“I actually had pretty significant acne as a teenager. More so on my chest and back, but it was to the point where I was choosing different clothing to cover to go to school. I was embarrassed by it and that was hard at such a monumental time of development. But I had an incredible dermatologist who changed my life with acne treatment and really gave me my confidence back. I kept this experience in mind as I went to med school,” Dr. Tesia Kolodziejczyk, DO, FAAD, at Elevated Dermatology shares her own experience and inspirations for why she became a dermatologist.
Founded in 2017 by Dr. Kate (DO, FAOCD, FAAD) and Christopher (DO, FAOCD, FAAD, ACMS) Messana, Elevated Dermatology has an office in Parker, along with a newly acquired location in Littleton. They provide all aspects of medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology. This includes skin cancer screening, treatment for rashes and acne, removing skin cancers and other benign growths like cysts or lipomas, as well as injectables, lasers and skin care, all in-house.
“I chose this practice because it really is a family-type vibe. We’re all a team and our ultimate goal is to help patients and to help make them feel better, confident and comfortable in their skin. We get people in quickly for appointments and we see them in a timely manner as well,” Dr. Kolodziejczyk says.
Dr. Melanie Wolf, DO, FAAD, shares similar thoughts. “There is such a psychosocial component with dermatology where people see your skin. We can make a huge impact by treating rashes or other skin diseases. Mentally, it makes people so much better. I also love that we can treat patients of all ages. That was a huge thing for me. I like the variety of being able to see pediatric patients all the way to elderly patients.”
Trending right now, Dr. Wolf mentions, “People are looking for more natural-looking cosmetic procedures. That would include lasers that are going to really even out the complexion of your skin and improve the tone and texture, which also helps stimulate collagen over the long term, as well as biostimulatory fillers. Those aren’t going to give you this immediate plumping result; rather, they act as a sort of fertilizer and scaffolding for your own skin’s ability to make new collagen that lasts over the years.”
Dr. Kolodziejczyk adds, “All my younger patients are really good with sunscreen, which I love to hear that as a dermatologist! But I do think a lot more people are becoming aware of utilizing SPF on their face daily and are more aware of the benefits as skin cancer prevention, but also anti-aging prevention too.”
Ironically enough, when asked what we need more of, Dr. Wolf and Dr. Kolodziejczyk both agree that sunscreen and UPF clothing are, without a doubt, the highest priorities. It doesn’t matter so much whether it's chemical or mineral sunscreen; they just don’t want anyone to forget about their neck, chest and even hairline. A wide-brimmed hat is also a helpful companion.
To schedule an appointment, visit www.elevatedderm.com or call (720) 851-5200. You can also follow their account on Instagram @elevateddermatology.