Anne Arundel Dermatology
Where Healthy Skin Begins
Anne Arundel Dermatology, P.A. has served area residents for over 30 years. Over the years, the practice has evolved and grown with the needs of the community. Today, 15 board-certified dermatologists across six locations treat the full range of skin, nail and hair conditions—from warts or acne, to psoriasis or eczema, and skin cancer.
Anne Arundel Dermatology is the largest practice of its kind in the area, affording the ability to offer patients the full range of specialists and the very latest equipment and treatments. But the real secret to success for this practice is not size, but culture. Everyone, from the doctors to the front office, is on staff because they believe in a quality, not quantity approach to medical care. Many have been a part of the practice for a decade or more. “We are committed to providing the same personalized, high quality, compassionate care we would want for our own families,” says Dr. Angela Peterman.
The constant focus on recruiting and retaining the right physicians as well as support staff is backed up by an ongoing effort to survey patients about their experience to ensure a consistently high level of care and sensitivity to each person’s needs.
Skin cancer has become an important focus as the incidence has grown locally and nationwide. In fact, each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers. “We encourage patients to check for new or changing moles, sores that don’t heal and pimples that don’t go away,” says Dr. Peterman. “The key is early detection and treatment.”
The practice’s Surgery Center in Annapolis is led by two surgeons who are specially trained in Mohs micrographic surgery, Drs. Alan Harrington and Mary Farley. They have performed thousands of Mohs surgeries over their combined experience. The treatment involves removing a layer of skin at a time, evaluating the tissue immediately under a microscope to determine the extent of the cancer. This approach minimizes the amount of healthy tissue lost and maximizes the functional and cosmetic outcome of the surgery. And it has the highest rate of cure of any surgical procedure for the treatment of skin cancer.
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for cosmetic services. In response, Anne Arundel Dermatology added a location at Weems Creek Medical Center devoted to Cosmetic Dermatology. Services include laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and other treatments that help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Physicians administer injectable treatments such as Botox®, Restylane® and Radiesse®, while other services are performed by a licensed medical aesthetician overseen by practice physicians. Patients say they appreciate Anne Arundel Dermatology’s medicallydriven approach to cosmetic products and services.
From an infant with a rash, to a teenager suffering from acne, to a senior with eczema, there is such a wide range of skin, nail and hair conditions that we are all likely to need a dermatologist at some point. Anne Arundel Dermatology is proud to have built relationships across three generations of many area families, helping friends and neighbors achieve healthier skin and enjoy happier lives!
Q: Do effective treatments exist for psoriasis?
A: Many people don’t realize that there are, in fact, a wide range of effective treatments available today. While daily ointment application may be required to treat the sores and dried, flaky skin caused by psoriasis, today’s topical medications are much more tolerable. Other approaches include Phototherapy and Excimer laser treatments--both are painless and can be highly effective. Amy Hoff man, a board certified physician assistant with Anne Arundel Dermatology says, “We oft en meet patients who have suffered with psoriasis for years before seeking treatment. We appreciate that it can be very emotional. People oft en report avoiding various social situations due to the appearance of their skin. With effective treatment, psoriasis sufferers can enjoy a much greater quality of life.”
— Amy Hoffman, PA-C & Angela Peterman, M.D. Anne Arundel Dermatology
