Not sure which one you need?
The list above splits into three. Conditions are diagnosed and treated medically, usually over weeks or months. Procedures and minor surgery are done in the clinic, most in a single short appointment. Consultations are for a particular group of patients or a particular kind of concern.
Find what you are dealing with on the left, then open the page on the right. If nothing here matches, book a consultation anyway. Working out what it is, is the job.
| Spots, blackheads or deep painful breakouts | Acne Treatment |
| Dark marks left behind after spots, bites or injury | Hyperpigmentation and Melasma |
| Patches that itch, flake, weep or crack | Eczema and Dermatitis |
| Thick, raised, well-defined scaly plaques | Psoriasis |
| Milk-white patches where the skin has lost its colour | Vitiligo |
| Thinning hair, shedding, or bald patches | Hair Loss (Alopecia) and GFC Hair Treatment |
| Ringworm, athlete’s foot, boils or other skin infections | Fungal and Bacterial Skin Infections |
| Thick, yellow or crumbling toenails | Fungal Nail and Nail Disease |
| Painful lumps that keep coming back in the armpits, groin or under the breasts | Hidradenitis Suppurativa |
| A rash where something touched you – hair dye, relaxer, gloves, jewellery | Contact Dermatitis |
| Dark marks or pitted scars left behind by acne | Acne Scarring and Marks |
| A mole that has changed shape, size or colour | Skin Biopsies and Mole Checks |
| A raised scar that keeps growing past the original wound | Keloid Removal |
| A wart or verruca, on the hand, foot or elsewhere | Wart Removal |
| A skin tag, mole or small growth you want removed | Skin Tag Removal, Mole Excision or Cryotherapy |
| A stubborn lump or thickened patch that needs treating directly | Intralesional Steroid Injections |
| A child’s rash, eczema or birthmark | Paediatric Dermatology |
| Dull texture, uneven tone, fine lines or scarring | Chemical Peels and Microneedling |
| A rash, sore or itch in the genital area | Genital Skin and Sexual Health |
| A painful, infected ingrown toenail | Ingrown Toenail Surgery |
Who you will see
Every appointment is with Dr Nancy Omwenga, a consultant dermatologist and venereologist. You are not passed to a different clinician between visits, which matters for the slower conditions where someone needs to remember what was tried three months ago and why it was changed.
The practice covers medical dermatology, minor skin surgery, paediatric skin and genital skin health, so most problems can be diagnosed and treated in the same place rather than referred on.
What happens at your first visit
- Dr Nancy takes a history. How long it has been going on, what you have already tried, what makes it better or worse, and what else is happening with your health.
- She examines the skin properly. Often more than just the affected area, because a rash tells a fuller story when you can see the whole picture.
- A test, only if it is needed. Where the diagnosis is not obvious from looking, a small sample can be taken for the laboratory in the same visit.
- You get a diagnosis and a written plan. What to use, how to use it, how long before you should expect a change, and what to do if that change does not come.
- You know the cost before you attend. Fees are quoted in advance, so there are no surprises at the desk.
What to bring
- Every product currently on your skin — creams, serums, soaps, oils, in a bag if that is easier. A surprising number of stubborn facial rashes in Nairobi turn out to be a reaction to something already in the bathroom.
- Any medication you have been given for it, including anything bought over the counter.
- Your insurance details, if you intend to claim.
- Photos of the flare-up, if it comes and goes and happens to be quiet on the day.
How long treatment usually takes
Skin is slow. Knowing the realistic timeline up front is the difference between sticking with a plan that is working and abandoning it a fortnight early.
| Fungal infections | Often visibly better within two weeks, though the full course runs longer |
| Acne | Six to twelve weeks before you can fairly judge whether a plan is working |
| Eczema flare-ups | Days to settle the flare, then ongoing control to keep it settled |
| Hair loss | Three to six months before regrowth is visible, because hair grows slowly |
| Pigmentation and melasma | Several months, with daily sun protection throughout or it undoes itself |
| Keloids | A course of sessions spread over several months, not a single visit |
Anyone promising faster than this is overselling.
When it is worth seeing a dermatologist
Not every skin problem needs a specialist. These ones usually do.
Worth booking
- It has not cleared after four to six weeks of over-the-counter treatment.
- It keeps coming back in the same place.
- It is spreading, painful, weeping or bleeding.
- A mole or growth has changed in shape, size or colour.
- It is leaving scars or dark marks behind.
- It is affecting your sleep, your work or your confidence.
Probably fine to try at home first
- A single spot before an event.
- Mild dryness in a cold spell that a plain moisturiser settles.
- A one-off reaction to a new product you have already stopped using.
If any of those has not settled within a fortnight, treat it as the first list.
