•Columbus has 20 listed dermatology professionals with an impressive average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, indicating a consistently high-quality local market.
•Matthew Ferry, DO leads all Columbus providers with a perfect 5.0-star rating across 145 reviews, making him the top-rated individual dermatologist in the city.
•Westerville Dermatology has the highest review volume among top-rated practices at 1,256 reviews with a 4.9-star rating, suggesting strong patient throughput and reliable consistency.
•Columbus's humid continental climate creates year-round skin challenges — from UV exposure during hot summers to harsh wind and cold driving winter dryness — meaning dermatology needs here are genuinely seasonal.
•All 20 listed dermatology businesses in Columbus offer direct phone contact, so scheduling a consultation is straightforward once you identify the right provider for your needs.
Dermatology in Columbus: What You Need to Know
Columbus is Ohio's largest city with a population approaching 900,000, and its dermatology market reflects that scale. The city's economy, anchored in education and insurance industries, means a large share of residents carry employer-sponsored health coverage — which directly affects how dermatology services are accessed and priced here. Many of Columbus's top practices have structured their billing and scheduling around insurance-familiar patients, but a growing segment of the market also caters to cash-pay cosmetic patients who are willing to pay out of pocket for elective procedures. Understanding which category your needs fall into will shape everything from which provider you call first to how long you wait for an appointment.
The city's humid continental climate is not a trivial factor for skin health. Columbus summers bring high UV index days and persistent humidity that can aggravate acne, rosacea, and heat rash. Winters are cold and wind-driven, stripping moisture from the skin and worsening conditions like eczema and psoriasis. For the roughly 20 listed dermatology professionals operating across the Columbus metro — including suburban hubs like Westerville and New Albany — this climate variability drives a predictable seasonal surge in patient demand. New patient appointment windows typically run 2 to 8 weeks, so planning your visit around Columbus's seasons is genuinely useful strategy, not just marketing language.
With 20 professionals listed across the Columbus area and an average rating of 4.8 stars, patients here are well-served by a competitive, high-performing field. The top five providers all hold 4.9 or 5.0-star ratings, and the review volumes — ranging from 88 to 1,256 — indicate that these ratings are not based on a thin sample. Ohio State Dermatology's New Albany outpatient facility sits within the broader OSU Health system, meaning patients there may benefit from integrated records and specialist referrals. Independent practices like Westerville Dermatology and Dermatology of Central Ohio, each with hundreds of reviews, suggest that private practices here have also built durable reputations worth taking seriously.
Columbus tip: Because many residents work in the education and insurance sectors, a large portion of the local workforce has access to employer-sponsored health plans that cover medical dermatology visits. Before booking a cosmetic-only consultation, call your insurer and confirm whether your concern — such as a suspicious mole, persistent rash, or scalp condition — qualifies as a medical visit. Reframing a cosmetic concern as a medical evaluation when clinically appropriate can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket cost at nearly any of the 20 listed Columbus providers.
How Much Does Dermatology Cost in Columbus?
In Columbus, a standard dermatology consultation runs between $150 and $500 depending on whether the visit is medical or cosmetic, whether the practice accepts your insurance, and the credentials and demand level of the provider. Board-certified dermatologists at high-volume practices like Westerville Dermatology or Ohio State Dermatology typically bill through insurance for medical visits, which can reduce your effective cost to a copay or coinsurance amount. However, cosmetic consultations — covering treatments like Botox, laser resurfacing, or chemical peels — are almost always cash-pay regardless of your plan, and Columbus providers price these in line with other mid-sized Midwestern metros: competitive with Cleveland and Cincinnati but lower than comparable urban markets on the coasts.
Procedural costs in Columbus vary considerably by complexity. A basic cryotherapy session for a few actinic keratoses might run $200 to $400, while full-face laser resurfacing or Mohs surgery for skin cancer can reach $3,000 to $5,000 or more. Biopsies, excisions, and other in-office procedures are frequently covered by insurance when medically indicated. For cosmetic injectables and energy-based devices, expect to pay market rate with no insurance offset. The key lever in Columbus is practice type: academic or hospital-affiliated practices like Ohio State's New Albany location may have higher base fees but stronger insurance negotiation infrastructure, while independent dermatologists may offer more pricing flexibility for cash-pay patients.
