Bermuda finally has a full-time dermatologist since Bermudian Alexander Romeo's return home.

For years local patients have had to travel abroad for treatment or patiently await intermittent visits from overseas skin care doctors.

But Dr. Romeo has now established himself in the Point Finger Road Medical Centre after years of honing his skills in the US.

A former student of Berkeley Institute, Dr. Romeo left the Island shortly after graduating to pursue an undergraduate degree at Howard University in Washington, DC.

After a year at home driving taxis to raise money for school, he returned to his alma mater for his medical degree and remained in the US until this year.

His last ten years were spent as -- among other leadership positions -- the Chief of Dermatological Services at the Washington DC General Hospital.

However, Dr. Romeo said he welcomed the challenge of working in his home country and was glad to be able to "give something back to the Island''.

He admitted that he initially planned to train as an internist, but later turned his mind to dermatology when an opportunity arose and he discovered there were no other local persons pursuing the particular field of medicine.

And Dr. Romeo assured locals that the level of care available on the Island was comparable to anything which could be found overseas.

"If you went overseas you would probably see people like myself -- a couple of people did come to see me from Bermuda,'' he said.

However, he acknowledged that Bermuda was at times technologically behind larger countries -- especially with diagnostic machines.

But over the next few months Dr. Romeo plans to shorten the technological gap by installing an ultraviolet treatment lights and laser equipment.

And he also plans to raise local awareness of skin disorders and treatment options available.