Treating darker skin properly
Most patients here have skin of colour, and it does behave differently. It marks more readily, so spots, insect bites and even scratching can leave dark patches that outlast the original problem by months. Peels, lasers and freezing that are routine on lighter skin can cause pigment loss or dark staining if the strength and technique are not adjusted. Keloid scarring is more common.
That is planned for from the first visit rather than discovered afterwards, which usually means starting gently, building up, and protecting the skin from the sun the whole way through. It is also why the pigmentation and keloid work makes up so much of the practice.
What Nairobi does to your skin
Altitude and equatorial sun
Nairobi sits at roughly 1,800 metres, almost on the equator. UV is strong here all year, and it does not soften much on cool or overcast days, which is exactly when people stop thinking about it. That steady, unnoticed exposure is one of the main reasons pigmentation and melasma are so stubborn in this city, and why sun protection is part of nearly every treatment plan rather than an optional extra.
The air is also dry for long stretches of the year. Dry air aggravates eczema, makes psoriasis flake more visibly, and leaves ordinary skin tight and irritable enough that people start layering on products, which frequently makes matters worse.
The lightening cream problem
A large share of the difficult facial cases seen here trace back to unregulated lightening or brightening products. Many contain potent steroids or high-strength hydroquinone that are not declared on the label. They work briefly, then produce thinned skin, visible broken vessels, steroid-induced acne, and rebound darkening that is harder to treat than whatever was there originally.
If you have used something like this, bring it in. Nobody is going to lecture you about it, but knowing exactly what has been on your skin changes the treatment plan substantially.
How to choose a dermatologist in Nairobi
Worth checking before you book anywhere, here included:
- Is the person you will see actually a dermatologist? Skin procedures are widely offered by clinics without a specialist on site.
- Do you get a diagnosis, or just a product? Leaving with a named condition and a written plan is the point. Leaving with a bag of creams and no explanation is not.
- Are timelines realistic? Anyone promising cleared acne in a fortnight or permanently gone melasma is overselling.
- Is your skin type being accounted for? Peel strengths and device settings should change with skin tone. Ask.
- Are fees quoted before you attend? You should never be finding out the cost at the desk afterwards.
- Can they follow up? Most skin conditions are managed over months, not resolved in one visit.
Fees, insurance and hours
- Fees are quoted before your appointment, so you know the cost in advance.
- Most medical insurance schemes are accepted. Confirm yours when you book.
- No referral is needed to book with us directly, though some insurers require one before they will cover specialist outpatient care.
- Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday runs a full day until 4:00pm, which is the easiest option if you cannot get away during the week.
Where to find us
Landmark Plaza, 2nd Floor
Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi
We are in Hurlingham, minutes from Upper Hill and Kilimani, and straightforward to reach from most of the city.
Patients travel to us from across Nairobi, including Kilimani, Westlands, Upper Hill and Karen. See all the areas we serve.
Common questions
Do I need a referral to see a dermatologist?
Not to book with us. You are welcome to make an appointment yourself. If you are claiming through an insurance scheme, check their rules, as some require a referral from a primary facility before they will cover specialist outpatient care.
Can I come without knowing what is wrong?
Yes, and most people do. Identifying the problem is the whole point of a consultation. You do not need to arrive with a theory.
Is a dermatologist only for serious conditions?
No. Persistent acne, recurring dandruff and stubborn dark marks are all entirely reasonable reasons to come in. Earlier is generally better, particularly where scarring or pigmentation is a risk.
Will I need a biopsy?
Only where the diagnosis is not clear from examining the skin. It is a small sample, taken during the same visit, and sent to the laboratory for analysis.
Can you treat children?
Yes. Paediatric dermatology is part of the practice, and children’s skin genuinely needs different handling from an adult’s.
Do you treat hair and nails as well as skin?
Yes. Hair loss, scalp conditions and nail disease are all dermatology, and they are treated here.
Are procedures safe on darker skin?
They are, when the strength and technique are matched to the skin being treated. That adjustment is routine here rather than an afterthought.
How long before I see improvement?
It depends entirely on the condition. The table above gives realistic timelines for the most common ones.
Do you accept insurance?
Most medical schemes are accepted. Mention your scheme when you book and we will confirm it before you attend.
What if I have already been treated elsewhere and it did not work?
That is worth saying at the first visit, and it is common. Bring whatever you were given and any notes you have. Knowing what has already failed, and for how long, usually narrows the diagnosis faster than starting from scratch.
How do I book?
Call or WhatsApp 0728 566990, email info@skinbydrnancy.com, or book online below. We are open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00am to 4:00pm on Saturdays.
Book an appointment
Call or WhatsApp 0728 566990 or email info@skinbydrnancy.com.
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