radiesse injections
- SkinBooster injections
- Chemical peeling
- Microdermabrasion
- Microneedling
- Kleresca® procedure
- Vampire Facial® procedure
- LaseMD laser skin rejuvenation
- IPL therapy for rosacea
- Laser photodynamic therapy for wart removal, wrinkle correction, and scar revision
- Laser treatment for nail fungus
- Tattoo removal with an innovative picosecond laser
- Laser scar revision with an innovative UltraPulse Encore CO2 laser and a non-ablative ResurFX laser
- Laser hair removal
- Diagnostics and treatment of skin cancer
- Allergology
- Diagnostics and treatment of hay fever, pollen allergies, insect venom allergies, food allergies, and drug allergies using allergen-specific immunotherapy
- Other medical services
Curriculum vitae
Higher Education and Postgraduate Training
- 2018 Extraordinary Professorship, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf.
- 2017 Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Management, Duesseldorf Business School at Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf.
- 2014 Habilitation and Venia legendi in Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf.
- 2014 Diploma in Aesthetic Laser Medicine (DALM).
- 2009 Board certification in Dermatology and Venereology.
- 2004 Medical examination and admission to medical practice.
- 1998 - 2004 Medical studies, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf.
Medical Practice
- Since 01.2019 Head Physician, Dermatology Clinic am Luegplatz Duesseldorf.
- 2017 - 2018 Head of the Center for Skin Tumors, Cancer Center, University Hospital Duesseldorf.
- 2015 - 2018 Managing Senior Physician, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Duesseldorf.
- 2013 - 2015 Senior Physician and Head of the Section for Laser Medicine and Aesthetic Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Duesseldorf.
- 2012 - 2013 Senior Physician, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Duesseldorf.
- 2011 - 2012 Dermatologist in Private Practice in Duesseldorf.
- 2009 - 2010 Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Immunology, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, USA.
- 2004 - 2009 Internship and clinical residency, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Duesseldorf.
Qualifications
- Since 2017 Certified lecturer of the course in Aesthetic Laser Medicine (DALM) at the Ernst Moritz Arndt University in Greifswald.
- 2014 Diploma in Aesthetic Laser Medicine (DALM), Ernst Moritz Arndt University in Greifswald.
- 2014 Certificate "Laser therapy for dermatological diseases" of the German Academy of Dermatology (DDA).
- 2014 Certificate "Medical and dermatological cosmetology" of the German Academy of Dermatology (DDA).
- 2009 Board certification in Dermatology, North Rhine Medical Association.
- 2004 Admission to medical practice.
Publications
- Author of more than 200 scientific articles and book chapters, as well as more than 120 scientific publications on the online platform PubMed.
Prizes, Awards, and Honors
- 2020 Award "Beauty Care Preis" from the Working Group for Aesthetic Dermatology and Cosmetology (ADK) of the German Society of Dermatology (DDG).
- 2017 Audience Award from the German Society for Dermatologic Surgery (DCGC).
- 2015 Oscar Gans Honorable Award from the German Society of Dermatology (DDG).
- 2014 Best Publication Award from La Fondation La Roche-Posay.
- 2014 Heinz Maurer Award for Research in Dermatology.
- 2005 Poster Award for the Day of Young Scientists at the Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf.
Memberships in Professional Societies
- Working Group on Aesthetic Dermatology and Cosmetology (ADK).
- German Society of Dermatology (DDG).
- German Society of Laser Dermatology (DDL).
- German Society for Aesthetic Botulinum Toxin Therapy (DGBT).
- German Society of Dermatologic Surgery (DGDC).
- German Society of Aesthetic Surgery (GÄCD).
- European Society for Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dermatology (ESCAD).
- Onkoderm e.V.
Photo of the doctor: (c) Dermatologie am Luegplatz