Pinnacle Dermatology is a clinic located in Birmingham, Michigan that serves patients in south-east Michigan. It is led by Dr. David Spurlin, a board-certified dermatologist.
Dr. Spurlin is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he also served his residency. During that residency, he became a Melanoma Fellow and a member of the Cancer Center’s Multidisciplinary Melanoma Clinic. He has undergone training in dermatologic surgery, laser surgery and cosmetic dermatology. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Dermatology, the National Medical Association and the Michigan State Medical Society.
Dr. Tina Kinsley is also a board-certified dermatologist. Before joining Pinnacle Dermatology, she had served in the military for 17 years. Like Dr. Spurlin, she graduated from the University of Michigan.
What Kinds of Services Does Pinnacle Dermatology Provide?
Pinnacle Dermatology provides a wide range of medical dermatology services that treat many skin and hair problems that include the following:
• Skin cancer
• Acne
• Hair loss
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea
We also provide cosmetic skin care treatments through Peau Claire Medi-Spa, which is located within the premises. Services provided by the medical spa include the following:
• BOTOX® injections
• Microdermabrasion
• Dermal fillers
• Chemical peels
• Laser skin resurfacing
What Does a Full Skin Exam Involve?
A full skin exam is a head-to-toe exam of the patient’s skin. During the exam, the doctor will look for abnormalities like suspicious moles. They will examine the patient’s whole body, including their fingers, toes and other small and seemingly out-of-the-way places. Barring problems, a full skin exam takes around 20 minutes.
If the dermatologist does find something suspicious, they will take a biopsy and send it to a lab. In most cases, the doctor will take a shave biopsy in which they use a razor-like tool to scrape off the topmost layers of the skin. If they need to examine deeper layers, they will use a circular tool that resembles a cookie-cutter to perform a punch biopsy and remove samples of the epidermis, dermis and uppermost fat layers. The doctor will administer a local anesthetic beforehand.
If the dermatologist suspects the patient might have melanoma, they will perform an excisional biopsy. During this procedure, the doctor removes the entire mole plus a margin of seemingly healthy tissue.
What are Drainage and Extraction?
Drainage and extraction are used to remove acne cysts that haven’t responded to more conservative medical treatments. It can also be done if the cyst is large and/or painful. The dermatologist uses sterilized equipment to unclog the pore and clean out the bacteria, pus and other debris causing the cyst. Depending on the size of the treatment area, they may then stitch it closed.
Less severe cases of acne are generally treated with medication. Topical medications like retinoids or benzoyl peroxide, which are used to treat mild acne, can both kill bacteria and make the skin less oily. Some of these treatments can be found over the counter. Prescription medications, like some antibiotics, will be given to patients who have inflamed and infected acne.
If you are looking for an expert dermatologist, visit Pinnacle Dermatology in Birmingham, MI. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment and learn more about the services we offer.
