Dermal Clinic

The Dermal Clinic provides the same treatments that would be performed by qualified dermal (skin) clinicians in private dermatology, plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery practices.

Staff, students and members of the public can use the clinics.

Closed over holidays

The clinic will be closed from 9 December 2024—3 February 2025. Appointments will be available from 4 February 2025.

Skin health & therapy services

The Victoria University Dermal Clinic is a student-led clinic with treatments performed by students in the third and fourth year of the Bachelor of Dermal Sciences. All services are provided under the supervision of qualified dermal clinicians.

Our students use the highest quality medical grade equipment in a best practice environment under the supervision of qualified dermal clinicians.

The student dermal clinicians can assist with a range of common skin health problems and concerns including the following:

: Time and cost: 30 minutes, $45 (single area of the body).
Used on any area of the body including face, chest, back or legs that often suffer from dryness, sun damage, ageing, acne and other inflammatory skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis.
Skin management and therapy includes:
skin cleansing of the area
resurfacing or exfoliation based on your skin health/concerns and treatments as part of your care plan
manual lymphatic drainage
application of corrective topical formulations and skin protection.
In some instances the following additional treatments may be discussed and incorporated as part of your care plan:
low powered light therapy: 15 minutes, $15
electrotherapy: 15 minutes, $15
high powered laser therapies or radio-frequency: 30 minutes, $30
skin needling: 30 minutes, $30.
: Time and cost:
30 minutes for $45
60 minutes for $75.
For concerns with scarring or stretch marks, your clinician – after a thorough assessment of the area – may recommend skin needling, laser or radio-frequency therapies, scar massage, taping or silicone dressings. These may be used alone or in combination dependent on the skin and scar quality.
This service includes cleansing and disinfecting the area, manual lymphatic drainage, application of corrective and protective topical formulations or wound dressing.
: Time and cost:
30 minutes for $45
45 minutes for $60.
Your clinician will provide you with an indication of the number of treatments expected, frequency and duration of treatment, after an assessment of:
skin quality
size of the tattoo
colour and density of the pigment.
Large or circumferential tattoos will be treated in smaller segments.
This service includes cleansing and disinfecting the area, manual lymphatic drainage, application of corrective and protective topical formulations or wound dressing.
: Time and cost:
15 minutes for $30
30 minutes for $45
45 minutes for $60.
Your clinician will assess your medical history, skin health and quality and the stage and severity of your wound or oedema. A care plan may involve a combination of:
wound dressings
topical skin care
manual lymphatic drainage
compression therapy
light or electrotherapy.
Effective treatment may also involve referral or co-management with a medical health professional to discuss other options to support your treatment.
: Time and cost:
15 minutes for $30
30 minutes for $45
45 minutes for $60.
Your clinician will assess your medical history, skin health and quality as well as the location and type of adiposity and swelling.
A care plan may involve a combination of:
topical skin care
manual lymphatic drainage
compression therapy
light or electrotherapy.
Effective treatment may also involve referral or co-management with a medical health professional to discuss other options to support your treatment.
: Time and cost:
15 minutes for $30
30 minutes for $45
45 minutes for $60.
Your clinician will assess your medical history, skin health and quality as well as the stage and severity of venous insufficiency.
A care plan may involve a combination of:
wound dressings
topical skin care
manual lymphatic drainage
compression therapy
light or electrotherapy.
Effective treatment may also involve referral or co-management with a medical health professional to discuss other options to support your treatment.
: Time and cost:
15 minutes for $30
30 minutes for $45
45 minutes for $60.
Your clinician will recommend a course of treatments to reduce or remove hair growth after an assessment of your:
medical history
skin quality
hair colour
hair density and distribution.
The treatment may involve the use of LASER or light based treatments or electro-epilation.
Effective treatment may also involve referral or co-management with a medical health professional to discuss other options to support your treatment.
This service includes cleansing and disinfecting the area, manual lymphatic drainage, application of corrective and protective topical formulations.
: Time and cost:
15 minutes for $30
30 minutes for $45
45 minutes for $60.
Your clinician will recommend a course of treatments to assist with hair growth after an assessment of your:
medical history
skin quality
hair colour
density and distribution of hair loss.
The treatment may involve the use of light based treatments or skin needling.
Effective treatment may also involve referral or co-management with a medical health professional to discuss other options to support your treatment.
This service includes cleansing and disinfecting the area, manual lymphatic drainage, application of corrective and protective topical formulations.
: Time and cost:
15 minutes for $30
30 minutes for $45
45 minutes for $60.
Your clinician will assess your medical history, skin and nail quality to recommend a course or treatments to assist with management of nail problems.
The treatment may involve the use of light based treatments or recommendation of topical management.
Effective treatment may also involve referral or co-management with a medical health professional to discuss other options to support your treatment.
This service includes cleansing and disinfecting the area, nail clipping and filing, removal of dry skin and callouses, manual lymphatic drainage, application of corrective and protective topical formulations.
: These sessions are held 4 times per year.
Time and cost:
30 minutes for $30
free for VU staff and students.
In Australia two out of three Australians will have a skin cancer by the age of 70. Skin cancer is more prevalent in lighter skins however skin cancer doesn’t discriminate and all skin colours are at risk of skin cancer in their lifetime. For that reason it is recommended that everyone learns how to self screen their skin regularly and have a professional skin cancer check every 12 months.
In the Dermal Clinic, students learn the technique of dermoscopy (dermatoscopy) to evaluate skin lesions for signs they may be atypical or abnormal. Students are supervised by qualified dermal clinicians with postgraduate experience and qualifications in dermoscopy.
Dermoscopy assessment may also involve referral or co-management with a medical health professional.
: Time and cost: 45 mins $10.
Many chronic health problems can affect skin health and quality. Changes in your environment, season and stage of life can result in skin conditions. If you have a medical or skin condition or are receiving medical treatment that is affecting your skin quality, you will find a skin health education session beneficial. This involves discussing both topical and wholistic considerations for optimal skin management and skin health.
Topics covered can include skin cleaning, emollient therapy, sun avoidance and protection and other therapies that may be beneficial for your situation.
The session may involve referral or co-management with medical and allied health professionals to support your treatment and to discuss other aspects such as nutrition, movement and managing lifestyle and stress.

