M.D. Kübra Nursel Bölük

As an 82-year-old with a suspicious mole that had changed shape over decades, I was terrified of skin cancer. Dr. Bölük didn't just examine it with a magnifier—she used a special digital imaging system at Acibadem Maslak that mapped every pigment cell. Her explanation was so gentle yet thorough, showing me the comparison to images from six months prior. The biopsy was painless, and when she called personally with the benign results, she spent 20 minutes explaining sun protection for fragile aging skin. She prescribed a custom barrier cream that healed my chronic dryness. This wasn't just dermatology; it was compassionate geriatric care.

Our 4-year-old developed severe atopic dermatitis after starting preschool—bleeding scratches, sleepless nights. Pediatricians offered steroid creams, but Dr. Bölük approached it like a detective. She asked about laundry detergent, playground surfaces, even the material of his favorite stuffed animal. She created a 'skin diary' system and discovered a reaction to a specific synthetic fiber. Her treatment combined microbiome-friendly emollients, cotton-only clothing protocols, and play-based UV protection education. She even taught him a 'gentle hands' song during appointments. Within eight weeks, his skin was clear. She treats children as whole humans, not just symptoms.

I arrived at Acibadem Maslak's emergency department on a Sunday with a rapidly spreading cellulitis on my leg—red streaks, fever, panic. Dr. Bölük was the on-call dermatologist and identified it as a rare antibiotic-resistant strain from a tiny insect bite. She coordinated immediately with infectious disease specialists, opting for intravenous immunoglobulin therapy instead of standard antibiotics. What stunned me was her 2 AM follow-up visit to check the progression, explaining the immunological mechanism in layman's terms. She managed to turn a terrifying emergency into a masterclass in collaborative, cutting-edge medicine. The infection cleared without surgery.

For years, I managed my psoriasis with routine treatments until developing paradoxical pustular psoriasis on my palms—a treatment complication. Dr. Bölük recognized this as a complex immunological shift and designed a 'treatment holiday' protocol combined with narrowband UVB phototherapy calibrated to my skin's tolerance. She monitored my cytokine levels through blood work, adjusting weekly. During follow-ups, she noticed emerging vitiligo patches I'd missed—a connected autoimmune response—and incorporated depigmentation counseling. Her approach wasn't linear; it was adaptive, treating my skin as a dynamic organ system. She doesn't just follow protocols; she rewrites them for complex cases.