Service
Low Estimate
High Estimate
Notes
Initial Consultation (Medical)
Low$150
High$300
Often covered by insurance; copay typically $20–$60 for insured Columbus patients
Mohs often covered for skin cancer; cosmetic laser procedures are cash-pay; OSU system may offer financing
Money-saving tip for Columbus residents: Ohio State University's dermatology network — including the New Albany outpatient location — operates within a large academic health system that participates in a wide range of insurance plans, including many Ohio Medicaid managed care plans. If you're uninsured or underinsured, OSU Health's financial assistance programs may apply to dermatology visits. Additionally, Columbus-area residents near Westerville should ask whether Westerville Dermatology's high patient volume translates to bundled pricing for multi-session treatments like phototherapy or a series of cosmetic procedures — high-volume practices sometimes offer package pricing not advertised on their main fee schedules.
How to Choose the Right Dermatology Provider in Columbus
5 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Dermatology Appointment
Is the dermatologist board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology (ABD)? The right answer is yes — board certification from the ABD signals that the physician has completed an accredited residency and passed rigorous written and oral examinations. In Columbus, where PAs and DOs also practice dermatology alongside MDs, it's worth confirming the specific credential of whoever will be leading your care. For PA-C providers like Erin Blevins at DOCS Dermatology, ask whether a supervising board-certified dermatologist reviews complex cases.
What is the new patient wait time, and how are urgent concerns triaged? In Columbus, new patient appointments typically run 2 to 8 weeks. The right answer is a practice that can give you a clear estimate and has a pathway for urgent concerns — such as a rapidly changing mole — to be seen faster. A practice that cannot tell you their current wait time or has no urgent scheduling process is a logistical red flag.
Does the practice accept my insurance, and will they bill it for this specific visit type? The right answer is a clear yes with specificity — the front desk should be able to confirm your plan is in-network and whether your visit category (medical vs. cosmetic) qualifies for coverage. Columbus has a large employer-insured population, and reputable practices here deal with insurance questions routinely. Vague answers about billing are a warning sign.
Who exactly will perform my procedure or lead my consultation — the dermatologist, a PA-C, or an aesthetician? The right answer depends on your concern. For skin cancer evaluation or complex medical dermatology, you want a physician or a supervised, experienced PA-C. For cosmetic injectables, many Columbus patients are well-served by skilled PA-Cs and NPs. The practice should answer this question directly without deflection.
Can you show me before-and-after results or patient outcome data for the specific procedure I'm considering? The right answer is a practice that can share representative examples (with patient consent) and set realistic expectations about outcomes, recovery time, and the number of sessions required. This is especially relevant for cosmetic procedures at Columbus practices. If a provider promises dramatic results without showing evidence or discussing realistic timelines, proceed cautiously.
Red Flags When Hiring a Dermatology Provider in Columbus
Watch for these red flags before committing to a Columbus dermatology provider:
No board certification disclosed: Any practice unwilling to clearly state the credentials of the treating provider — whether MD, DO, or PA-C — should be approached with skepticism. In Ohio, the scope of practice for non-physician providers varies, and transparency about who is treating you is non-negotiable.
Pressure to book cosmetic procedures at the first consultation: Reputable Columbus dermatologists diagnose first and recommend treatment second. If a provider immediately steers a medical concern toward high-cost cosmetic solutions without a thorough examination, that's a misalignment of incentives.
No clear policy for follow-up on biopsy or lab results: Skin biopsies require timely follow-up. A practice that cannot explain their process for communicating pathology results — including who calls you, when, and what happens if results indicate something serious — is operationally disorganized in a way that affects patient safety.
Very low review volume combined with inflated ratings: A provider with fewer than 10 reviews and a 5.0 rating tells you much less than Westerville Dermatology's 4.9 stars across 1,256 reviews. In Columbus's active review ecosystem, thin review profiles warrant extra due diligence.
Inability to provide a clear cost estimate before the visit: Columbus dermatology costs vary widely ($150–$5,000+). Any practice that refuses to give you a ballpark figure for a consultation or common procedure — or insists you pay first and sort insurance later without explanation — is not operating transparently.
Top-Rated Dermatology Providers in Columbus
Among the 20 listed dermatology professionals in Columbus, five providers stand out by both rating and review volume. Matthew Ferry, DO holds a perfect 5.0-star rating across 145 reviews, making him the highest-rated individual dermatologist in the Columbus market. A DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) carries full physician-level training and prescribing authority in Ohio, and Ferry's consistent perfect score across a meaningful review count suggests exceptional patient experience across a range of visit types.
Erin Blevins, PA-C, practicing at DOCS Dermatology's Victorian Village location — part of the Dermatologists of Greater Columbus network — holds a 4.9-star rating across 88 reviews. As a Physician Assistant-Certified, Blevins operates within a structured dermatology group, which typically means physician oversight is available for complex cases while patients benefit from more accessible scheduling. The Victorian Village location puts her practice squarely within one of Columbus's more densely populated urban neighborhoods, convenient for residents of the Short North, Italian Village, and surrounding areas.
Ohio State Dermatology's New Albany Outpatient Care location carries a 4.9-star rating across 286 reviews. The New Albany location serves the affluent eastern Columbus suburbs and benefits from the full infrastructure of the OSU Health system — electronic health records integration, specialist referrals, and broad insurance network participation. For patients managing skin conditions alongside other health issues, the ability to coordinate care within a single health system is a genuine practical advantage.
Westerville Dermatology's 4.9-star rating across 1,256 reviews is the most statistically robust signal of quality in the Columbus market. With over twelve hundred reviews, this is not a practice benefiting from a favorable small sample — it is a high-volume practice that has sustained near-perfect patient satisfaction at scale. Westerville, located north of Columbus proper, is easily accessible from the northern suburbs and represents a strong default option for residents in Dublin, Powell, Gahanna, and Westerville itself.
Dermatology of Central Ohio, also rated 4.9 stars across 870 reviews, rounds out the top five. The combination of a high rating and a substantial review count places this practice in the same tier of proven reliability as Westerville Dermatology. Patients looking for strong general medical and cosmetic dermatology services in the broader Columbus metro should consider this practice a primary option worth calling.
Company
Rating
Reviews
Best For
Matthew Ferry, DO
5.0★
145
Patients seeking the highest-rated individual dermatologist in Columbus; ideal for those who prioritize a physician-led, personalized care experience with a proven perfect satisfaction record
Urban Columbus residents (Short North, Victorian Village, Italian Village) seeking accessible dermatology care within a supervised group practice structure; good for medical and routine cosmetic visits
Ohio State Dermatology Outpatient Care New Albany
4.9★
286
Patients in the New Albany and eastern Columbus suburbs who benefit from OSU Health system integration — particularly those managing complex or chronic skin conditions alongside other medical care
Westerville Dermatology
4.9★
1,256
Patients across the northern Columbus metro (Westerville, Dublin, Gahanna, Powell) who want a high-volume, consistently rated practice with proven reliability at scale — the strongest statistically grounded rating in the Columbus market
Dermatology of Central Ohio
4.9★
870
Patients across the broader Columbus metro seeking a well-established practice with strong review volume; a reliable full-service option for both medical dermatology and cosmetic procedures
Seasonal Guide to Dermatology in Columbus
Columbus's humid continental climate creates four genuinely distinct seasons, and each one has real implications for when and why you should see a dermatologist. Understanding the city's seasonal patterns helps you schedule strategically, avoid peak wait times, and time certain procedures for optimal recovery.
Spring (March–May) is the most important season for skin cancer screening in Columbus. As UV index values climb and Ohioans begin spending more time outdoors after a long winter, this is the window to book your annual full-body skin exam. Dermatology practices across Columbus — including high-volume providers like Westerville Dermatology and Dermatology of Central Ohio — see a surge in screening appointments between April and June. Book early: if you wait until May to schedule a spring screening, you may be pushed to July. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends annual full-body exams for adults with a history of sunburns, fair skin, or family history of melanoma, all of which apply to a meaningful share of Columbus's predominantly Midwestern population.
Summer (June–August) brings Columbus's highest UV index readings and the conditions most likely to trigger sun-related flares of existing skin conditions. Rosacea, heat rash, and fungal infections all spike during Columbus's humid summer months. This is also when acne can worsen for both teenagers and adults due to increased sweating and oil production. The back-to-school period — late July through August — drives a predictable uptick in teen acne consultations, and Columbus's large student population (Ohio State University alone enrolls tens of thousands) amplifies this seasonal demand. If you have a teenager who needs a dermatology evaluation before the school year, schedule in June to avoid the late-summer rush.
Fall (September–November) is the premier season for cosmetic dermatology procedures in Columbus. The reduced UV exposure of autumn means patients undergoing laser resurfacing, chemical peels, microneedling, or other light-sensitive procedures can recover without the complication of sun exposure. Many Columbus cosmetic dermatology practices deliberately market fall as their primary cosmetic season, and procedure slots — especially for popular treatments — fill up faster than patients expect. If you're planning a significant cosmetic procedure for the holidays or early new year, book your consultation in September.
