An interview with our new dermatologist, Dr. Hugh Nymeyer
Why do you want to help people with their skin conditions as a Board Certified Dermatologist?
No one can go through life without having a problem with their skin, so, as a board certified dermatologist, I am in a position to help everyone at some point in their life. Often these skin problems can be life altering, either because of persistent pain, itch, or odor, or because of how these skin problems impact our interactions with others. Our skin is the façade that we present to people around us, and it impacts our relationships and our perception of those relationships. To illustrate this point, consider that psoriasis increases the risk of suicide by 40% in those who suffer from it, and severe acne doubles the risk of suicide in patients who have it. Helping patients deal those problems can have an enormous impact on their well-being.
Why is Olympic Dermatology a good fit for you?
I enjoy treating all sorts of patients and all sorts of conditions. Olympic Dermatology is a great fit because I can go from seeing a toddler with a viral rash in the morning to a WWII veteran with melanoma in the afternoon. I love that variety. OlyDerm has a practice environment that allows me to see all those patients and practice surgical, medical, and cosmetic medicine all in the same day.
Your educational credentials are many, why did you decide to go into medical dermatology vs. other specialties?
I ultimately decided to go into medical dermatology for three reasons. First, I enjoy making complex medical diagnoses. Dermatologic problems require an integration of personal history, physical examination, and histological analysis that is unlike any other specialty. As dermatologists, we are not diagnosing everyone from their blood work; we are listening to them and closely examining them to determine what their needs are. The second reason I decided to go into medical dermatology is that everyone ultimately has problems with their skin, and we can have an enormous impact on patients’ quality of life. The third reason that I wanted to go into dermatology is that, after perhaps oncology, there are more new therapies in dermatology than in any other area of medicine. We can treat more disease, better and faster than ever before. Every few months, a new medication, surgical treatment, or laser is being developed that changes how and what we can do. This is not only great news for our patients, but also makes the practice of dermatology a rapidly evolving and interesting profession.
What would you tell your patients about the importance of good skin health and prevention at all phases of life?
The key to good skin health is prevention. Most people know that keeping our hearts healthy requires prevention; adherence to a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking. Similarly, keeping our skin healthy throughout our life requires a regular adherence to gentle skin care, sun avoidance, and not smoking. If we are careful at prevention, then we will avoid many problems later in life.
Will you share a bit about who you are outside of your work at OlyDerm?
I am married to a wonderful woman, who supported me for almost ten years through medical school and residency, and we have a teenage daughter who has discovered the electric guitar. I am excited to explore the Washington and Oregon areas with them. My wife and I have been big cyclists in the past, so I am hoping to join some cycling groups and get back in shape.
Dr. Nymeyer is excited to meet you. His arrival is great timing for our patients to schedule appointments for what is sure to be a busy fall season with many wanting dermatology care before the new year and deductible kicks in. He can help you by diagnosing and treating all kinds of medical dermatology issues, such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis and skin cancer. He is credentialed with many insurance plans. Please call (360) 459-1700 to schedule an appointment. Remember OlyDerm follows Covid safety measures and both in-person and teledermatology visits are available.