Board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology, Elaine Harpster, MD has practiced at the Sharp Rees-Stealy complex in downtown San Diego's Bankers Hill since completing training at UC Davis School of Medicine in 1985. Dual residency in internal medicine at UC Irvine Medical Center and dermatology at UC Davis Medical Center shapes a systemic approach to conditions like actinic keratosis and melanoma, with tailored topical compounds prepared at University Compounding Pharmacy on Fourth Avenue. Diagnostic capabilities include dermatoscopic screening for melanocytic nevi, shave and punch biopsies for suspected basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, and cryosurgical treatment of precancerous lesions across all Fitzpatrick skin types. Bilingual consultations in English and Spanish expand clinical access for the Bankers Hill and Middletown communities near Balboa Park, and her evaluation of perioral dermatitis and oral mucosal lesions coordinates biopsy-driven pathology with Park Dental Arts for cross-disciplinary diagnosis. Complex cases involve full-body polarized and non-polarized dermoscopic mapping with sequential digital imaging to monitor evolving dysplastic nevi under ABCDE criteria before proceeding to excisional biopsy with margin analysis.