We are pleased to let you know that our offices have reopened. With state restrictions lifted, we are able to responsibly reopen fully and resume seeing our patients for regularly scheduled skin checks and treatment… just in time for Skin Cancer Awareness Month!

Your safety remains our top priority. We continue to implement additional safety and sanitation measures in accordance with OSHA and CDC guidelines to protect you and our team:

• Elevated infection control standards include the thorough sterilization and disinfection of treatment rooms and instruments between each patient.
• Continued adherence to standard sterile medical protocols including hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves, masks, eyewear), respiratory hygiene / cough etiquette, sharps safety, safe injection practices (when applicable), sterile instruments and devices, and clean and disinfected environmental surfaces.
• Availability of hand sanitizers at reception areas and frequent cleaning of high-touch common areas.
• Preemptive screenings for all patients and staff. Patients will be asked to complete additional health history information.
• Continued social distancing practices. Our waiting rooms have been rearranged to allow for further social distancing.

We have missed seeing our patients in our offices and can’t wait to welcome everyone back!

Our Board-Certified Dermatologists and Physician Assistants have special training that includes the diagnosis and management of skin cancers. When you see us for a complete skin exam, expect a 10-15 minute visit, including a review of your medical history and a head-to-toe skin examination. This is a good time to ask about any spots you are worried about. We can educate you about what to look for, such as any changes in the size, color, borders, or shape of a mole. Any notable change in a mole should be checked out.

Book your appointment TODAY in Naples, Bonita Springs, or Fort Myers!

For your convenience, The Woodruff Institute now offers patient care through safe and secure online Teledermatology visits. This “virtual care” mirrors an in-office appointment with the dermatology provider you trust and is available when you need it most.

What is teledermatology?
Teledermatology is the practice of dermatology via videoconferencing. This special type of medical care falls under the general category of telemedicine. In this type of an appointment a patient is linked by videoconference to their dermatology provider in our office and the office visit is completed remotely by two-way video communication.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How does teledermatology work at The Woodruff Institute?
Start by simply calling our office at 239-596-9337. We can walk you through the rest of the process. We use technology that doesn’t require additional downloads or accounts to be created and is so easy it can be used by patients with any level of comfort with technology.

Are teledermatology visits covered by my insurance?
These visits are generally covered by your insurer, subject to the specific provisions of the plan. You may still be responsible for a co-pay or co-insurance.

What type of appointments can be performed using teledermatology?
Ideal issues to be addressed using Telehealth include cases of acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, skin discoloration, rashes, melasma, spot checks, and itchy skin.

Can I choose which doctor I want to see via teledermatology?
You may schedule your Telehealth appointment with the physician or provider of your choice. Please note that some of our providers may not offer the option of Telehealth appointments.

Can I receive prescriptions via teldermatology?
Of course! Our medical records are all electronic. With just a few clicks, we can send any prescriptions to the local pharmacy of your choice.

Click here to request a teledermatology appointment online.

Struggling with a red, bumpy and angry-looking complexion? You’re not alone.

The National Rosacea Society estimates that at least 16 million Americans have active rosacea which is chronic inflammation causing persistent redness and broken blood vessels on the face. The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but it is believed to be a combination of factors, including increased blood flow, exposure to harsh climates, certain medications, and microbial organisms. Flares of rosacea can be induced by heat and humidity, hot liquids, spicy food, alcohol, and exposure to the sun.

April is Rosacea Awareness Month, so we thought we would share some of our favorite products to manage flare-ups:

Cleansing can be a particularly irritating step in your routine if facial flushing is a problem, so look for formulations that are described as gentle or mild and avoid anything that contains soap or alcohol. We recommend SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser which is a mild cream cleanser that removes impurities and excess oil, while soothing and calming sensitive skin.

Serums are important for all skin types, but they can be especially transformative for sensitive, rosacea-prone complexions. SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3 is an anti-aging serum containing 5% niacinamide and a cocktail of other ingredients to target skin concerns like redness.