Winter (December–February) in Columbus is characterized by cold temperatures, low humidity, and dry indoor heat — a combination that reliably worsens eczema, psoriasis, and general dry skin conditions. This is the season when medical dermatology visits for chronic inflammatory skin conditions peak. It is also the season with the shortest new patient wait times for non-urgent cosmetic consultations, as demand for elective procedures dips after the holiday rush. If cost and convenience matter more to you than seasonal timing, January and February can be an underrated window to book a first-time cosmetic consultation with minimal competition for appointment slots.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will I wait for a new patient dermatology appointment in Columbus?
For new patients at Columbus dermatology practices, expect a wait of 2 to 8 weeks for a non-urgent appointment. High-volume practices like Westerville Dermatology (1,256 reviews) and Dermatology of Central Ohio (870 reviews) see heavy patient throughput, which can extend wait times during peak seasons — particularly spring for skin cancer screenings and late summer for acne consultations. If you have an urgent concern, such as a rapidly changing mole or a severe rash, call the practice directly and ask about their urgent or same-week scheduling policy. Ohio State Dermatology's New Albany location, operating within the OSU Health system, may have online scheduling tools that help you find earlier slots across multiple affiliated providers.
What is the difference between a dermatologist (MD/DO) and a PA-C in Columbus practices, and does it matter for my visit?
In Ohio, both physician dermatologists (MD or DO) and Physician Assistants-Certified (PA-C) can evaluate and treat most dermatological conditions, but their training pathways differ. A board-certified dermatologist has completed 4 years of medical school plus a 3-year dermatology residency totaling thousands of patient contact hours in skin disease. A PA-C has completed a 2-3 year PA program and may have dermatology-specific experience, but is legally required to practice under physician supervision in Ohio. For routine visits — acne management, eczema follow-up, common cosmetic procedures — a skilled PA-C like Erin Blevins, PA-C at DOCS Dermatology can deliver excellent care. For complex diagnoses, atypical lesions, or surgical procedures like Mohs surgery, a board-certified dermatologist is the appropriate choice. When booking, ask specifically who will be performing your evaluation.
Find Dermatologists Professionals in Columbus
Browse top-rated contractors, compare reviews, and get free quotes.
Does Columbus have dermatologists who accept Medicaid or are affiliated with community health resources?
Yes. Ohio State Dermatology, including its New Albany outpatient location, participates in Ohio Medicaid managed care plans through the broader OSU Health system. OSU Health also offers financial assistance programs for eligible patients. Columbus is home to several Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that may offer dermatology services on a sliding-fee scale, though availability varies and wait times can be longer. If you are uninsured or on Medicaid, calling the Ohio State dermatology scheduling line directly and asking about financial assistance options is the most reliable first step. All 20 listed Columbus providers offer direct phone contact, making it feasible to call multiple offices to ask about coverage before committing to an appointment.
Is Columbus a good market for cosmetic dermatology, or should I travel to Cleveland or Cincinnati for more advanced procedures?
Columbus is a fully capable cosmetic dermatology market. With 20 listed professionals averaging 4.8 stars, the city has a competitive, well-reviewed provider base that covers the full range of cosmetic dermatology services: injectables, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, microneedling, photodynamic therapy, and body contouring. The OSU Health system's academic dermatology program also ensures that cutting-edge or clinical-trial treatments can be accessed locally in ways that smaller markets cannot offer. For extremely rare or experimental procedures, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals in Cleveland represent Ohio's most advanced academic resources, but the overwhelming majority of cosmetic dermatology patients in Columbus will find everything they need without leaving the metro. Fall and winter, when UV exposure is low and recovery is easier, represent the best windows for cosmetic treatments locally.
How do I evaluate the trustworthiness of dermatology ratings and reviews in Columbus?
Review volume and consistency over time are the two most reliable signals in Columbus's dermatology market. A 5.0-star rating across 145 reviews, as held by Matthew Ferry, DO, is meaningfully more credible than a 5.0-star rating across 8 reviews. Westerville Dermatology's 4.9 stars across 1,256 reviews and Dermatology of Central Ohio's 4.9 stars across 870 reviews represent the most statistically robust quality signals in the Columbus market — it is statistically very difficult to maintain near-perfect ratings at that scale without genuine, consistent quality. When reading reviews, look for patterns in the feedback rather than individual data points: recurring mentions of specific providers, wait time management, billing transparency, and follow-up communication are all meaningful. One-star outlier reviews that describe uniquely extreme experiences (billing disputes, rare complications) should be weighed against the pattern of the majority. Columbus's dermatology market has an overall average of 4.8 stars across 20 providers, which reflects a genuinely high-quality local field — not an outlier result inflated by a few well-reviewed practices.
Best Dermatology in Columbus, OH — Complete 2026 Guide | Dermatologists
