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Description

Skintel is a clinic providing advanced skin cancer care by specialist dermatologists and Mohs surgeons.
 
Mohs surgeons are specifically trained to provide precise skin cancer surgery controlled by microscopic analysis at the time of surgery.
 
Dermatologists are the specialist doctors who deal with the skin and its diseases.
 
Skintel is located on Auckland's North Shore.

Consultants

Ages

Adult / Pakeke, Older adult / Kaumātua, Youth / Rangatahi

How do I access this service?

Contact us

To make an appointment or enquire about our service, please contact us:

Phone: 09 24 22 333

Email: reception@skintel.co.nz

Referral

To discuss an urgent referral, please call:

Phone: (09) 24 22 333

Otherwise referrals can be made by:

Healthlink: skintelx

Email: referrals@skintel.co.nz

Fax: (09) 24 22 334

Website / App

www.skintel.co.nz

Referral Expectations

Providing histology results, good quality photos and clinical diagnosis may help us priority more urgent referrals.

Fees and Charges Categorisation

Fees apply

Hours

Mon – Fri 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Public Holidays: Closed Auckland Anniversary (27 Jan), Waitangi Day (6 Feb), Good Friday (18 Apr), Easter Sunday (20 Apr), Easter Monday (21 Apr), ANZAC Day (25 Apr), King's Birthday (2 Jun), Matariki (20 Jun), Labour Day (27 Oct).
Christmas: Open 23 Dec — 24 Dec. Closed 25 Dec — 26 Dec. Open 27 Dec. Closed 28 Dec — 29 Dec. Open 30 Dec — 31 Dec. Closed 1 Jan — 2 Jan. Open 3 Jan. Closed 4 Jan — 5 Jan. Open 6 Jan — 10 Jan.

Languages Spoken

English

Procedures / Treatments

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mohs surgery is the gold-standard technique for the removal of most types of skin cancers on the face, head and neck as well as other critical sites. Mohs surgery has the following key benefits: Most precise: The histological analysis undertaken with Mohs is a lot more accurate than routine pathology analysis. Mohs examines 100% of the tumour margin, compared to often less than 5% with routine analysis. Highest cure rate: Because Mohs is a lot more precise, it is less likely to leave residual skin cancer in the body meaning a higher cure rate – of up to 99%. Best outcome: As it is more precise, we can keep the surgical site/defect smaller, maximising the preservation of healthy tissue. This optimises the cosmetic result and makes for an easier healing process. Patient-centred: We can confirm histologically that the skin cancer has been removed on the same day as surgery. This avoids having to repeatedly return to the clinic to undertake further surgery to remove residual cancerous tissue.

Mohs surgery is the gold-standard technique for the removal of most types of skin cancers on the face, head and neck as well as other critical sites.

Mohs surgery has the following key benefits:

  • Most precise: The histological analysis undertaken with Mohs is a lot more accurate than routine pathology analysis. Mohs examines 100% of the tumour margin, compared to often less than 5% with routine analysis.
  • Highest cure rate: Because Mohs is a lot more precise, it is less likely to leave residual skin cancer in the body meaning a higher cure rate – of up to 99%.
  • Best outcome: As it is more precise, we can keep the surgical site/defect smaller, maximising the preservation of healthy tissue. This optimises the cosmetic result and makes for an easier healing process.
  • Patient-centred: We can confirm histologically that the skin cancer has been removed on the same day as surgery. This avoids having to repeatedly return to the clinic to undertake further surgery to remove residual cancerous tissue.
Skin Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

