CMCs Dermatology Department provides comprehensive care for people who seek answers about conditions and diseases of their skin, mucous membranes, hair and nails. CMC’s dermatologist diagnoses and treats hundreds of conditions, including many that are rare or complex. The dermatologist works closely with you and your health care team to understand and address your dermatologic needs and give you the right answers the first time.
CMC’s skin specialist has expertise in genetics, immunology, melanoma, oral disease, pathology, pediatrics, pharmacology, public health and surgery. The specialist also performs other dermatologic surgical procedures.
Treatments & Conditions
- Rash
- Blistering diseases
- Connective tissue disease
- Contact dermatitis
- Lymphoma
- Dermatitis
- Genetic Hair loss
- Melanoma
- Carcinoma
- Psoriasis
- Skin Cancer
- Skin tags
- Varicose Veins
Dermatology Programs & Services
- Vein Treatment
Muller Flebectomie
Müller’s phlebectomy is a simple and minimally invasive surgical technique that allows removal of side branches or small isolated varicose veins through tiny incisions (2 or 3mm). For small isolated veins it can be carried out under local anesthesia and on an outpatient basis, or it can be used to complement any of the other techniques to remove the collateral branches.
- Dermatoscopie
Dermatoscopy is an in vivo noninvasive technique used to examine pigmented and amelanotic skin lesions. The technique is performed using a hand-held self-illuminating device called dermatoscope that visualizes features present under the skin surface that are not normally visible to unaided eye. The images from the dermatoscope can be digitally photographed or recorded for future reference.
- Skin Cancer Screening
A skin cancer screening is where your dermatologist will visually inspect your skin to look for suspicious lesions. It does not involve any blood tests. Unless a biopsy or other procedure is needed, the skin exam is painless.
- Epicutane plaktest / Patch test
/Patch tests are a great tool for identifying responsible contact allergen(s), and also for excluding contact allergens. These tests use extracts of substances known to cause contact dermatitis in some people. Instead of introducing them to the skin with needles, patches with these substances are applied to the skin. Comprehensive patch testing has been demonstrated repeatedly to have a much higher probability of yielding a diagnosis of a specific allergy, compared to limited patch testing, thus leading to a much higher probability of a cure.
- Skin Cancer Treatment
Skin cancer is the most common cancer. Non-melanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are not likely to spread and may require little more than minor surgery or topical treatment. Melanoma, which accounts for about 2 percent of all skin cancers but is responsible for most skin cancer deaths, may spread through the lymphatic system or bloodstream to other organs. The pathologists and oncologists at CMC are exerts in treating skin cancer. Your oncologist may recommend surgery, targeted therapy or plastic surgery to restore function and appearance, if necessary.
- Sclerocomppression therapy
Sclerotherapy effectively treats varicose and spider veins. It’s often considered the treatment of choice for small varicose veins.
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into the vein. The sclerotherapy solution causes the vein to scar, forcing blood to reroute through healthier veins. The collapsed vein is reabsorbed into local tissue and eventually fades.
After sclerotherapy, treated veins tend to fade within a few weeks, although occasionally it may take a month or more to see the full results. In some instances, several sclerotherapy treatments may be needed.
Specialists Dermatology
Drs. Roxanne Gouverneur
Drs. Roxanne Gouverneur is a dermatologist in Curaçao and Head of the Dermatology Department at the Curaçao Medical Center (CMC). She studied medicine in the Netherlands and started her career with a year in Internal Medicine at the former Slotervaart Hospital in Amsterdam. After that, she trained as a dermatologist at Amsterdam UMC. Since 2013, she has been working as a dermatologist in Curaçao.
Drs. Gouverneur diagnoses and treats a wide range of skin conditions. These include skin cancer, acne, eczema, contact allergies, lupus, chronic vein problems, and wounds. She also has experience with tropical skin diseases. She co-authored the article “Leprosy in Curaçao” for a medical journal.
Drs. Gouverneur is a member of several professional dermatology organizations. These include the Dutch Society for Dermatology and Venereology, the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, and the Dutch Society of Cosmetic Dermatology. She is also a board member of the Landelijke Vereniging van Medische Professionals in Dienstverband Curaçao.
Besides her work with patients, she is active in medical education. She gives lectures in national and international educational programs. These include programs for WHIG and UConsultancy. Her lectures focus on pigmented skin and inclusive dermatological care.
Dr. Sarah den Hengst
Dr. Sarah den Hengst is a dermatologist and has been working at Curaçao Medical Center since August 1, 2024. She completed her medical degree in Utrecht and specialized in dermatology in Rotterdam. She has been practicing as a dermatologist since 2007.
As an all-round dermatologist, Dr. den Hengst has experience in various fields, including pediatric dermatology, phlebology (varicose veins, lymphedema, lipedema), and skin cancer. She is a certified Mohs surgeon, specializing in skin cancer surgery of the face. At the Havenziekenhuis in Rotterdam, she also gained experience in tropical skin diseases.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. den Hengst has held several medical management roles. For the past three years, she served as a board member and vice-chair of the medical staff at Bravis Hospital.