Department of Dermatology and Venereology - HELIOS Clinic Krefeld

About the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at HELIOS Clinic Krefeld

The Department of Dermatology and Venereology at the HELIOS Clinic Krefeld offers the full spectrum of services in these medical focuses. The department specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of all skin diseases, allergies and sexually transmitted diseases. Here are used only advanced methods of treatment, which correspond to the high standards of international medicine. The department is headed by PD Dr. med. Chalid Assaf.

Among the most important focuses of the department is the diagnostics and treatment of skin cancer. The most common oncological skin diseases include basal cell carcinomas (white skin cancer) and malignant skin melanomas (black skin cancer). To identify basal cell carcinoma, photodynamic diagnostics is mostly used, while the detection of malignant skin melanoma requires a biopsy of the suspicious tissue and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Depending on the type of cancer, tumor localization and the stage of its spread, optimal individual therapy is selected.

In most cases, skin cancer requires surgical intervention. The specialists of the department prefer to conduct a three-dimensional histology, which is an absolutely safe treatment method. In extensive operations, further reconstructive interventions are also performed, for example, skin grafting from other parts of the body. In addition, the therapeutic possibilities of the department include conservative treatment: chemotherapy, electrochemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, extracorporeal photopheresis, etc. For patients with progressive stages of skin cancer, there is offered an opportunity to participate in national and international clinical trials.

The department’s scope of tasks also includes the diagnostics and treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory skin diseases. There are offered various therapies tailored for each patient individually. As a rule, acute inflammatory diseases of the skin develop due to the infections, parasite infection or venereal diseases. The most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases are neurodermatitis (atopic eczema) and psoriasis.

The department specializes in the treatment of chronic wounds: lower extremity ulcers, diabetic foot syndrome, bed sores, etc.

In addition, the range of the department’s services is complemented by the diagnostics and treatment of autoimmune skin diseases. Patients with such pathologies are offered the latest methods of therapy, which are selected individually and act locally on the affected area of the skin. The treatment methods include extracorporeal photopheresis, immunoadsorption, immunobiological therapy, and many other methods.

In the field of venereology, both diagnostics and treatment of all sexually transmitted diseases are offered.

The range of medical services of the department includes:

• Skin cancers
  • Surgical removal of skin tumors (three-dimensional histology)
  • Immunotherapy and targeted therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Electrochemotherapy
  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
  • Cryotherapy (treatment with cold)
  • Extracorporeal photopheresis
  • Radiation therapy
  • Clinical trials
  • Psycho-oncological care
  • Social service
  • Other treatments
• Dermatosurgery
  • Removal of skin tissue in inflammatory diseases (for example, inverse acne, coccyx fistula)
  • Skin plastic surgery after accidents or burns (reconstructive flap surgery)
  • Circumcision in the inflammation or narrowing of the foreskin (phimosis)
  • Removal of genital warts, which may be sexually transmittable, caused by human papillomavirus infection (HPV), including rectoscopy
  • Scar revision
  • Surgical correction of rhinophyma
  • Surgical removal of birthmarks and moles
  • Biopsy, including muscle biopsy
  • Other surgical interventions
• Acute and chronic inflammatory skin diseases
  • Differential diagnostics of unclear skin diseases
  • Targeted treatment of the initial inflammatory focus
  • Local therapy (according to the stage of the disease)
  • Systemic therapy with the help of Biologicals (for example, in psoriasis)
  • Systemic therapy for infectious diseases
  • Light therapy (UVB 311nm, UVA, UVA cold light, PUVA therapy)
  • Diagnostics with the use of photosensitive devices (determination of the so-called light threshold)
  • Treatment of parasitic diseases
  • Diagnostics and treatment of pruritus
  • Other treatments
• Chronic wounds
  • Lower extremity ulcer
  • Diabetic foot syndrome
  • Bedsores
  • Other chronic wounds
• Autoimmune skin diseases
  • Extracorporeal photopheresis
  • Immunoadsorption
  • Biologicals
  • Other treatments
• Diagnostics and treatment of allergies
• Diagnostics and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases