Dr Emma Craythorne
Consultant Dermatologist
About Emma Craythorne
Specialty: Consultant Dermatologist, with subspecialist practice in Mohs micrographic surgery, laser surgery and cosmetic dermatology
Conditions seen: skin cancer, moles, skin lumps and bumps, acne, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, warts
Tests, treatments and procedures: Mohs micrographic surgery, excision of skin lesions, excisional biopsy, lumps and bumps removal surgery, scar treatment and scar revision, laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment, mole checks, skin imaging using reflectance confocal microscopy, tap water iontophoresis and botulinum toxin
Often consulted by patients with: a suspicious or changing mole or skin lesion, skin cancer requiring surgical removal, acne scarring, or an interest in cosmetic skin and laser treatment
Patient ages seen: all ages
Also: President of the British Cosmetic Dermatology Group; leads the Specialist Skin Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Team; performs approximately 500 complex Mohs surgery cases each year
Language: English
Dr Emma Craythorne is a Consultant Dermatologist at Welbeck's Private Dermatology Clinic in Marylebone, London. She assesses and treats skin cancer, moles and skin lesions, skin scarring, acne and acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, warts, and skin lumps and bumps, and she sees patients of all ages.
Her surgical practice centres on Mohs micrographic surgery — a staged technique for removing skin cancer — alongside laser surgery, skin surgery and excisional biopsy. She performs around 500 complex Mohs cases each year and mentors fellows training in the technique. She also uses reflectance confocal microscopy, a form of skin imaging that allows moles and lesions to be examined at a cellular level.
Alongside her Welbeck practice, Dr Craythorne holds clinical posts as a Dermatological and Laser Surgeon and Mohs Micrographic Surgeon at St Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust and at the St John's Institute of Dermatology at Guy's, where she leads the Specialist Skin Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Team. Her practice spans skin cancer, skin scarring, and general and cosmetic dermatology.
Expertise
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery
- Laser Surgery
- Cosmetic Dermatology
- Skin Imaging – Reflectance Confocal Microscopy
Overview
- Age of patients seen
- All ages
- Qualifications
Dr Emma Craythorne MBChB FRCP became a member of the Royal College of Physicians after completing postgraduate medicine and surgery training in Edinburgh. She completed four years of specialist dermatology training at King's College, London, and joined the General Medical Council's specialist register as a Consultant Dermatologist.
She then undertook a Royal College accredited Fellowship in Mohs micrographic surgery and laser surgery at the St John's Institute of Dermatology.
Qualifications
MBChB
CCT (derm)
FRCP
- Languages spoken
- English
- Research highlights
Dr Craythorne is actively involved in national and international research into skin cancer, scarring and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, published in peer-reviewed journals.
She has authored multiple book chapters and her own textbook of dermatology, and has appeared on television. For patients, this means her surgical and laser practice is informed by current published evidence in the areas she treats — though research involvement alone does not determine the outcome of any individual treatment.
She is the current President of the British Cosmetic Dermatology Group, treasurer of the St John's Dermatological Society, and a Trustee of the Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority, which oversees standards of care in non-surgical cosmetic practice.
Selected publications
Pocket Tutor Dermatology
Momen S, Fassihi H, Davies HR, Nikolaou C, Degasperi A, Stefanato CM, Dias JML, Dasgupta D, Craythorne E, Sarkany R, Papa S, Nik-Zainal S. Dramatic response of metastatic cutaneous angiosarcoma to an immune checkpoint inhibitor in a patient with xeroderma pigmentosum: whole-genome sequencing aids treatment decision in end-stage disease. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud. 2019 Oct 23;5(5): a004408. doi: 10.1101/mcs.a004408 PMID: 31645345
Maybury C, Craythorne E. Peri-oral papules. BMJ. 2013 Feb 11;346:f750. doi: 10.1136/bmj.f750. PMID: 23401332
Craythorne E, Patalay R, Mallipeddi R. Confocal microscopy facilitates the ‘one-stop-chop’. Br J Dermatol. 2017 Sep;177(3):614-615. doi: 10.1111/bjd.15766. PMID: 28940273
Veraitch O, Lewis F, Craythorne E, Calonje E, Nath R. Management of vulval melanoma in situ with imiquimod. Br J Dermatol. 2019 Apr;180(4):947-948. doi: 10.1111/bjd.17433. Epub 2019 Jan 4. PMID: 30430545
Durack A, Gran S, Gardiner MD, Jain A, Craythorne E, Proby CM, Marsden J, Harwood CA, Matin RN; DFSP Collaborators. A 10-year review of surgical management of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Br J Dermatol. 2020 Jun 29. doi: 10.1111/bjd.19346. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32599647
- Professional memberships
British Association of Dermatologists
Royal College Physicians
British Cosmetic Dermatology Group
British Medical Laser Association
- Certifications and Awards
2019 BMJ National Team of the Year
2015 Moulton Charitable Trust Award
2013 BSDS Travelling Fellowship award
2010 Bristol Cup for Dermatology
2010 Hugh Dowling prize
Tests & treatments
Conditions & symptoms
Locations
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Frequently asked questions
Mohs micrographic surgery is a precise technique in which skin cancer is removed layer by layer and examined under the microscope during the procedure, so that cancerous cells are cleared while preserving as much healthy skin as possible. It is typically considered for skin cancers in cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face, and for cancers that have recurred after previous treatment. Dr Craythorne performs around 500 Mohs cases each year and leads the Specialist Skin Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Team at St Thomas' Hospital.
You should book a mole check if you notice a mole that has changed in size, shape, or colour, or if you have multiple moles and a family history of skin cancer.
Dr Craythorne uses reflectance confocal microscopy to examine moles at a cellular level, which in many cases avoids the need for a biopsy. Where a mole appears suspicious, excisional biopsy or removal can be arranged on the same day or at a follow-up appointment.
Dr Craythorne offers laser surgery and intense pulsed light treatments specifically tailored to acne scarring and other types of skin scarring. As President of the British Cosmetic Dermatology Group and an active researcher in scarring treatments, she uses evidence-based laser protocols to improve skin texture and reduce the visibility of scars. Results depend on the type and depth of scarring, and she will advise on the number of sessions needed during your consultation.
Dr Craythorne treats all types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Diagnosis typically involves clinical examination, dermoscopy, advanced skin imaging and biopsy where needed. Treatment is tailored to the type and location of the cancer, and may include Mohs surgery, excision or laser surgery.
Yes. Hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone fall within her cosmetic dermatology practice.
Treatment options include laser and intense pulsed light alongside medical-grade topical therapies, with skin type assessed at consultation to determine a suitable approach.