It’s not uncommon for your skin to look a little flushed after completing your skin care routine but unlike other skin types, where any post-cleanse redness will have subsided within a few minutes, rosacea sufferers have to deal with the inflammation for the majority of the day. We suggest SkinCeuticals Redness Neutralizer as a lightweight cream twice daily.

One of the biggest external irritants for rosacea sufferers is UV rays so applying a daily sunscreen is probably the most important step in your routine. Oil-free EltaMD Clear SPF 46 helps calm and protect sensitive skin types.

If all else fails, and you have five minutes to spare, a soothing and cooling face mask is the quickest way to restore calm. SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Mask is an intensive calming botanical mask to rehydrate and soothe temporarily reactive skin. This intensive calming facial mask cools on contact, comforts skin sensitivity, and restores natural radiance and smoothness.

All of our products are available online or via phone order. We will mail your order to you or we now offer curbside delivery. Visit our online store or contact us today.

Many people are self-isolating or quarantining because of the coronavirus, but this doesn’t mean your skin should take a “vacation.”

Frequent handwashing can lead to dry, chapped hands. Make sure to use a good moisturizing cream. One of our favorites is Excipial Daily Protection Hand Cream which is uniquely formulated with ingredients that function like a glove for the hands. A barrier is created that hydrates your hands protecting it against excessive hand washing, drying sanitizers or harsh elements that you come in contact with throughout the day.

Excipial Hand Cream

With nail salons closed, now is the perfect time for an at-home foot peel. Babyfoot is designed to remove unsightly, dead skin cells on your feet that buildup over time. Baby Foot contains 17 kinds of natural extracts which have a high moisturizing power and astringency, thus the sole becomes smooth after peeling. One $25 box of Baby Foot contains two booties lined with the gel product. A user washes and soaks the feet, applies the booties and secures them with tape, then allows the product to soak in for an hour before washing the gel away. Anywhere from three to seven days later, the skin begins to peel. It continues to shed, flake, and peel (sometimes in large sheets) for up to two weeks after application.

Babyfoot peel

You might think you can skip your SPF routine because you aren’t going outside as much. If you are keeping busy swimming, walking, running, biking or exercising outside, don’t forget your sun protection. The Woodruff Institute has a full line of sunscreens by EltaMD and sun protection shirts from BloqUV and hats from Wallaroo.

EltaMD products

Ready to vamp up your skincare routine? All of our products are available online or via phone order. We will mail your order to you or we now offer curbside delivery. Visit our online store or contact us today.

What inspired you to pursue a career as a dermatologist?
Growing up in Naples, the sun has been a part of my everyday life. My father was a charter fisherman out of Chokoloskee, so many of my childhood memories are on a boat. Unfortunately, Irish skin and inadequate protection from the sun are not a great combination. I had my first basal cell carcinoma at the age of 21. I liked many of my rotations, including surgery, internal medicine, and my research in oncology. With my prior exposure to dermatology as a patient, I did an elective dermatology rotation as a third-year medical student. Bingo! Dermatology was the perfect field for me. It allows me to practice in a field that combines many aspects of other fields that I enjoy. It is a very gratifying specialty where I feel I make a difference in the lives of my patients every day.

What are your specialties?
I enjoy seeing a wide spectrum of dermatological conditions, providing medical dermatology, surgical dermatology, and cosmetic dermatology expertise. The ever-improving technology allows me to detect very early skin cancers using dermoscopy with skin examinations. This allows me to then treat and cure skin cancers on a daily basis. At our practice, we use a variety of lasers, fillers, neurotoxins, and other devices to address cosmetic concerns. I pride myself on providing these services with the goal of achieving a naturally youthful appearance.

What are some of the highlights of your career?
My career has been very fulfilling. At New York University, I had amazing and extensive hands-on training as a medical student and was honored to be inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Residency at Vanderbilt University provided excellent and vigorous training, treating many of the most complex dermatological conditions and performing intricate surgeries. At the end of my chief residency year, I was humbled and thrilled to be elected the departmental Lloyd E. King “Teacher of the Year” award. Since joining The Woodruff Institute, I have had many highlights involving patient treatment which makes each day at work very meaningful.

