Prof. M.D. Emel Öztürk Durmaz

As a 72-year-old with a suspicious mole on my shoulder that had changed shape over six months, I was naturally anxious. Dr. Durmaz didn't just glance at it; she used a special magnifying device to examine every border and color variation. Her calm, methodical explanation about why a biopsy was necessary—comparing it to 'reading the skin's secret language'—put me at ease. The procedure at Acibadem Maslak was painless, and when the results came back as early-stage melanoma, she personally called me to discuss the Mohs surgery plan. Her follow-up care involved not just wound checks, but teaching me how to perform a thorough self-exam. She turned a frightening experience into a masterclass in proactive health.

Our 4-year-old developed severe, weeping eczema that kept him up scratching all night. Previous creams only offered temporary relief. Dr. Emel Öztürk Durmaz was a revelation. She got down on the floor with him, let him hold her dermatoscope ('a magic flashlight'), and diagnosed a combination of atopic dermatitis and a secondary bacterial infection. Her treatment was holistic: a precise antibiotic course, a customized moisturizing regimen with products available in Turkey, and brilliant advice about cotton clothing and lukewarm baths. She even suggested a 'scratching mittens' strategy. Within two weeks, his skin was clear and he was sleeping through the night. She treated the child, not just the rash.

I walked into Acibadem Maslak on a Friday afternoon with what I thought was a severe allergic reaction—my entire face was swollen, red, and hot with bizarre blistering. Dr. Durmaz took one look and identified it as a severe case of shingles (herpes zoster) on the trigeminal nerve, a dermatological emergency risking eye damage. Her decisiveness was breathtaking. She immediately coordinated with the on-call ophthalmologist for a consult and started me on intravenous antivirals and pain management within the hour. She checked on me three times that evening. Her swift action prevented permanent scarring and likely saved my eyesight. This wasn't a consultation; it was a rescue mission.

For years, I had resigned myself to living with severe hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic, painful condition with recurrent abscesses. Dr. Durmaz approached my case like a medical detective. She didn't just prescribe another round of antibiotics; she ordered specific hormonal and metabolic tests, uncovering an underlying inflammatory pattern. Her long-term management plan was complex and collaborative: a combination of targeted biologic therapy, precise intralesional steroid injections for flare-ups, and a scheduled deroofing surgery for the most stubborn tracts. She coordinates with my endocrinologist. For the first time in a decade, I have more pain-free days than not. She manages the disease *with* me, offering both cutting-edge science and profound empathy.