QUALITY CARE: “I have a broad area of practice. I do it all, and I love the diversity. With dermatology, we do a lot of procedures in the office. I can see the problem and then treat it properly. We see all kinds of patients — all ages, men, women, children, even babies.” David Nieves, MD, makes sure that all his patients receive quality care and attention.

By Jean Stratton

Too much sun is definitely not your friend, says dermatologist Dr. David Nieves.

“I want people to know there is no such thing as a healthy tan. It damages the skin. The best skin maintenance is to stay out of the sun. If not, take protective measures: wear sunscreen — at least 30 SPF or greater. Wear a hat, sit under an umbrella. Avoid unnecessary exposure.”

So, this is a wake-up call for all those who love to lie on the beach for long periods of time.

“Millions of Americans develop skin cancer every year,” continues Dr. Nieves. “Most cases are classified as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and are curable with brief in-office procedures. The most worrisome form, melanoma, typically looks like a brown spot with uneven pigmentation and an irregular border. If not detected early, melanoma can be fatal.”

West Windsor Native

Dr. Nieves has been a partner at Windsor Dermatology at 59 One Mile Road  Ext. in East Windsor since 2006. The office has a 32-year history in East Windsor, and now includes three partners and three associate physicians, all board certified. Dr. Nieves is on staff at the University Medical Center at Princeton, where he is chief of the dermatology section of the department of medicine.

A West Windsor native, he graduated from West Windsor Plainsboro High School, Duke University, and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He then went on to the University of Rochester for his internship and dermatology residency.

“I wanted to help people,” he explains. “With dermatology, I see many different conditions, ranging from common to rare. It’s challenging.”

His practice includes patients with everything from acne and skin allergies to psoriasis, eczema, and skin cancer. He also performs cosmetic procedures, including Botox, fillers, CoolSculpting, laser rejuvenation, and laser hair removal.

Skin allergies can result in a rash, itching, redness, etc., and can be due to exposure to fragrances, preservatives, and other chemicals found in personal care products, points out Dr. Nieves. To identify the cause, he performs patch testing, a needle-free procedure to identify sensitivity to common allergens.

“Sometimes people can be allergic to make-up. One person I treated was allergic to chemicals in the rubber in her make-up sponge. A male patient presented with a rash on his hands, and when the causative allergen was identified, it wasn’t in any of his products. I learned that he was a new father and asked to see his child’s baby wipes. That turned out to be the source of his exposure. Finding the cause can be detective work!”

Once the cause has been identified, he uses specialized databases to recommend replacement products.

Positive Results

Seeing positive results is very satisfying, both to the patient and to Dr. Nieves. “This past summer, one patient with psoriasis said to me after successful treatment, ‘It’s the first time I’ve gone swimming in 10 years. I feel so much better.’

“Teenagers with severe acne may appear withdrawn at the beginning of treatment. As the problem clears up, a new self-confidence develops.”

Self-confidence can also be enhanced by cosmetic procedures. Procedures which markedly reduce wrinkles, erase blemishes, or remove unwanted hair help many patients feel better about their appearance.

One of the popular procedures today is CoolSculpting for the body, he adds. “It is an alternative to liposuction, and is a shaping procedure, not for weight loss. It is for the abdomen, love handles, thighs, and the neck. It works very well and is very popular. And the nice thing about CoolSculpting is that you can resume normal activity immediately after the procedure. There’s no down time.”

Clinical Trials

Another important part of Windsor Dermatology’s practice is the focus on clinical trials. “This is a unique aspect of our practice,” explains Dr. Nieves. “We have the ability to offer our patients early access to investigational treatments not yet commercially available. Patients who enroll in trials receive study medication and treatment at no charge. Pharmaceutical companies choose to work with our site because of our expertise and their confidence that we will do it properly and follow FDA guidelines.”

Currently, Windsor Dermatology is conducting trials for new treatments for psoriasis, eczema, warts, and actinic keratoses.

Whether Dr. Nieves’ patient is a child with a fungal infection, an adult suffering from psoriasis or eczema, or a person with skin cancer, he looks forward to helping them and finding the best treatment for a positive result.

“I enjoy seeing people get better. We see individuals with common and uncommon conditions. Every day, I look forward to coming to work. I love seeing my patient get better, and I love my staff, and the talented and caring physicians I work with. I’m very fortunate. Dermatology has very high career satisfaction. I’m able to do clinical trials and be in the forefront of medical research. It’s intellectually challenging. Every day, when I leave the office, I’m able to leave feeling that I did something positive for others.”

Windsor Dermatology is open Monday through Saturday. (609) 443-4500.