What are three things a patient can do to maintain healthy skin?
In the morning, apply an antioxidant such as a serum with Vitamin C or E, followed by an SPF of at least 30 (every day!) to avoid and repel DNA damage. Reapply sunscreen throughout the day, especially important to do every 80 minutes while outside sweating and in direct sunlight. At night, apply a thin layer of a retinoid-based product as tolerated to improve texture, tone, and clarity of skin.

Do you have advice for preventing the signs of aging without spending a fortune?
Prevention is key. Regular use of SPF topically and skin protective clothing (broad-brimmed hats, sun shirts, glasses, etc) will reduce the development of wrinkles, sun spots, skin thinning, skin fragility, and many of the other issues that affect skin as we age. In addition, drink plenty of water, eat a well-balanced diet, and get enough sleep.

What do you include in your own skin care regimen?
Every morning I use SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic

antioxidant serum followed by Elta MD Physical tinted sunscreen. At night I use a retinoid three times per week. Dermatologists experience skin conditions just as our patients do, so I also use products to improve my melasma or treat acne when needed. I also wear Coolibar driving gloves every day to keep my hands wrinkle and spot free. Trust me – it makes a world of difference!

What are the most common procedures you perform? What are the ones you most commonly recommend?
Skin cancer treatment is the most common procedure I perform. In addition, I regularly inject fillers, neurotoxins, and perform laser procedures. BBL or IPL for overall even skin tone and a youthful appearance is one of the most commonly recommended procedures from which nearly all patients benefit.

What inspires you most in life?
I went into medicine to help people, and every day I hope to make small improvements that will make our world a better place in which to live. My incredible network of family and friends help keep me motivated and inspired to continue this lifelong pursuit.

What do you like to do for fun?
I love the Florida outdoors and spend a lot of time with my family and dogs. When I am not at work, you might find me exploring on my bike (full disclosure – sometimes my E-bike) or on a kayak. My husband and I are passionate about animals and animal rescue. We help transport and foster dogs in need. Whenever possible, I try to travel to new places and learn from other environments and cultures. In the future, I hope to travel even more and surround myself with rescue animals.

What do you enjoy most about working at TWI?
As a Naples native, I love helping our community be a happier, healthier place to live. I have an incredible team around me, which keeps work very enjoyable.

Dear patients,

We are closely monitoring the developments around the Coronavirus (COVID-19). In our continued efforts to maintain a healthy work place, we want to assure you of the measures we take to maintain a clean and safe environment so you can continue to receive needed medical care without fear or concern. Our team is trained to ensure our processes meet or exceed sanitation and sterilization standards of care, and we have elevated our infection control procedures in response to this time of global concern.

You can visit our practice with confidence, knowing we are taking measures to provide for the safety and well-being of our patients and our team:

* Elevated infection control standards include the thorough sterilization and disinfection of treatment rooms and instruments between each patient.
* Continued adherence to standard sterile medical protocols including hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves, masks, eyewear), respiratory hygiene / cough etiquette, sharps safety, safe injection practices (when applicable), sterile instruments and devices, and clean and disinfected environmental surfaces.
* Availability of hand sanitization dispensers in reception areas and frequent cleaning of high-touch common areas.

ATTENTION PATIENTS
Please consider rescheduling your appointment if you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms or have known contact with a COVID-19/Coronavirus infected person due to recent CDC guidelines.

Flu-like symptoms include: Fever, chills cough, body aches or nausea.

We will work with you to reschedule your appointment as soon as you are well.

We value your trust in us
Everyone here at The Woodruff Institute is dedicated to the health and safety of our patients and our team. We will continue to closely monitor the developments around the Coronavirus (COVID-19) through the Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health, State of Florida and our local government and other resources. Call us at 239-498-DERM(3376).

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant?
I was volunteering in a local ER as a patient advocate and saw how I could be of service.

Q. What are your specialties?
Dermatology, cosmetics and pain management

Q. What are some things a patient can do to maintain healthy skin?
For healthy skin, I recommend sunscreen, a good skincare regime early in life, and not smoking.

