What patients are saying
Overall rating
4.93
Average wait time
4.74
Bedside manner
4.96
“This was my first time with Dr. Nickerson and I was very impressed with his knowledge and professionalism. He immediately instills confidence and communicates perfectly. Highly recommended to anyone seeking a dermatologist. ”
Wayne P.February 9, 2026
“I enjoyed meeting Dr. Nickerson. He was recommended to me by two friends of mine—retired professors from SDSU—who are his patients, which is how I came to make an appointment with his office. He has a kind, friendly demeanor, listens intently, asks good questions, and he answered all of my questions clearly and completely. At the end of our first session (a yearly body scan), I made a second appointment with him for some minor in-office surgery that I'd been putting off. I'm happy to have found the right dermatologist for my needs.”
Initials hiddenLess than 3 months ago
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In-network insurances
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Aetna
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Cigna
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Medicare
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Areas of expertise
This doctor's experience enhances their expertise in similar cases. Below are the conditions or surgeries they treat most frequently.
Acute skin infection
Psoriasis
Removal of cancerous skin growth
Benign or precancerous skin growths
Acute skin infection
Psoriasis
Removal of cancerous skin growth
Benign or precancerous skin growths
Office locations
Coastal Skin & Eye Institute / Grossmont Dermatology (1 of 3)
489 Saxony Place, Suite 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Coastal Skin & Eye Institute / Grossmont Dermatology (2 of 3)
5550 Carmel Mountain Rd, #206, San Diego, CA 92130
Coastal Skin & Eye Institute / Grossmont Dermatology (3 of 3)
8860 Ctr Drive, Ste 300, La Mesa, CA 91942
1 of 3
Education and background
Practice names
Board certifications
- American Board of Dermatology
Education and training
- Medical School - New York Medical College, Doctor of Medicine
- Medical University of South Carolina, Residency in Dermatology
- Medical University of South Carolina, Fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology
- University of California, Irvine, Internship in Medicine
Professional memberships
- Dr. Nickerson is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology in MDS (Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery).
Languages spoken
- English
Provider's gender
Male
NPI number
1265895619
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.93
Wait time
4.74
Bedside manner
4.96
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
269 reviews
Most relevant
I would recommend Dr. Nickerson to any patient looking for dermatology care. He is knowledgeable, caring, and friendly.
Less than 3 months agoRoy C.Verified patient
Dr Nickerson and his staff are first class. Very professional, friendly and a pleasure to be treated by.
January 28, 2026Kevin K.Verified patient
Dr. Nickerson has a great bedside manner. He's calm, funny, and knowledgeable. I would absolutely recommend him to others.
April 10, 2025Kathleen R.Verified patient
Dr. Nickerson is everything you want in a doctor: knowledgeable, informative, decisive. A great experience all around.
April 16, 2025Travis R.Verified patient
Dr Nickerson is very detailed and lets you know what can be done or not. He is a very caring doctor and am glad I found him
October 29, 2024Bridget R.Verified patient
Friendly staff and doctor- felt seen and heard and helped. Would recommend.
March 6, 2026Natalie T.Verified patient
Dr. Nickerson treats both my girls and husband. He’s very attentive and a great doctor.
November 25, 2025Bria P.Verified patient
Dr. Nickerson is really in tune to his patient's and what he recommended helped me trememndously.
Less than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Nice office, friendly and capable staff. I would definitely return for other dermatology and vision related appointments.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Super professional, friendly, and caring- will be seeing Dr Derek in the future! Staff is very kind and organized.
July 23, 2024Erin W.Verified patient
He was clear, concise and made me feel like I was valued patient! He listened to my concerns.
June 6, 2025CHERYL S.Verified patient
Dr Nicholson is a very kind doctor and very attentive. We followed him to the his new office We like him that much! ??
