If you live in or near Bay Ridge and a mole is worrying you, Bay Ridge Dermatology at 515 84th Street, 1st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11209 examines suspicious moles and can take a shave biopsy in the office when one is needed. You can book online or call (347) 497-4984 to have it looked at.
This page covers the practical details: when the office is open, how to get there, who you might see, what can happen at the visit, insurance, and the signs that mean a mole shouldn't wait for a routine check.
Address, hours, phone and online booking
- Address: 515 84th Street, 1st Floor, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY 11209
- Phone: (347) 497-4984
- Fax: (347) 497-4980, if your primary care doctor is sending a referral
- Book online: app.nexhealth.com/appt/bayridgedermatology
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; closed Saturday and Sunday
Bay Ridge Dermatology has been in the neighborhood since 2008. Directions and other ways to reach the office are on the contact page.
Coming from Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Sunset Park or Bensonhurst
The office sits in Bay Ridge, a short trip from Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Sunset Park and Bensonhurst. If you're taking the subway, the nearest stations are 86th St and 77th St on the R train. If you're driving or taking a bus, plan your route before you leave, and phone the office with any questions about finding it.
Who you'll see
The practice's clinicians are:
- [Dr. Evangeline Perez](/providers/dr-evangeline-perez), a board-certified dermatologist with more than 20 years of experience
- Nicole Marie Colucci, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant
- Kerry Ly, PA-C, a physician assistant who speaks Mandarin and Cantonese in addition to English
Physician assistants are licensed medical providers who evaluate skin problems, make diagnoses and provide treatment as part of a physician-led care team. When you book, ask the office who you'll see for your mole check. If you would prefer a particular clinician, say so, and ask when they have an opening.
Getting seen soon
The practice offers same-day appointments. What's open varies daily, so a same-day visit can't be promised for a mole check or any other visit. If a mole has changed, bled or started to itch, call (347) 497-4984, explain what you've noticed, and ask what is available. You can also check the online booking page for open times.
While you wait for the appointment:
- Leave the mole alone. Don't pick at it, shave it off or try a removal cream.
- Photograph it in good light, with the date noted and a ruler or coin beside it for scale.
- Write down when you first noticed the change and what it was.
What can happen at the visit
A visit for one worrying spot usually follows these steps:
- Questions. The clinician asks when you noticed the spot, what has changed, and whether it itches, bleeds or hurts. Say so if you or a close relative has had skin cancer, and bring your photos.
- A close look. They examine the mole and may compare it with nearby skin or your other moles. If you'd like the rest of your skin checked too, ask whether a full-body skin exam makes sense.
- A plan. The spot may look harmless, and you'll leave knowing what to watch for. It may be worth checking again at a later date. Or it may need a closer look under a microscope.
- A shave biopsy, if needed. The skin is numbed with a small injection, and a thin blade removes the spot, or part of it, from the upper layers of skin. A lab then studies the tissue under a microscope. Ask how you'll hear about your results.
A biopsy doesn't mean a spot is cancer. It is how a dermatologist gets a definite answer.
If the lab finds melanoma, the diagnosis is made at Bay Ridge Dermatology, and the patient is referred to NYC cancer centers for treatment. Some other skin cancers can be treated in the office without surgery.
What to bring: your insurance card and a photo ID, a list of your medicines and supplements (including any blood thinners), and any photos of the spot.
Insurance
Bay Ridge Dermatology accepts most insurances, including Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, United, Medicare, Oxford, Empire and Humana. What your plan pays for a mole check or a biopsy depends on the plan itself, so check your plan's coverage or call the office before the visit.
It is also worth asking your plan whether you need a referral. HealthCare.gov explains that HMO and point-of-service (POS) plans generally require a referral from your primary care doctor before you see a specialist. The practice's insurance page has more on what to check.
Care in Mandarin and Cantonese, for patients of every age
Kerry Ly, PA-C, speaks Mandarin and Cantonese. If you'd like your visit in either language, mention it when you book and ask about seeing her.
The practice treats patients of every age, children through seniors. A child with a new or changing mole, or a grandparent with a spot they've been meaning to have checked, can be seen at the same office.
Signs a mole shouldn't wait for a routine visit
Book a prompt visit, rather than waiting for your next yearly skin check, if a mole or spot:
- Has appeared recently and doesn't look like your other moles
- Has grown, or changed in shape, color or height
- Bleeds, itches or crusts without an obvious injury
- Is an open sore that won't heal, or keeps healing and reopening
- Shows any of the AAD's ABCDE signs: uneven halves, a ragged or blurry edge, more than one color, a width bigger than a pencil eraser (melanoma can also be smaller), or any change over time
None of these signs means a mole is cancer, but each one is a good reason to have it examined. If your mole is irritated or bleeding, our post on what to do when a mole itches, bleeds or crusts explains the common causes and what to tell the office when you call.
You don't need to wait for a yearly screening to get one spot checked. When you're ready, book online or call (347) 497-4984.
This article is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own skin, see a dermatologist.