Dr. Catherine Balestra, MD

Dr. Catherine Balestra, MD is a Dermatologist practicing at her clinic in Hollywood, FL, dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive dermatological care. Registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practicing under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice), she is your primary partner in lifelong skin health. She meticulously creates personalized prevention plans, coordinating vital screenings for early skin cancer detection, managing skin, hair, and nail conditions, and ensuring your overall wellness for years to come. She serves all ages.

Dr. Catherine Balestra, MD is a dermatologist in Hollywood, FL, with extensive experience in Skin Cancer & Excision, and is affiliated with Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Balestra earned her medical degree from the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine and is Board Certified in Dermatology and Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery by the American Board of Dermatology. She's committed to a collaborative, evidence-based approach to medicine, creating a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to take an active role in their long-term health. While Dr. Balestra is not currently accepting new patients, you can call (954) 987-7512 to inquire about waitlists or future openings. Dr. Balestra provides consultations primarily in English.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Catherine Balestra is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Catherine Balestra can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Catherine Balestra provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Warts: Preventing the spread of warts is key to maintaining healthy skin, regular self-exams can help with early detection and reduce transmission to others.
• Lichen Planus: Although lichen planus typically isn't dangerous, it's important to seek medical advice if you suspect you have it. Early intervention with treatment can reduce the intensity and duration of its symptoms.
• Rosacea: Protecting your skin from triggers like sun exposure and stress is crucial for preventing rosacea flare-ups and maintaining healthy skin.
• Skin Cancer: Adopting sun-safe habits and seeking professional dermatological care can help prevent skin cancer and maintain healthy skin for life.
• Psoriasis: Because psoriasis can be linked to other health issues, preventive care includes regular doctor visits to monitor its impact and address any associated complications.
• Ringworm: Ringworm, a highly contagious fungal infection, is best addressed with early detection and treatment to stop its spread and reduce the risk of long-term skin issues.
• Rash: Rashes, whether itchy or painless, warrant attention as they could indicate an infection or allergic reaction; prompt medical evaluation helps manage the condition effectively.
• Hives: Hives, or urticaria, are itchy welts on your skin that can be a sign of an underlying allergy or infection, making early identification key for preventing discomfort and potential complications.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Skin: Protecting your skin from sun damage and regularly examining it for changes can help prevent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and ensure early detection if it does occur, leading to better treatment outcomes.
• Seborrheic Keratosis: While usually harmless, keeping an eye on seborrheic keratoses allows for early detection of any changes that might warrant a dermatologist's evaluation.
• Contact Dermatitis: Preventing severe cases of contact dermatitis means understanding your triggers and implementing strategies such as wearing protective clothing or using barrier creams to safeguard your skin.
• Hypertrophic Scar: Managing a hypertrophic scar is crucial for preventing pain, itching, and restricted movement, ensuring long-term skin health and well-being.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Catherine Balestra offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Destruction of Benign Skin Lesion: Removing a harmless skin growth proactively helps maintain the health and appearance of your skin.
• Destruction of Malignant Skin Lesion: Taking proactive steps to remove a cancerous skin growth helps prevent its spread and improve your long-term health.
• Excision of Benign Skin Lesion: Protecting your skin's health, excision of a benign lesion offers a quick and effective way to rule out any concerns and maintain healthy skin.
• Excision of Skin Cancer: Surgical excision is a proactive step to remove cancerous skin growths, preventing their spread and improving your long-term health.
• Excision of Skin Lesion: As part of your regular skin cancer screenings, excision of a skin lesion helps us thoroughly examine suspicious spots to ensure they aren't cancerous and safeguard your long-term health.
• Melanoma Screening: Early detection is key in fighting melanoma. Melanoma screenings provide peace of mind and facilitate early intervention if needed.
• Mohs Surgery: Protecting your long-term skin health, Mohs surgery is a specialized procedure designed to precisely remove cancerous lesions, improving your chances of a positive outcome.
• Mole Evaluation: Early detection saves lives: mole evaluations provide a crucial opportunity to find and treat skin cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages.
• Shaving of Skin Lesion: As part of proactive skin cancer prevention, your doctor might remove a small sample from a concerning lesion to analyze its structure, improving your chances of a positive outcome.
• Skin Grafts: To improve the look and function of severely damaged skin, a skin graft may be used to replace lost or injured tissue with healthy skin.
• Skin Screenings: A skin screening is a crucial step in preventing skin cancer by allowing for early detection and treatment of suspicious spots.
• Wart Freezing: Early intervention with wart freezing can prevent the spread of warts and keep your skin looking its best.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Dermatologies in Florida.

Dr. Catherine Balestra is dedicated to partnering with Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• By regularly examining their skin and following a proactive skin care plan, a family successfully reduced the risk of warts spreading, gaining peace of mind about their skin health.
• By scheduling regular check-ups and diligently following a proactive skin care plan, a patient successfully managed the symptoms of lichen planus, avoiding potential long-term complications and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. She will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Dermatological care with Dr. Catherine Balestra:

What is a Dermatologist?

A dermatologist is a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair, and nail conditions. They play a vital role in preventing, detecting, and treating skin cancer, and managing a wide range of skin diseases.

How often should I get a full-body skin exam?

For average-risk individuals, an annual skin exam is recommended as a vital preventive measure. For patients with a personal or family history of skin cancer, or with many moles, Dr. Balestra may recommend more frequent screenings for early detection.

What is the best way to prevent skin cancer?

Protecting your skin from sun damage is key to preventing skin cancer. Simple habits like daily broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+, seeking shade during peak sun hours, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding tanning beds can significantly reduce your risk. These are easy steps to incorporate into a lifelong routine for healthy skin.

How can I prevent my eczema from flaring up?

Managing eczema proactively is key. Daily moisturizing with a thick, fragrance-free cream, avoiding known triggers, and using prescription medications from Dr. Balestra's office at the first sign of a flare are important steps to prevent worsening.

What kind of laser treatments do you offer?

Dr. Balestra utilizes various laser technologies for both preventive and restorative skin treatments. Different lasers are used to address diverse concerns, including unwanted hair removal, rosacea reduction, improvement of sun damage and age spots, and minimization of acne scars.

My child has a rash. When should we see a dermatologist?

While many childhood rashes are minor, Dr. Balestra recommends seeing a dermatologist if the rash is persistent, spreading, painful, itchy, or accompanied by fever. Common pediatric skin conditions like eczema, molluscum, and warts can be effectively diagnosed and treated by a dermatologist.

What is the difference between psoriasis and eczema?

Psoriasis, an autoimmune condition, typically presents as thick, red, scaly plaques. Eczema, often linked to allergies, appears as dry, intensely itchy, red patches. A dermatologist can accurately diagnose and recommend the best treatment.

I have acne. Is it something I just have to live with?

Acne is a treatable medical condition, not something you have to live with. Dr. Balestra can create a personalized treatment plan to prevent scarring and improve your skin and confidence, which may include topical creams, oral medications, and procedural options.

4060 Sheridan St Ste C
Hollywood FL 33021
Phone: (954) 987-7512

Dr. Catherine Balestra, MD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1518177013

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Dermatologies like Dr. Catherine Balestra are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your dermatology about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.