Dermatology and Trichology

At United Medical Clinic (UMC), English-speaking dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions of the skin, hair, and nails in adults and children. We see patients at two clinics in the city center: Lisbon (Saldanha) and Porto (Trindade). Services and prices are the same in both cities, and we accept health insurance, including international plans.

A dermatology consultation costs €120, or €140 with digital dermoscopy, a detailed examination of all your moles and skin growths. You can book online or through our call center at +351 211 608 688.

The skin is the body's largest organ. It protects against injury and infection, regulates body temperature, and plays a role in immune defense. Its condition affects your overall health and quality of life.

Portugal gets strong sunshine for much of the year, and the UV index often reaches high levels from spring to early fall. Sun exposure causes sunburn, pigmentation, and premature skin aging, and it raises the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. Melanoma found at an early stage can usually be treated successfully.

Regular mole checks are especially worthwhile if you have fair skin or many moles, or if you spend much more time in the sun since moving to Portugal.

UMC dermatologists diagnose and treat conditions of the skin, hair, and nails, including:

• Chronic and inflammatory skin conditions: acne, rosacea, eczema (atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic dermatitis.
• Skin infections: fungal infections of the skin and nails (including onychomycosis), viral infections (herpes, warts, molluscum contagiosum), bacterial infections (impetigo, furunculosis).
• Pigmentation disorders: vitiligo, melasma.
• Moles and skin growths: moles (nevi), papillomas, keratoses, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and other skin tumors.
• Hair and scalp: hair loss (alopecia, including androgenetic alopecia), dandruff, itchy scalp.
• Nails: fungal infections, ingrown nails, changes in nail color or structure.
• Other concerns: sunburn and any skin change that worries you.

The dermatologist asks about your symptoms and medical history, examines your skin, hair, or nails, and explains the diagnosis and treatment plan. If needed, the doctor recommends tests or a procedure, such as removal of a skin growth. A consultation takes at least 30 minutes.

Standard Consultation or Consultation with Dermoscopy?

The standard consultation (€120) is right for rashes, acne, eczema, hair loss, nail problems, and most other concerns.

The consultation with dermoscopy (€140) is a full mole check. The doctor examines all your moles and skin growths with a digital dermatoscope, which magnifies the skin and shows structures invisible to the naked eye. The images are saved, so at your next visit the doctor can compare them and see whether a mole has changed. If you have many moles, digital mole mapping is available as a separate service.

Booking and Payment

You can book online by choosing a doctor, a clinic, and a time, call us at +351 211 608 688, or message us on WhatsApp at +351 915 013 427.

• A 50% deposit is paid when you book, and the rest is paid at your visit.
• If you cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your appointment, the deposit is refunded in full.
• If you cancel later, the deposit is not refunded.

Health Insurance

We accept all health insurance plans, including international insurance. With some insurers we work directly; with others, you pay at the clinic and claim reimbursement. We provide all the documents your insurer needs.

Languages

All our dermatologists consult in English, and consultations in Portuguese are also available. If neither language is comfortable for you, a medical coordinator can interpret during your visit free of charge.

Book a consultation if you notice:

• a rash, redness, itching, flaking, blisters, or other eruptions;
• a new mole, or a mole that changes in size, shape, or color, itches, bleeds, or becomes tender;
• new growths on the skin, such as papillomas, warts, or keratoses;
• hair loss or thinning;
• changes in the color or structure of your nails;
• persistent dryness, peeling, or cracks in the skin;
• any other skin change that concerns you.

Warning Signs in a Mole: The ABCDE Rule

Dermatologists use the ABCDE rule to describe mole changes that need a check:

• A — Asymmetry: one half of the mole does not match the other.
• B — Border: the edges are irregular, ragged, or blurred.
• C — Color: the mole has several shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue.
• D — Diameter: the mole is larger than 6 mm, about the size of a pencil eraser, although melanoma can be smaller.
• E — Evolving: the mole changes in size, shape, color, or symptoms.

If you notice any of these signs, book a consultation with dermoscopy soon.

Depending on your concern, the dermatologist may use:

• Digital dermoscopy: examination of moles and skin growths with a digital dermatoscope. The images are saved so the doctor can compare them over time.
• Digital mole mapping: a separate service for patients with many moles. All moles are photographed and recorded so that changes can be detected at follow-up visits.
• Digital trichoscopy: a magnified examination of the hair and scalp, performed during the consultation.
• Wood's lamp examination: ultraviolet light that helps diagnose fungal infections, pigmentation disorders, and some other conditions.
• Skin biopsy: a small tissue sample is taken and examined under a microscope (histology).
• Laboratory tests: other tests when indicated.

UMC dermatologists remove moles, papillomas, keratoses, and other skin growths in Lisbon and Porto. Removal can usually be done during the consultation itself, using one of three methods:

• Cryotherapy: freezing the growth with liquid nitrogen.
• Electrocautery: removal with an electric current.
• Surgical excision: the growth is cut out and the wound is closed with stitches.

The method and price depend on the type, size, location, and number of growths. Removal of one superficial growth starts at €60. At the consultation, you and the doctor discuss the options and choose the most suitable treatment together.

Histological Examination

We recommend sending every removed growth for histological examination. A pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope to confirm what it was, for example a papilloma, keratosis, atheroma, or nevus, and to rule out skin cancer. The sample can be sent to the lab on the day of removal.

Trichology is the branch of dermatology that deals with the hair and scalp. At UMC, our dermatologists also work as trichologists. You can see them about hair loss or thinning, dandruff, an itchy or flaky scalp, and other hair problems.

During the consultation, the doctor performs digital trichoscopy, a magnified examination of the hair and scalp, looks for the cause of the problem, and plans treatment.

• Dr. Ana Brasileiro, dermatologist and venereologist with more than 15 years of clinical experience. She trained in Dermatology and Venereology at Hospital de Santo António dos Capuchos, where she continues to work as a consulting dermatologist. She sees adults and children in Lisbon and Porto.
• Dr. João Domingues, English-speaking dermatologist in Porto.
• Dr. Ana Ferreirinha, physician in specialty training in Dermatology and Venereology. She sees adults and children in Lisbon.
• Dr. Maria Fialho, physician in specialty training in Dermatology and Venereology. She sees adults and children in Lisbon.