Specialist in General Dermatology (treatment of eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne etc), with special interest in Dermatological Surgery (skin cancers and cosmetic skin surgery to remove benign skin lesions) and Mohs micrographic surgery (this involves the removal of non-melanoma skin cancers on the face by examining the margins of the tissue at the time of surgery to ensure complete removal of the skin tumour).
Dr Richard E Ashton MA, MB, BCh, MD, FRCP is a general dermatologist with over 25 years experience in dermatology. He is a Consultant Dermatologist for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS trust based in Portsmouth, Fareham and Southampton in South Hampshire and is also a visiting Consultant Dermatologist for the Isle of Man.
Dr Ashton studied medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, graduating in 1974. His dermatology training involved time at the Royal South Hants Hospital, St. John’s Hospital for Diseases of the Skin in Leicester Square London, the University of California, Los Angeles where he carried out research in to the the effects of retinoids on the skin. He completed a Doctorate in Medicine on this subject in 1991.
He was also the Royal Navy’s consultant dermatologist at Haslar Hospital in Gosport from 1984 until his retirement from the RN in 2006. He is now working for the NHS as a locum consultant for Portsmouth Hospitals in Gosport, Fareham and Portsmouth. He also visits the Isle of Man once a month to do clinics at Nobles Hospital.
Dr Ashton is a co-author (with Dr Barbara Leppard) of Differential Diagnosis in Dermatology - a best selling textbook on Dermatology for General Practitioners.
Professional memberships
Expertise and treatments offered
Dr Ashton's practice covers all aspects of general dermatology. He has a special interest in dermatological surgery – the removal of both skin cancers and benign skin lesions. Where possible surgery is carried out at the first consultation so that patients do not need to return for an extra visit.
Treatments offered include:
Mohs surgery
Dr Ashton set up the Portsmouth Mohs surgery service 10 years ago. Mohs Surgery involves the removal of skin cancers in such a way that the peripheral margins of the removed skin can be checked under the microscope at the same time. If the cancer is found not to be fully removed, then the exact site of residual tumour is located and this can be removed. This technique gives the best chance for complete removal of basal cell carcinomas which are on the face or are recurrent.
Research interests
Dr Ashton's research interests have been in the effects of retinoids (vitamin A derivatives used in the treatment of acne and psoriasis) on the skin for which he wrote his Doctor of Medicine thesis – Retinoid induced epidermal hyperplasia.