Q. What do you include in your own skincare regimen?
My ‘go-to’ products are SkinCeuticals face wash, a Vitamin B serum, and sunscreen with at least an SPF of 40-50 for the face.

Q. What inspires you most in life?
Learning about people and what inspires them.

Q. What do you like to do for fun?
Movies, gardening, art shows, visiting the local small plane airport

Q. What’s one thing that everybody needs to know about you?
I am an end-of-life doula and assist people in their process.

Q. What do you do in Southwest Florida for fun?
Sanibel is a favorite of mine. I go there for staycations to leave the car in the driveway and bike around the island. Ding Darling and Crow are also places I enjoy.

To schedule an appointment with Debora Nash PA-C at our office in Fort Myers, please call our toll free number 844.485.0104. 

The pursuit for the perfect body has been a lasting mission of many people. Frustrated with exercise and diet, people frequently end up looking into other options to reduce areas of stubborn fat and cellulite. Several years ago, fat reduction and body contouring were mainly done through invasive procedures such as liposuction.  Over the past decade, there has been a shift towards non-surgical solutions.

What body contouring treatments are available at The Woodruff Institute?

The Woodruff Institute offers several non-invasive options for excess fat removal, including:

• Ultrasound: Ultrasound uses high-intensity, focused sound waves to disrupt fat calls, causing them to dissolve gradually over time. Ultrasound therapy for excess fat removal has been approved by the FDA.
• Radiofrequency: Radiofrequency (RF) delivers controlled energy to excess fat areas, creating heat deep within fat cells and subsequently destroying them. Radiofrequency therapy for excess fat removal has not yet been approved by the FDA but is regularly used for body contouring in dermatology.
• Deoxycholic Acid: Kybella (Deoxycholic Acid) is the only FDA-approved injectable treatment that destroys fat cells in the treatment area under the chin to improve your profile

Fat and cellulite do not discriminate. Even the most fit and slim people suffer with fat and cellulite. At The Woodruff Institute, we understand the patient demand for non-surgical solutions for fat and cellulite and as a result, have added JuVaShape, UltraShape, VelaShape and Kybella to our body contouring services.

JuVaShape Technology
JuVaShape uses patented bipolar radiofrequency technology to improve the appearance and the contour of your face and body. The Bipolar technology in JuVaShape destroys fat cells and reshapes problem areas of the face or body, by melting fat cells and cellulite. JuVaShape then forces your body to rapidly produce excess collagen to restore firmness back into your skin. JuVaShape has a warming sensation that can be very comforting. In fact, many patients have compared it to a hot stone massage.

UltraShape Technology
UltraShape delivers focused, non-thermal ultrasound energy directly into the stubborn fat below your skin’s surface top selectively destroy fat cells without the use of heat. The energy created during this treatment destroys the walls of the fat cells and releases them into the body, processed through the liver and eliminated naturally. UltraShape has the ability to treat areas of the stomach, hips, and thighs that have proven to be resistant to proper diet and regular exercise.

VelaShape III Technology
VelaShape III technology combines several different technologies: infrared light, bi-polar radio frequency energy and vacuum, which cause deep heating of the fat cells, their surrounding connective tissue and the underlying dermal collagen fibers. This type of efficient heating and vacuum stimulates the growth of new and better collagen and elastin which results in localized reduction in skin laxity, body volume, and an overall improvement in skin structure and texture. VelaShape III was specifically created to slim and reduce cellulite in the areas of the stomach, hips, thighs, and arms.

Kybella
Kybella is a nonsurgical injection technique used to reduce excess fat beneath the chin. The process uses a series of deoxycholic acid injections to target the fat cells in this area. No incisions are required, and the downtime is minimal in most cases.

Is body contouring right for you?

• Are you interested in taking advantage of the latest and most advanced non-surgical technology to help improve the appearance of fat and cellulite on your face or body?
• Does cellulite get in the way of your confidence despite a healthy lifestyle, clean diet and commitment to overall wellness?
• Are you interested in noninvasive treatments that fit into your busy schedule, requiring little to no downtime and minimal discomfort?

At The Woodruff Institute, we find the right combination of treatments and approaches for your individual situation and help you… reshape your life!