Advanced care for your skin in Indiana

When you choose a dermatology clinic at Ascension St. Vincent in Central Indiana and Evansville, Indiana, you get experienced skin care specialists who are part of a national team. Our care teams share best practices and the latest treatments for skin disorders and skin care. Every appointment with your dermatologist starts with a compassionate conversation. Your doctor answers your questions and gets to know you. So, you get a personalized skin care plan. 

Ascension St. Vincent skin specialists in Indiana

Your doctor and care team work together with you on a care plan. First, you will meet with a dermatologist to discuss your diagnosis and care options. Besides skin cancer care, we also provide care for many skin disorders, including:

• Acne and other skin blemishes
• Athlete’s foot, itchy scaly rash
• Dark skin spots
• Eczema, dry, itchy and bumpy skin
• Hair loss and thinning
• Psoriasis, thick skin patches
• Nail bed changes in color, texture or shape
• Skin rash after cancer treatment
• Unresolved skin care problems or rash
• Vascular skin disorders, such skin ulcers
• Warts, moles and skin tags

Dermatologic cosmetic services

We’re here for all your skin care needs. Our dermatology clinic doctors and care teams provide cosmetic skin care and medispa services, including: resurfacing lasers to remove dark spots and uneven skin, chemical peels for acne scars, radiofrequency microneedling to address fine lines and scars, injectables to reduce wrinkles, and skin tightening procedures. Many of these skin treatments involve little or no downtime.

Comprehensive care for all types of skin cancer

Skin cancer may begin anywhere on your skin from head to toe, and can affect people of any skin tone. It is the most common type of cancer affecting men and women. Early and accurate screening and diagnosis can help find cancer when it’s most treatable, so you get the right care plan at the right time for the best recovery. 

At your appointment, you’ll have face-to-face visits with your doctor, and you’ll have an entire team dedicated to your care. Diagnosing skin cancer starts with a comprehensive dermatologic exam. Our experienced dermatologists provide treatment plans for your type of cancer, including: 

• Actinic keratosis (precancerous skin cells)
• Basal cell carcinoma (cancer that starts in the outermost layers of skin)
• Melanoma (cancer that begins in cells that control pigment of your skin)
• Merkel cell carcinoma (rare and aggressive skin cancer found in the top layer of skin close to nerve endings)
• Squamous cell cancer (cancer that starts in the thin flat cells on the surface of skin or lining of organs, intestines or airways)

In-office treatments for skin cancer

Whenever possible, minimally invasive procedures to remove or treat skin cancer will be recommended and may mean a faster recovery. At Ascension St. Vincent dermatology clinics in Carmel and Evansville, Indiana, we deliver convenient in-office procedures, including:

•  Cryotherapy to scrape away cancer cells
•  Cryosurgery (a less invasive, freezing technique using liquid nitrogen)
•  Excisional surgery
•  Laser surgery
•  Mohs micrographic surgery

If you need advanced care, immunotherapy, topical chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be recommended. Your skin specialist can connect you with our Ascension St. Vincent Cancer Care oncologists. And as your skin care needs change, we’re here to help.

Benefits of our approach to skin cancer care

Skin cancer specialists who know you and your condition review your treatment and progress. They work together to customize your overall care plan to support your physical well-being and mental and emotional health. Ascension St. Vincent Cancer Care includes: 

• Mohs surgery and other dermatologic surgery – Our dermatologists specialize in the Mohs procedure. They make smaller, more precise incisions to remove skin tumors and lesions to spare the healthy tissue. Your doctor removes thin layers of skin using microscopic surgery techniques. Then they evaluate each layer under a microscope until only cancer-free tissue remains. Mohs surgery can mean less scarring than an excisional surgery.
• Follow-up care to skin cancer surgery – Tumor size can affect skin healing. Talk to your doctor about wound healing and options for cosmetic dermatology or plastic surgery. Plastic surgery techniques are often part of Mohs surgery to help reconstruct cosmetically sensitive areas, restore function and help reduce scarring. We can also connect you to a plastic surgeon if skin grafts or facial reconstructive surgery is recommended.
• Medical oncology – Medical oncologists work with your dermatologist to deliver advanced care (chemotherapy and targeted immunotherapy) to help stop cancer from spreading.
• Radiation oncology – Advanced radiation therapy is used to target and destroy cancer cells while avoiding the surrounding healthy tissue.
• Clinical trials – If you want to learn more about other cancer care options, talk to your doctor. You may want to ask whether cancer clinical trials are the right option for you. 
• Genetics – We provide genetic screening, testing and counseling. A genetic test for melanoma, a type of skin cancer, can identify if you have a mutation (change) in a gene that can increase your risk for developing this type of skin cancer.
• Support programs and resources – Ascension St. Vincent Cancer Care providessupport groups, spiritual care and activities for the whole you. 

Team approach helps navigate appointments and support services

Along the way, your care may require imaging, lab tests, pharmacy support or other specialists. You do not have to navigate your care alone. Your care team will help you schedule appointments, connect with other services, and answer your questions. From your first consultation and throughout your ongoing care, you and your doctor will stay connected through in-person and virtual visits. 

Screenings to help detect skin cancer early

Using sunscreen and protective clothing helps prevent skin cancer. Getting an annual skin exam may help find cancer early, when it is most treatable. Early detection may allow for more options for treatment too. Many people who have one skin cancer diagnosis have more skin cancer diagnosed during their lifetime. Talk with your doctor if you have been previously diagnosed with skin cancer or other types of cancer, or are in remission. Screenings and other preventive care may be an ongoing part of your care. Talk with your doctor about the right timing for screenings. We can help you find a dermatologist who can do an annual skin exam.

Get a second opinion on your diagnosis or care plan

Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you or your child. It's easy to get a second opinion for acne, unusual skin growths, discolored nail beds or hair loss. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized care plan. 

When you are facing a new skin cancer diagnosis or deciding on a treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. Our cancer specialists can provide a second opinion, based on our experience and as part of a national team of doctors.

Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival. 

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Financial assistance and support is available

We can connect you with resources and programs that may be able to help you and your family with options for financial assistance. Our financial counseling team is here to listen to your concerns and work with you to help find options that meet your needs.