The Dermatology Department at Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital provides specialized, comprehensive dermatological care for the population of the Barcelonès Nord and Maresme Health Region, serving a catchment area of ​​approximately 800,000 inhabitants.

The department addresses both general consultations and cases of high clinical and surgical complexity, acting as a regional and national referral center for various conditions affecting the skin, nails, and skin appendages, such as:

• Chronic inflammatory dermatoses, including moderate-to-severe psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. 
• Hidradenitis suppurativa and other complex follicular diseases. 
• Dermato-oncology: detection, monitoring, and treatment of skin cancer.
• Specialized clinic for autoimmune diseases within the UFMAS (Functional Unit for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases).
• Lymphoma unit, coordinated with the Hematology Department.
• Melanoma, pigmented lesions, and digital and confocal dermatoscopy unit.
• Mohs surgery.
• Pediatric dermatology.
• Skin allergies and adverse drug reactions.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
• Phototherapy, photodynamic therapy, and photobiology.
• Cutaneous ultrasound.
• Dermatological laser: vascular laser unit (PDL/Nd:YAG) and CO2 laser.
• Multidisciplinary phakomatosis unit.
• Specialized nursing care.

The department combines high-level patient care with teaching activities through its affiliation with the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​participating in undergraduate medical education, residency training, and external rotations. The department conducts extensive research, participating in clinical trials as well as basic and clinical research studies (Germans Trias Research Institute). It is involved in numerous national and international projects that contribute to the advancement of dermatological treatments.

It utilizes teledermatology as a coordinated tool for clinical support and communication with primary care teams.

The department maintains strategic alliances with the Consorci Sanitari del Maresme (Mataró Hospital) and Badalona Serveis Assistencials (Badalona Municipal Hospital), collaborating on patient care and teaching while promoting projects to improve care across the region.

Overall, the Dermatology Department at Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital strives to provide excellent, coordinated, and personalized dermatological care based on scientific evidence and clinical experience.

Highlights from the Germans Trias Hospital Dermatology Department

• The Germans Trias Hospital Dermatology Department actively participates in the 14th Conference on Skin Cancer Prevention and Treatment
• Extensive participation by the Dermatology Department in the 70th GEIDAC annual meeting

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Germans Trias Hospital is one of the few centers in Catalonia with a dedicated Mohs micrographic surgery unit. This high-precision surgical technique is used to treat complex skin tumors and is particularly useful for tumors located on the face. The team performs over 100 procedures annually, working in close collaboration with the plastic surgery department for reconstruction. The technique achieves the highest cure rates while minimizing the removal of healthy tissue—a crucial factor when dealing with facial anatomy.

Non-melanoma skin cancer

The department has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the most common forms of skin cancer. Advanced diagnostic techniques—such as digital dermoscopy, confocal microscopy, and cutaneous ultrasound—are employed alongside various treatment options (including Mohs surgery, photodynamic therapy, or topical treatments), depending on the tumor's location and risk profile. Cases are evaluated by clinical committees, and patients receive personalized long-term follow-up. Additionally, standardized monitoring is provided for patients at high risk of skin cancer, such as kidney transplant recipients. The service also focuses on prevention for high-risk patients and the treatment of precancerous skin lesions.

Melanoma

The department operates a specialized clinic dedicated to melanoma and pigmented lesions, offering access to digital dermoscopy, confocal microscopy, and lymph node ultrasound for monitoring and early detection. Cases are coordinated through the multidisciplinary cutaneous tumor committee, and the service is part of the Catalonia Melanoma Network, ensuring a comprehensive, rapid, and personalized approach with access to innovative treatments and clinical trials.

Cutaneous lymphomas

Germans Trias Hospital, through its Dermatology Department, serves as a reference center for primary cutaneous lymphomas, offering specialized diagnosis, advanced histopathological analysis, and follow-up using cutaneous ultrasound. The department works in coordination with Hematology and Pathology, integrating cases into multidisciplinary committees. It offers access to innovative treatments and participation in observational studies to improve understanding of these rare conditions.

Pediatric dermatology

Specialized care is provided to children with childhood-specific dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis, hemangiomas, congenital nevi, skin infections, and genetic skin disorders. The department features dedicated clinics and adapted care pathways, routinely utilizing cutaneous ultrasound for inflammatory cases or pediatric tumors. The team works in coordination with Pediatrics and other hospital specialties to ensure comprehensive, safe care for the pediatric population.

Autoimmune connective tissue diseases and blistering diseases

Multidisciplinary care for patients with lupus, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, scleroderma, and blistering diseases, featuring specific protocols, participation in clinical committees, and the development of dedicated research lines. Through a specialized dermatology clinic and a joint clinic with rheumatology (DERMA-REUMA), the UFMAS aims to provide a comprehensive response to serious and complex conditions.

Inflammatory dermatoses

The unit offers specialized clinics for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and eczema, lichenoid dermatoses, granulomatous diseases, urticaria, and inflammatory and autoimmune forms of alopecia; it serves as a referral center for these conditions in terms of both clinical care and research. Active participation in international clinical trials and collaborations with research networks positions HUGTIP as a key regional center for therapeutic innovation in inflammatory dermatoses.