New Zealand has a very high rate of skin cancer, when compared to other countries. The most common forms of skin cancer usually appear on areas of skin that have been over-exposed to the sun. Risk factors for developing skin cancer are: prolonged exposure to the sun; people with fair skin; and possibly over-exposure to UV light from sun beds. There are three main types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) This is the most common type and is found on skin surfaces that are exposed to sun. A BCC remains localised and does not usually spread to other areas of the body. Sometimes BCCs can ulcerate and scab so it is important not to mistake it for a sore. BCCs occur more commonly on the face, back of hands and back. They appear usually as small, red lumps that don’t heal and sometimes bleed or become itchy. They have the tendency to change in size and sometimes in colour. Treatment Often a BCC can be diagnosed just by its appearance. In other cases it will be removed totally and sent for examination and diagnosis, or a biopsy may be taken and just a sample sent for diagnosis. Removal of a BCC will require an appointment with a doctor or surgeon. It will be termed minor surgery and will require a local anaesthetic (numbing of the area) and possibly some stitches. A very small number of BCCs will require a general anaesthetic (you will sleep through the operation) for removal. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) This type of skin cancer also affects areas of the skin that have exposure to the sun. The most common area is the face, but an SCC can also affect other parts of the body and can spread to other parts of the body. The spreading (metastasising) can potentially be fatal if not successfully treated. A SCC usually begins as a keratosis that looks like an area of thickened scaly skin, it may then develop into a raised, hard lump which enlarges. SCCs can sometimes be painful. Often the edges are irregular and it can appear wart like, the colour can be reddish brown. Sometimes it can appear like a recurring ulcer that does not heal. All SCCs will need to be removed, because of their potential for spread. The removal and diagnosis is the same as for a BCC. Malignant Melanoma This is the most serious form of skin cancer. It can spread to other parts of the body and people can die from this disease. A melanoma usually starts as a pigmented growth on normal skin. They often, but not always, occur on areas that have high sun exposure. In some cases, a melanoma may develop from existing pigmented moles. What to look for: an existing mole that changes colour (it may be black, dark blue or even red and white) the colour pigment may be uneven the edges of the mole/freckle may be irregular and have a spreading edge the surface of the mole/freckle may be flaky/crusted and raised sudden growth of an existing or new mole/freckle inflammation and or itchiness surrounding an existing or new mole/freckle. Treatment It is important that any suspect moles or freckles are checked by a GP or a dermatologist. The sooner a melanoma is treated, there is less chance of it spreading. A biopsy or removal will be carried out depending on the size of the cancer. Tissue samples will be sent for examination, as this will aid in diagnosis and help determine the type of treatment required. If the melanoma has spread more surgery may be required to take more of the affected skin. Samples from lymph nodes that are near to the cancer may be tested for spread, then chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be required to treat this spread. Once a melanoma has been diagnosed, a patient may be referred to an oncologist (a doctor who specialises in cancer). A melanoma that is in the early stages can be treated more successfully and cure rates are much higher than one that has spread.

New Zealand has a very high rate of skin cancer, when compared to other countries. The most common forms of skin cancer usually appear on areas of skin that have been over-exposed to the sun.
Risk factors for developing skin cancer are:  prolonged exposure to the sun; people with fair skin; and possibly over-exposure to UV light from sun beds.
 
There are three main types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.
 
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
This is the most common type and is found on skin surfaces that are exposed to sun. A BCC remains localised and does not usually spread to other areas of the body.  Sometimes BCCs can ulcerate and scab so it is important not to mistake it for a sore.
BCCs occur more commonly on the face, back of hands and back.  They appear usually as small, red lumps that don’t heal and sometimes bleed or become itchy. They have the tendency to change in size and sometimes in colour.
 
Treatment
Often a BCC can be diagnosed just by its appearance.  In other cases it will be removed totally and sent for examination and diagnosis, or a biopsy may be taken and just a sample sent for diagnosis.
Removal of a BCC will require an appointment with a doctor or surgeon.  It will be termed minor surgery and will require a local anaesthetic (numbing of the area) and possibly some stitches. A very small number of BCCs will require a general anaesthetic (you will sleep through the operation) for removal.
 
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
This type of skin cancer also affects areas of the skin that have exposure to the sun.  The most common area is the face, but an SCC can also affect other parts of the body and can spread to other parts of the body.  The spreading (metastasising) can potentially be fatal if not successfully treated.
 
A SCC usually begins as a keratosis that looks like an area of thickened scaly skin, it may then develop into a raised, hard lump which enlarges.  SCCs can sometimes be painful. Often the edges are irregular and it can appear wart like, the colour can be reddish brown.  Sometimes it can appear like a recurring ulcer that does not heal.
All SCCs will need to be removed, because of their potential for spread.  The removal and diagnosis is the same as for a BCC.
 
Malignant Melanoma
This is the most serious form of skin cancer. It can spread to other parts of the body and people can die from this disease.
A melanoma usually starts as a pigmented growth on normal skin.  They often, but not always, occur on areas that have high sun exposure.  In some cases, a melanoma may develop from existing pigmented moles.
 
What to look for:
  • an existing mole that changes colour  (it may be black, dark blue or even red and white)
  • the colour pigment may be uneven
  • the edges of the mole/freckle may be irregular and have a spreading edge
  • the surface of the mole/freckle may be flaky/crusted and raised
  • sudden growth of an existing or new mole/freckle
  • inflammation and or itchiness surrounding an existing or new mole/freckle.
 
Treatment
It is important that any suspect moles or freckles are checked by a GP or a dermatologist. The sooner a melanoma is treated, there is less chance of it spreading.
A biopsy or removal will be carried out depending on the size of the cancer.  Tissue samples will be sent for examination, as this will aid in diagnosis and help determine the type of treatment required.  If the melanoma has spread more surgery may be required to take more of the affected skin.  Samples from lymph nodes that are near to the cancer may be tested for spread, then chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be required to treat this spread. 
Once a melanoma has been diagnosed, a patient may be referred to an oncologist (a doctor who specialises in cancer).
 
A melanoma that is in the early stages can be treated more successfully and cure rates are much higher than one that has spread.

Additional Details

Face to face / Kanohi ki te Kanohi

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11 Apollo Drive
Rosedale
Auckland 0632

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Street Address

11 Apollo Drive
Rosedale
Auckland 0632

This page was last updated at 10:56AM on July 11, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Skintel.