Dermal research projects

We welcome you to take part in any of our fourth-year student projects listed, if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Dermal telehealth consultations

We are currently offering free telehealth consultations for new and existing clients.

Benefits

Telehealth may be suitable for a range of conditions including general concerns regarding skin health or appearance, advice on skin care and home management strategies for inflammatory skin conditions and other skin concerns, such as:

acne
rosacea
eczema
psoriasis
pigment changes
ageing and sun damage
skin cancer risk assessment
screening and skin changes associated with chronic health problems
wound healing
scar or oedema management.

Why book an appointment?

In a telehealth consultation, your student dermal clinician may be able to provide you with assessment and management strategies, including:

instructions, resources and materials
skin health education
at-home and self-management strategies
development of care plan for future skin treatment
recommendations and referrals.

Our student dermal clinicians are in their third and fourth year of the Bachelor of Dermal Science and are fully supervised on campus by an experienced, qualified dermal clinician.

Appointments

Cost: Telehealth sessions are currently free of charge
Duration: approximately 1 hour per session
Days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Times: 9am–5pm

Gender clinic – affirmative skin health services

Our gender clinic provides the gender diverse community with cost effective, evidence based, inclusive skin health advice and services. At VU we believe diversity is a strength – the more diverse perspectives, identities, cultural backgrounds, ages and experience of our communities, the richer our life experience.

We strive to foster a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where all students, staff and visitors to our clinics are respected, valued and empowered to thrive. Our staff and students at the Dermal Clinic undertake ongoing diversity and inclusion training.

Our services

We can support you with:

dermatological conditions
wound healing and scar minimisation
hair reduction/hair loss
tattoo removal or referral for reconstructive tattooing.

Who can access the gender clinic?

We are not limited to zoning or catchments. You can make an appointment whether you live in Melbourne, regional Victoria or even interstate.

Referrals & cost

Dermal clinicians are independent allied health professionals.

You can self-refer to our clinic, but if you have a letter of referral from the Monash Gender Clinic or your GP (or a student card or low-income healthcare card) we provide a further 50% discount on our already subsidised treatment costs.

Discounts

Treatment cost is significantly lower than elsewhere because the treatments are performed by trained students under clinician supervision.

Your first consultation for any treatment is free.

Free treatments

current dermal science students and staff
models (approved).

50% discount

VU staff and students
low income card holders (student, pensioner, veteran etc.)
referral from medical or allied health professional as part of a chronic disease or disability plan.

40% discount

VU alumni
friends and family of dermal science students.

Location

VU City Tower, City Campus
370 Little Lonsdale St
Level 19* (Clinic reception)
Melbourne CBD 3000.

Not all lifts in the building go to Level 19, make sure you choose the lifts labelled for floors 18-26. Once inside the lift, choose level 19. This video on YouTube shows you how to get to the clinic reception from ground floor.

Check the City Campus page for Google Maps and public transport information.

Bookings

To book your appointment, please use our online form:

Book online

Clinic forms

Before or during your appointment, we may need you to complete one or more of the following forms. There is no need to complete a form unless instructed to by the Clinic.