Paediatric Dermatology and Genetic Skin Diseases
Our dermatology department, known as St John's Institute of Dermatology, is the largest clinical dermatology department in the UK and one of the world's leading centres for patients with skin disease. We are also an internationally recognised centre of research into skin diseases.
Specialist Services We treat a wide range of skin diseases, including rare and severe conditions that require specialist treatments.
Our specialist services include:
- adult general dermatology
- dermatology pathology
- adult epidermolysis bullosa (EB)
- adult and paediatric genetic skin diseases
- paediatric dermatology
- cutaneous allergy
- dermatological surgery and laser unit (DSLU)
- inflammatory skin disease
- oral dermatology
- photodermatology
- skin cancer
- urticaria
- women's dermatology
- xeroderma pigmentosum (XP)
St John’s Facilities
St John's Institute of Dermatology comprises numerous outpatient consulting facilities including specialised clinical accommodation for cutaneous allergy, paediatric dermatology, a day treatment centre providing topical day treatments, photopheresis, IV therapy and an ambulatory day unit for topical and phototherapy, dermatology and laser theatres, its own histopathology, microbiology, immunoflouresence, EB and mycology laboratories.
Its primary role is to support education and training, research and development in all areas of dermatology. These functions are undertaken in both clinical and academic settings, and in particular within specialist departments such as the Paediatric Dermatology Department, the Genetic Skin Disease Group and Geneodermatosis Service, the Department of Cutaneous Photobiology, Dermatological Surgery and Laser Unit, Skin Tumour Unit and Skin Therapy Research Unit.
Paediatric Dermatology Services
Paediatric Dermatology Services are based at St Thomas’ Hospital alongside the Paediatric Allergy Service with whom there are close clinical and research collaborations. Clinics encompass a wide range of secondary as well as tertiary referrals covering common childhood conditions as well as more highly specialised conditions. Mutlidisciplinary subspecialty clinics are held regularly for Vascular Anomalies, Paediatric Hair Disorders, Paediatric Vulval Dermatology, Paediatric Allergy and Dermatology, Paediatric Rheumatology, Adolescent Inflammatory Dermatoses and Skin Genetics.
Adult Epidermolysis Bullosa Service
St John’s Institute of Dermatology is one of two national centres for the clinical care of adults with EB. The National Diagnostic EB Laboratory is also based at the Trust, allowing us to provide comprehensive EB diagnostics (skin biopsy, genetic testing and prenatal testing) for the UK and beyond. We are also a leading centre for translational and clinical research for EB through the Genetic Skin Disease Group at King’s College London led by Prof John McGrath.
Our multidisciplinary EB team includes colleagues from other departments in the Trust, including plastic surgery, specialist nursing, dentistry, interventional radiology, oncology, dietetics, ophthalmology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy and podiatry.
Genetic Skin Disease Service
In addition to EB, St John’s Institute of Dermatology provides clinical and diagnostic expertise in a wide range of services for rare genetic skin diseases including ichthyoses, ectodermal dysplasias, palmoplantar keratodermas and other disorders of keratinisation. We have close links with the Clinical Genetics Department with whom a bi-monthly multidisciplinary clinic is held for patients with complex multisystem genetic disease, including skin manifestations.
