Total Dermatology

Although we have been coming here as a family for many years, (around 20), yesterday was my teen daughter’s first visit with Dr Murthy & this sweet doctor was phenomenal. The downtown Birmingham location is beautiful and so easy to get to and navigate for us. We love this place and always get checked in quickly and never wait long at all; we were in and out in less than 45 minutes , which was so appreciated. The front desk ,PAs, and nurse greeted us with a smile & made us feel very welcome, as always. The doctor was so professional, yet so very kind and warm. She truly put my daughter at ease for the procedure today with her excellent bedside manner & explaining everything. 10/10! I am so happy Dr Murthy was recommended to us! She made us feel like we had known her for years. She is a true gem💗 ( we use Dr Hill as well & she is a gem,too) Highly recommend this practice ! I would give them 10 ⭐️ if I could. ( ❤️Honorable Mention: the sweet girl at the front desk had it by herself the day we came & she was a champ handling everything)

I can’t say enough wonderful things about Melanie Appell! I’ve been with her for years and have total confidence in her. She is an exceptional dermatologist who combines true expertise with reassuring care. From the moment you walk in, you feel cared for and completely at ease. Dr. Appell is thorough, attentive, and takes the time to explain everything clearly. She never makes you feel rushed and truly listens to your concerns. Her professionalism and knowledge are evident in every interaction, and her treatment recommendations are thoughtful and effective. The only negative is the old parking deck beside the office. It’s very narrow and you really need to be careful in that deck. It is free though. I highly recommend Melanie Appell to anyone looking for outstanding dermatologic care!

I recently moved to Birmingham and scheduled an appointment with Dr. Hill to address long-standing tinea versicolor (which I’ve managed for 34 years) and to have my annual full-body skin exam for some spots I was concerned about. Check-in was smooth and seamless, and the PA was excellent. She took her time, listened carefully, reviewed my concerns, and even looked at photos of the treatment plan my previous dermatologist in Dallas had prescribed. She provided me with a gown and mentioned Dr. Hill would want to examine my feet as part of a full-body screening but I could keep my socks on until then. Unfortunately, the experience changed once Dr. Hill came in. She asked what I was there for and, when I began explaining the spots on my back ( that I now know are keratosis), she bushed over the keratosis, and she proceeded to asked if I had ever heard of tinea versicolor. It became clear she had not reviewed my chart or spoken with the PA beforehand. I explained my long history with the condition and the treatment that has worked for me in the past. The secondary reason for my visit — a full-body skin check — it was not even remotely thorough. I had to repeatedly point out areas of concern, and my feet were not checked, despite that being discussed earlier. When I redirected the conversation to the dark spots on my back, I was told they were seborrheic keratoses and that removal is like a “haircut” because they will return. I understand that recurrence is possible, but I was interested in removal, even if it requires maintenance. However, my concerns were brushed off, and there was no discussion of treatment options. Regarding treatment for my tinea versicolor, Dr. Hill initially said she would prescribe a cream. I explained that I wouldn’t use it — applying cream to my entire back is like trying to apply sunscreen to your whole back by yourself; it’s simply not realistic or effective. She then offered a shampoo, but I shared that shampoos have not been effective for me in the past and I would not use that option either. I explained that oral fluconazole (200 mg for 7 days) has worked well for me previously. She expressed concern that it can be hard on the liver, which I fully understand given my long history with this condition. I routinely monitor my liver function every 90 days. While I appreciate caution from a safety perspective, the conversation felt dismissive rather than collaborative, and I did not feel my experience managing this condition over many years was fully considered. The most uncomfortable moment came when I was told I needed to “get this cleared up” so I wouldn’t pass it to my wife — I am a single gay male. That assumption, combined with the overall rushed and combative tone of the visit, left me feeling unheard and annoyed. Having worked in a fast-paced healthcare environment myself, I understand that providers have busy schedules. However, I would have appreciated a simple acknowledgment if there hadn’t been time to review my chart or review notes with PA. I was specifically coming in for her expertise regarding the spots I was concerned about, and taking a brief moment to listen and align on the goals for the visit would have made a significant difference. While the front office staff and PA were professional and attentive, the overall experience with the physician did not meet my expectations for patient-centered care.

Dr.Appell is great. I’ve been seeing her for over 30 years and I will never go to anyone else. She is kind, thorough, and has found several issues that she has taken care of over the years. You will not regret making an appointment with her!

I had a cyst removed, total time in and out was 1 hr., I was terrified but they were so calm and made me comfortable, they froze the site and the only thing I felt was little pricks, no pain at all!! I was amazed!! It was on my back,so I laid on my side and watched what I could see what she was doing from a shiny wall. It was So cool!! No pain what so ever!! I finally said goodbye to the little peanut giving me So many issues!! I HIGHLY recommend Total Dermatology for your skin care needs!! Very compassionate and Professional!! Great Job!!