With 35 years of experience as a dermatologist, Dr. Peter Bendetson brings a lifetime of knowledge to his new practice, Bendetson Dermatology, located on the Palms West Hospital campus.
Bendetson moved to the western communities 12 years ago while living and working part time at his own private practice in the Boston metro area.
He initially moved to the area after being asked to join a group dermatology practice, also on the Palms West Hospital campus. However, after the practice was sold to a different owner, Bendetson decided to open his own office to continue his lifelong work in the field of dermatology.
Bendetson discovered his fascination with dermatology in medical school, after getting a rash from scrubbing down before surgery at Tuffs University School of Medicine, where he received his degree in 1977. “I broke out in a serious skin eruption from some of the scrub solution,” he recalled.
Bendetson was transferred from his surgical rotation to a dermatology clinic to find out what he was allergic to. “I ended up spending a lot of time in the dermatology unit during medical school, figuring out how to treat my own condition,” he said.
The various types of skin conditions are what fascinated Bendetson about the field of dermatology. “We treat a lot of people with many types of skin disorders, some are life-threatening cancers and some non-life-threatening,” he said. “It’s very exciting and challenging for me.”
Bendetson went on to receive further training from the American College of Mohs Surgery. Now he runs his own general dermatology practice and enjoys treating patients with many forms of skin disorders. He treats a variety of skin neoplasms such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are the most common types of skin cancers.
Bendetson also treats mild to severe acne, skin discolorations such as vitiligo, and any type of rash or skin allergy due to causes like poison ivy and from various medications.
“People don’t realize that a very significant portion of people who take medications by mouth develop various skin irritations from them,” Bendetson said.
Educating his patients on preventive care is a major part of his practice. Bendetson spends ample one-on-one time with his patients to ensure he explains everything from their disorder to prevention.
“We schedule our patients far apart from each other to make sure that we have enough time with each one, so that they feel comfortable here with me and not rushed,” he said.
Bendetson focuses on efficiency at his practice, ensuring that patients get biopsy reports within two to three business days. “We work with a very sophisticated laboratory that analyzes and reads all of our biopsies,” he said.
Office Manager Debbie Hackimer believes that the rapid biopsy response time is what sets the practice apart from many others. “That is typically unheard of for patients to receive their reports that fast,” she said. “It typically takes two to three weeks at other places.”
Bendetson is also proud to have an experienced team of employees. “All together, we have over 50 years of experience in this one office,” he said. “That’s pretty amazing.”
Bendetson Dermatology is located at 12983 Southern Blvd., Building 4, Suite 205, Loxahatchee. For more info., visit www.bendetsondermatology.com or call (561) 328-9434.
Above: Dr. Peter Bendetson, Office Manager Debbie Hackimer and Medical Assistant Napoleon Garcia at Bendetson’s office on the Palms West Hospital campus.