Hidradenitis suppurativa and complex follicular unit disorders

This is one of the first established and well-consolidated specialized clinics of its kind in Catalonia. It offers specialized care, access to clinical trials and therapeutic innovation, and prioritizes a comprehensive, person-centered care model involving medical staff, nursing, and adherence support. This condition, which has a significant social and emotional impact, receives a specific and continuous approach.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

There is a dedicated STI clinic, coordinated with the Infectious Diseases Department. Viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections are treated, and priority pathways are in place for symptomatic patients. The service also participates in prevention, screening, and health education campaigns, particularly targeting young or vulnerable populations.

Dermatological imaging: photobiology, ultrasound, and digital diagnosis

It features a pioneering facility—unique in the northern metropolitan area—that integrates photobiology, cutaneous ultrasound, digital dermatoscopy, and reflectance confocal microscopy. The use of these technologies in areas such as pediatrics, tumors, and inflammatory conditions enables non-invasive diagnoses and precision monitoring.

Dermatological Laser

The only public center in the area offering laser treatments for vascular lesions, complex scars, precancerous skin conditions, and hidradenitis suppurativa. It features PDL/Nd:YAG and CO2 laser platforms, as well as a highly trained medical and nursing team. Laser therapy is an integral part of specialized clinics and treatment units, and the service participates in research projects regarding laser therapy and quality of life.

Case Management Nursing and Specialized Support

An innovative model of proactive care. The case management nurse coordinates the follow-up of patients with chronic conditions such as psoriasis or hidradenitis, providing therapeutic education, support for treatment adherence, monitoring, and coordination across care levels. They also participate in managing and monitoring adverse effects, providing telephone support, and ensuring close follow-up. This model improves continuity of care as well as the patient experience and quality of life.

The Dermatology Department at Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital conducts extensive research, focusing primarily on clinical and translational studies. The team currently leads over 50 active clinical trials—mostly Phase III and IV—collaborating with international networks and the pharmaceutical industry to evaluate new therapeutic molecules for conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, prurigo nodularis, hidradenitis suppurativa, chronic urticaria, and alopecia areata.

The department is part of the IGTP-HUGTIP Joint Unit for Clinical and Translational Dermatological Research and actively collaborates with the Josep Carreras Foundation on transcriptomics and epigenetics projects applied to inflammatory dermatoses. This molecular approach advances the understanding of inflammatory mechanisms and enables personalized treatments.

The department participates in multiple cooperative multicenter projects led by the Research Unit of the AEDV (Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology) and maintains a significant presence in national registries such as BIOBADADERM, BIOBADATOP, and registries for chronic urticaria, hidradenitis suppurativa, and cutaneous lymphomas.

Furthermore, it drives its own research lines focusing on:

• Melanoma
• Non-melanoma skin cancer
• Lymphomas
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Hidradenitis suppurativa
• Rare skin diseases
• Skin toxicity associated with cancer treatments
• Inflammatory and autoimmune dermatoses
• Quality of life related to dermatological diseases
• New advanced therapies

The department actively participates in disseminating results through national and international meetings and congresses, with regular contributions from attending physicians and residents. Additionally, it is part of various working groups within the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), reinforcing the department's commitment to collaborative research and continuous scientific updating.

These initiatives position the Dermatology Department at Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital as a national and international leader in clinical, innovative, and patient-centered dermatology.

The Dermatology Department at Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital is strongly committed to teaching and actively participates in the training of healthcare professionals at all stages of their education, particularly in the training of medical specialists at Can Ruti and visiting trainees from other institutions.

Undergraduate Teaching

At the university level, the department collaborates with the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) on undergraduate medical education. This involves teaching the fifth-year Dermatology course through a combination of in-person lectures, seminars, small-group sessions, and clinical rotations, as well as supervising final degree projects. Several department professionals serve as associate professors or teaching collaborators at the Faculty of Medicine.

Postgraduate Teaching

The department is an accredited teaching unit for residency training (MIR) in Medical-Surgical Dermatology and Venereology, offering two accredited positions per year and serving as a reference center for dermatology residents in Barcelona and Catalonia. The dermatology residency program is based on clinical and surgical competencies, featuring internal and external rotations, structured clinical sessions, and active participation in research. Residents are fully integrated into the department's clinical and research activities; they participate in studies and national and international congresses, and have access to grants for training stays at leading national and international centers.

Continuing education is also provided for dermatology residents from other hospitals who rotate through the center's specialized clinics, as well as for nursing staff and professionals from other medical specialties, hosting trainees from family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, and oncology. Weekly internal teaching sessions are held, alongside joint multidisciplinary sessions with other hospital departments. The department includes several members holding a doctorate and has a formal process in place for the preparation of doctoral theses. Currently, several theses are underway in the fields of inflammatory diseases, dermato-oncology, and translational research.

Residents information

• Teaching guide 
• Find out what our residents think about the Dermatology service of the Germans Trias 

► Check out the latest news regarding Dermatology residents during their time at Germans Trias Hospital

• The Dermatology Department at Germans Trias Hospital actively participates in the 14th Skin Cancer Prevention and Treatment Conference
• Extensive participation by the Dermatology Department in the 70th GEIDAC annual meeting