Karen and Langata are outdoor neighbourhoods – gardens, horses, dogs, school sports fields, weekends at the Ngong Hills. That is excellent for almost everything except skin, because it means a great deal of cumulative sun exposure at 1,795 metres on the equator, plus the insect bites, plant reactions and animal-borne ringworm that come with the territory.
SkinByDrNancy is at Landmark Plaza, 2nd Floor, Argwings Kodhek Rd – a straight run in along Ngong Road, and worth the trip for a proper assessment rather than another guess.
Sun damage and mole checks
Nairobi’s altitude and equatorial position mean high UV all year, and it is highest between 10am and 4pm – exactly when most outdoor activity happens. Over years that produces photoageing, solar lentigines, actinic damage and, in susceptible people, skin cancer.
We provide dermoscopic mole checks and in-clinic biopsies with histology. Anything changing, bleeding, itching or refusing to heal should be examined rather than watched for another year. For people living with albinism, and for anyone with a history of significant sun exposure or previous skin cancer, we offer regular surveillance alongside a practical sun-protection plan. See skin biopsy and mole checks.
Check the places people forget
In darker skin, melanoma most often appears on the soles of the feet, the palms, and under the finger and toenails. A new dark streak under a nail or a changing spot on the sole should always be looked at.
Family and children’s dermatology
Karen and Langata bring us a lot of children, and a recognisable set of problems:
- Papular urticaria – intensely itchy bumps from insect bites, frequently mistaken for chickenpox.
- Ringworm from pets – cats and dogs are a common source, and the pet needs treating too. See skin infections.
- Eczema – flaring in the July and August cold and with grass and dust exposure. See eczema treatment.
- Plant and contact reactions from gardens and hikes.
- Impetigo and molluscum spreading through school and swimming.
- Teenage acne – treated early to prevent scarring. See acne treatment.
Appointments are run at a child’s pace with a parent present – see paediatric dermatology.
Worth the drive
Because Dr Nancy Omwenga performs the biopsies, cryotherapy, electrocautery, excisions and injections herself, most problems are dealt with in one or two visits rather than a chain of referrals – which matters when the clinic is a drive away. Where possible we combine the consultation and the procedure in the same appointment; tell reception what you are coming for and enough time will be set aside.
Saturday mornings from 7:00am are the easiest slot for Karen and Langata families, and they book up first.
Services we offer for Karen & Langata patients
Skin surveillance and sun-damage care, family dermatology and in-clinic procedures – arranged so that one trip usually does the job.
Popular with Karen patients
Treatments booked most often from Karen
Skin Biopsy & Mole Checks
Dermoscopic mole checks, sun-damage surveillance and in-clinic biopsies.
Paediatric Dermatology
Children’s skin, at a child’s pace, with a parent in the room.
Eczema & Dermatitis
Flare control plus a maintenance routine for the dry, cold months.
Skin Infections
Ringworm from pets, impetigo and other infections, confirmed then treated.
Hyperpigmentation & Melasma
Sun spots, melasma and uneven tone treated safely.
Skin Tag & Wart Removal
Skin tags, warts and sun-damaged growths removed in the clinic.
Getting here from Karen
Landmark Plaza, 2nd Floor, Argwings Kodhek Rd
From Karen, follow Ngong Road towards town through Dagoretti Corner and Adams Arcade, continue past Kenyatta Market, and turn onto Argwings Kodhek Rd at the Hurlingham junction. Landmark Plaza is on Argwings Kodhek Rd, and we are on the 2nd floor.
From Langata and Wilson Airport, take Langata Road towards town and cut across to Ngong Road, or continue to Valley Road and come down Argwings Kodhek. Allow thirty to forty minutes at peak times, less off-peak. Parking is available in the building.
- Landmark Plaza, 2nd Floor, Argwings Kodhek Rd, Nairobi, Kenya
- 0728 566990 – call or WhatsApp
- Mon – Fri 7:00am – 6:30pm · Sat 7:00am – 12:00pm · Sun closed
FAQs
Dermatologist in Karen – common questions
How long is the drive from Karen to the clinic?
Usually thirty to forty minutes at peak times along Ngong Road, and noticeably less off-peak. Saturday mornings are the easiest run.
Can the consultation and procedure be done in one visit?
Often yes – tell reception what you are coming for when you book so enough time is set aside. It saves a second trip.
Do people with dark skin need sunscreen in Nairobi?
Yes. Melanin gives some protection but not immunity, and UV at this altitude and latitude is high year-round. Sunscreen also protects the results of any pigmentation treatment.
My child keeps getting itchy bumps after playing outside – what is it?
Most often papular urticaria, an exaggerated reaction to insect bites. It is very treatable, and it is worth confirming rather than treating it as chickenpox or scabies.
Do you provide skin checks for people living with albinism?
Yes – regular surveillance, early treatment of sun-damaged lesions and a practical sun-protection plan. Please book a longer appointment.
Do you treat pets’ ringworm too?
No, that is a job for a vet – but if a child keeps getting ringworm, the family pet is a common source and should be checked, or the reinfection continues.
Other areas we serve
A sun-protection routine that works year-round
Nairobi sits almost on the equator at roughly 1,795 metres. UV is high all year, not seasonally, and it is strongest between 10am and 4pm – which is precisely when most of Karen and Langata is outdoors. There is no low season to relax in.
A workable routine for an outdoor life looks like this:
- Sunscreen every morning, regardless of weather. Cloud cover reduces glare far more than it reduces UV, which is why overcast days catch people out.
- Reapply if you are out for hours. One application at 7am does not cover a full day at the stables, on the field or in the garden.
- Use shade and clothing as the first line. A hat with a real brim and a long sleeve outperform any sunscreen, and cost nothing to reapply.
- Do not skip it because of skin tone. Melanin offers some protection, not immunity – and sunscreen is what protects the results of any pigmentation treatment you are paying for.
- Check the forgotten places. Ears, the back of the neck, the tops of the feet in open shoes, and the lower lip.
Alongside that, get into the habit of a yearly look at your own skin. Anything new, changing, bleeding, itching or refusing to heal is worth showing to someone rather than watching for another twelve months – and in darker skin that includes the soles of the feet, the palms and under the nails.
Book a dermatologist appointment from Karen
Dr Nancy Omwenga sees patients at Landmark Plaza, Argwings Kodhek Rd – a short trip from Karen. Same-day appointments and walk-ins where available, and most medical insurance schemes accepted.
Book an Appointment WhatsApp Us Call 0728 566990Book with Dr Nancy Omwenga
Same-day appointments and walk-ins are available. Most medical insurance schemes are accepted.
Book an Appointment WhatsApp Us Call 0728 566990Clinic details
SkinByDrNancy
Landmark Plaza, 2nd Floor, Argwings Kodhek Rd, Nairobi
Mon – Fri 7:00am – 6:30pm
Sat 7:00am – 12:00pm
Sunday closed
info@skinbydrnancy.com
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