Dr Nisha Rishi Arujuna

About Dr Nisha Arujuna

Dr Nisha Rishi Arujuna is an experienced GMC-registered Consultant Dermatologist at Battersea Hospital in London. She specialises in mole checks, skin cancer assessment, dermatological surgery, medical dermatology, and photodermatology.

At Battersea Hospital, Dr Arujuna offers individual and full body mole assessments, including dermoscopy, and assesses new, changing or concerning skin lesions. She also treats sun damaged skin, actinic keratoses and a range of benign, precancerous and cancerous skin lesions.

Her NHS roles include Consultant Dermatologist at Kingston Hospital and Honorary Consultant Dermatologist at the St John’s Institute of Dermatology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

She is a core member of the weekly Skin Cancer Multidisciplinary Team at Kingston Hospital. This team brings together dermatologists, plastic surgeons, pathologists and oncologists to discuss patients whose diagnosis or treatment requires multidisciplinary review.

Dr Arujuna is also the Phototherapy Lead at Kingston Hospital and works collaboratively with the specialist photodermatology service at the St John’s Institute of Dermatology. Her expertise includes diagnosing and managing skin conditions triggered or worsened by ultraviolet and visible light.

Her approach is based on careful clinical assessment, clear communication and evidence-based treatment. During a consultation, she explains the likely diagnosis, whether further testing is required and the available treatment options so that patients can make an informed decision about their care.

Areas of dermatology expertise

Dr Arujuna’s principal areas of expertise include:

• Full body and individual mole checks
• Dermoscopic examination of moles
• Assessment of new or changing skin lesions
• Skin cancer diagnosis and management
• Precancerous skin changes
• Actinic keratoses and sun damaged skin
• Dermatological surgery
• Skin biopsies
• Excision of suspicious or cancerous lesions
• Shave excision
• Curettage and cautery
• Cryotherapy

Please confirm the availability of a particular treatment at Battersea Hospital when making your appointment.

Mole checks and skin cancer assessment

Dr Arujuna provides detailed assessment of individual moles and full body mole checks at Battersea Hospital.

She uses a dermatoscope, a specialist handheld instrument that magnifies and illuminates the skin to examine structures and patterns that are not always visible to the unaided eye. Dermoscopy can help distinguish common benign moles from lesions that may require monitoring, biopsy or removal.

You should seek medical advice if a mole or skin lesion:

• Changes in size, shape or colour
• Develops an irregular outline or several colours
• Looks noticeably different from your other moles
• Starts itching, bleeding, crusting or oozing
• Becomes painful or inflamed
• Does not heal
• Is new and continues to grow

If a lesion requires further investigation, Dr Arujuna will explain whether a biopsy or surgical removal is appropriate. Any tissue removed may be sent for histological examination to establish a diagnosis and guide further care.

Learn more about the hospital’s service for moles, lumps and bumps.

Dermatological surgery

Dr Arujuna performs a range of minor dermatological procedures for suspicious, cancerous, precancerous and selected benign skin lesions.

Depending on the clinical diagnosis, procedures may include:

• Skin biopsy
• Elliptical excision
• Shave excision
• Curettage and cautery
• Cryotherapy
• Steroid injections for selected keloid scars

Before recommending a procedure, Dr Arujuna will discuss its purpose, expected benefits, possible risks, scarring, aftercare and whether the removed tissue will require laboratory examination.

Some procedures may need to be arranged as a separate appointment following the initial consultation.

What happens during a dermatology consultation?

Your consultation will normally begin with a discussion of your symptoms, relevant medical history, previous treatments, medications and any personal or family history of skin disease.

Dr Arujuna will then examine the affected area. For mole checks, she may use a dermatoscope and, where clinically appropriate, examine other areas of the skin.

Following the assessment, she will explain:

• The likely diagnosis
• Whether further tests or a biopsy is required
• Suitable treatment options
• The benefits and possible risks of treatment
• Whether follow-up or monitoring is recommended
• Any warning signs you should look out for

Bringing a list of current medications, previous dermatology letters and photographs showing how a changing condition has developed may be helpful.

Training and professional experience

Dr Arujuna studied medicine at King’s College London and graduated with Distinction in 2010.

She completed her specialist dermatology training in Sussex and subsequently undertook a fellowship at the St John’s Institute of Dermatology in London. Her training and consultant work have given her experience across medical dermatology, skin cancer, dermatological surgery, phototherapy and photodermatology.

In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr Arujuna is involved in medical education and research. Her published work includes research and clinical writing on dermatological surgery, informed consent, inflammatory skin disease, sunburn, scarring and light-related skin conditions.

Qualifications

• MBBS with Distinction
• Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom – MRCP (UK)
• Specialty Certificate Examination in Dermatology – MRCP (Dermatology)
• International Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology – IFAAD
• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians – FRCP
• GMC registration number: 7084425

NHS and hospital appointments

• Consultant Dermatologist, Battersea Hospital
• Consultant Dermatologist, Kingston Hospital
• Honorary Consultant Dermatologist, St John’s Institute of Dermatology, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
• Phototherapy Lead, Kingston Hospital
• Core member of the Kingston Hospital Skin Cancer Multidisciplinary Team

Professional memberships

Dr Arujuna’s professional affiliations include:

• British Association of Dermatologists
• American Academy of Dermatology – International Fellow
• British Photodermatology Group
• St John’s Dermatological Society
• Royal College of Physicians
• General Medical Council

Awards and professional recognition

Dr Arujuna’s awards and professional recognition include:

• John Henry Wignall Prize, 2006
• King’s College London Elective Travel Award, 2009
• Ashley Cooper Award, 2016
• Clinical Excellence Awards, 2021-2024

Research and publications

Dr Arujuna has contributed to peer-reviewed dermatology research, clinical reports and specialist educational publications.

Selected work includes:

• Lead author of the chapter “Sunburn” in Skin Diseases in Travelers, published by Springer in 2024
• “Dermatologic Surgery and Reconstruction Photograph Booklet as a Tool to Improve Informed Consent Before Skin Surgery”, published in Dermatologic Surgery
• “A single centre retrospective review of treatment responses and adverse events of thalidomide in patients with inflammatory skin disease”, published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
• Research concerning palmoplantar pustulosis, scarring, skin surgery, photodermatology and inflammatory skin disease

Read Dr Arujuna’s skin surgery informed consent publication on PubMed.