November 28, 2023Cynthia H.Verified patient
Ver effective and quick, knew the answer to everything I asked right away
November 13, 2025Joao E.Verified patient
Great Dr, very knowledgable. Staff was great. On-time. 10/10 recommend.
Less than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Friendly staff and great doctor. He knows his stuff. Glad I found him and going to use him again!
April 10, 2024Talha K.Verified patient
I would definitely recommend going and checking it out for yourself, I had a great experience.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Cordial, gets right to the point and explains things well
November 4, 2025Bryan G.Verified patient
Appointment was quick but thorough. Super friendly and made me feel very comfortable.
October 4, 2024Giovanni G.Verified patient
They had my ZocDoc appointment but not my appointment but they were able to fit me in.
September 10, 2024Michelle B.Verified patient
The doctor is very professional and kind and provide very useful suggestions.
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Quick, easy and professional in a great office set up.
August 26, 2025Matthew G.Verified patient
Very knowledgeable and informative. He is a great doctor.
Less than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Very professional doctor. Used him 2 years ago also.
May 30, 2025Mark P.Verified patient
Friendly doctor. Nice nurse staff. Did a good job explaining everything.
July 31, 2024Brian T.Verified patient
Dr. N. is an EXCELLENT medical dermatologist and a good person!
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
dr nickerson is always a delight! he is kind and gentle!
October 19, 2024Nicole D.Verified patient
Excellent, highly recommended, would definitely go back
September 1, 2024Christopher C.Verified patient
This was my first time with Dr. Nickerson and I was very impressed with his knowledge and professionalism. He immediately instills confidence and communicates perfectly. Highly recommended to anyone seeking a dermatologist.
February 9, 2026Wayne P.Verified patient
I enjoyed meeting Dr. Nickerson. He was recommended to me by two friends of mine—retired professors from SDSU—who are his patients, which is how I came to make an appointment with his office. He has a kind, friendly demeanor, listens intently, asks good questions, and he answered all of my questions clearly and completely. At the end of our first session (a yearly body scan), I made a second appointment with him for some minor in-office surgery that I'd been putting off. I'm happy to have found the right dermatologist for my needs.
Less than 3 months agoInitials hidden
Excellent physician with great bedside
Manner!
January 21, 2026Jay H.Verified patient
Very professional and caring doctor and staff
December 10, 2025MICHAEL D.Verified patient
Everyone was very nice at the doctor's office. The receptionist and aide were very helpful and informative. And Doctor Nickerson was extremely kind, knowledgeable and respectful. He helped me understand the specifics of my particular situation and treatment considerations. I had a very positive experience at my doctors appointment. I would highly recommend them, for your dermatology concerns.
November 23, 2025Cory B.Verified patient
I was able to get a same week appointment with Dr. Derek Nickerson after waiting months for other dermatology apointments. Dr. Nickerson made a great impression. His exam was thorough and his diagnosis and treatment plan were explained in careful detail. The staff, especially his assistant, Monica, was professional and helpful during my appointment.
September 16, 2025Sharon S.Verified patient
Bright, knowledgeable, friendly,
Calm and pleasant demeanor,
Helpful, provided good information, presented options
Good listener
August 21, 2025Joseph R.Verified patient
Dr Nickerson saw me with little notice (just a few days) which calmed my concerns about a growth on my arm. All the staff were friendly and professional. I highly recommend him.
August 5, 2025Alan K.Verified patient
Dr Nickerson, was pleasant and was able to accommodate my request the same day to remove a mole on my neck. His assistant was very informative and helped with the procedure.
May 21, 2025Dianne J.Verified patient
The best in SD county.
April 29, 2025David B.Verified patient
Dr. Nickerson was incredible! Great bedside manner, knowledgeable, and gave me a clear understanding of what his treatment plan would entail. I highly recommend Dr. Nickerson. 5 stars.
March 21, 2025Gus K.Verified patient
I had seen Dr NIckerson twice before and he did a Mohs surgery on my face which is barely noticable. He is kind, considerate, knowledgable and professional.
March 13, 2025Jean I.Verified patient
When my previous dermatologist at Scripps in La Jolla, or should I say nurse practitioner as that's who they would always schedule me with, failed to diagnose a cancerous area on my face, I decided it was time for a second opinion. Dr. Nickerson immediately spotted the cancer, removed it with mohs surgery and sewed it up like a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. Dr. Nickerson is now my dermatologist.
February 24, 2025Jeffrey W.Verified patient
Yes, Doctor and nurse very professional and kind.
February 23, 2025Initials hidden
Dr. Nickerson was an excellent doctor. He questioned me and listened closely to my responses. He gave me recommendations and sent me to the lab to further narrow down a diagnosis. I will definitely recommend him and plan on seeing him again whenever necessary in the future.
February 19, 2025Janis W.Verified patient
Dr Nickerson is friendly, doesn’t rush his appointment and very thorough in his examination. He also provides clear communication which I appreciate. Highly recommend him for all things skin related.
February 15, 2025Mike P.Verified patient
Great, definitely would recommend for location, facility, professional and friendly staff. Doctor was a good listener, made me feel comfortable.
February 11, 2025Daniel H.Verified patient
Dr. Nickerson was great. He took care of my problem and promised to follow up with results from the biopsy. He was also very clear about the aftercare needed.
The Zocdoc software is terrible! I worked with it for an hour about filling in my pre-appointment information and got frustrated with the way it performed. Finally, when it kept putting me back at the beginning, I gave up. When I got to the Doctor's office, I didn't need to give them any additional information because I was an existing patient. So my time with Zocdoc was wasted!
More than 1 year agoInitials hidden
Dr. Nickerson is the absolute best!!!!!!! Truly the best dermatologist I’ve seen. Love him for regular check ups and also cosmetic dermatology.
October 16, 2024Lyndsi S.Verified patient
This was my 2nd treatment with Dr Nickerson. He's very efficient investigating the skin's moles and has a very gentle hand proceeding with removals of unwanted irritations to the skin. I was very pleased with his demeanor, as well as, his staff.
Yes I would highly recommend his services.
Thank you.
October 13, 2024Carolyn B.Verified patient
Dr. Derek is a great practitioner...the best! Professional and excellent with his patients. Very knowledgeable and thorough. Worth your time to schedule an appt with him...
October 1, 2024Kevin P.Verified patient
good experience so far
September 12, 2024Sreedhar T.Verified patient
I have been a patient for over two years.. I followed Dr Derek Nickerson when he transferred from California Skin Care. Dr Nickerson and his entire staff are extraordinarily! I always receive excellent care . He is one of the best MD Dermatology in Oncology within North San Diego County.
September 9, 2024Ed Y.Verified patient
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How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Derek Nickerson?
Generally, Dr. Derek Nickerson has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Nickerson's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dr. Derek Nickerson accepting new patients?
Dr. Derek Nickerson generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Nickerson's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dr. Derek Nickerson accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Nickerson is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dr. Derek Nickerson online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Nickerson using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dr. Derek Nickerson work with?
Where is Dr. Derek Nickerson's office located?
Dr. Derek Nickerson has 3 office locations, including in Encinitas, San Diego, and La Mesa, view full addresses on Dr. Nickerson's profile.
Which board certifications does Dr. Derek Nickerson have?
Dr. Derek Nickerson is certified by American Board of Dermatology.
What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Derek Nickerson?
Dr. Derek Nickerson frequently sees patients for Acne, Allergy Consultation, Annual Skin Screening, Dermatology Consultation, and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Derek Nickerson on their profile.
What languages does Dr. Derek Nickerson speak?
Dr. Derek Nickerson speaks English.
How do patients rate Dr. Derek Nickerson in reviews?
269 patients have reviewed Dr. Derek Nickerson. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.93/5. They have a 4.96/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4.74/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.