My husband, parents and I have been seeing Dr. Shanker for more than 15 years. He's thorough, personable and his fees are much more reasonable than most other dermatologists. I would definitely recommend him for any dermatology needs. read more

Very smart and easy to communicate with. Took care of my issue hopefully for good without any fuss.

My first appointment with Dr. Shanker started out well - we agreed on a regiment for an uncomfortable issue on my feet. He agreed to order a more aggressive treatment if I wanted at a later time. "A later time" later...I called and scheduled an appointment for that more aggressive treatment before a holiday vacation, thinking I could use the time off to recoup. I asked his nurse to tell him to order the treatment we had discussed. A day before the appointment, she calls to tell me that he won't / didn't order the treatment. Absolutely no explanation of why, nor a recommendation of what to do. It's not just bad patient service, it's just bad business. read more

Dr. Shanker is a true professional, he has a good sense of humor, explains in terms that I can understand what is going on with me, and takes time to explain what his strategy is along with what medications he is subscribing. read more

it's no wonder why finding an available appt was a breeze... if you want a thorough, professional examination after being concerned about a possible allergic reaction, do NOT see dr. shanker. if want to sit in an office with your doc typing away at his computer, barely looking at you in the eye and not even bothering to examine you BUT instead dumps a bunch of samples on you sending you off on your merry way, dr. shanker is the one for you. the solid definition of a horrible dermatologist. read more

I have some pesky skin issues I wanted a dermatologist to take a look at. I asked a coworker of mine and she referred me to Dr. Shanker's office. It's a few blocks from my office and I was able to get in a week later. I saw Dr. Melanie Griem. She was one of the best dermatologists I have been to! I have some pesky eczema on my right hand. It has been bothering me since this summer and I have tried a lot of OTC cortisone cream and it hasn't done a thing. She wrote me a Rx for some potent cortisone cream and I have been using it for 4 nights now and the eczema is nearly gone! My skin is almost baby smooth again. I used to be a tanorexic in my former days. I would lay in the sun for hours with little to no protection. I also used to visit tanning beds for special occasions. No more my friends. I noticed a strange pinkish red mole develop on my forearm. I had Dr. Griem look at it and she removed it immediately. I'm still waiting on the results. I wanted it off since it was different from my other moles. If you are looking for a friendly dermatologist I highly suggest Dr. Griem. The receptionist at this office is also very friendly and patient. read more

I have seen Dr. Shanker a couple of times and it is very easy to get an appointment -- meaning you do not have to wait weeks to see him! Dr. Shanker is very pleasant, professional and thorough and I could not be more pleased. The office staff is equally pleasant and I highly recommend this dermatologist! read more

Dr. Shanker has been my Dermatologist for over 5 years and I couldn't be happier. The staff there are so friendly and fun. Dr. Shanker is easy-peasy and so knowledgable, I'm grateful to have such a great dermatologist. I highly recommend Dr. Shanker to anyone looking. He has helped check for skin cancer, removed tags, and has great samples. :) read more

I went several times over a few years and was very happy. Helped me resolve problems other doctors did not.

I have a very competitive insurance policy for which Dr. Shanker is in-network. However, when I presented myself at his office, the doctor's staff tried to make me sign financial forms by which I would agree to let them bill me without asking further consent -- they required me to store my credit card information. I am not saying that this was ill-intentioned but it surely is not a fair policy in case the insurance declines a bill and because it is setup as a blanket agreement where the patient can be billed whatever amount without explicit consent related to a particular bill -- have you ever received surprise bills? In addition, your credit card information is hardly safe with any provider, and so limiting exposure should always be preferred. When I refused to sign such documents -- even after explaining my reasons and pointing out that there was no point in it as my insurance would cover an initial dermatological consultation -- I was rudely and bluntly dismissed and sarcastically wished "happy holidays". I am certainly not recommending anybody this kind of service. read more

Years ago, when Dr. Shanker was young..he was attentive to everything. I first went to him before he was married. Now that we are both old..I gave him my list of problems..he looked briefly..never touched me..said nothing..except "It's old age!" Very discouraging since I have never stopped working..my Mother lived to nearly 100, and I have been tested for years at NMH Brain Research..I am one of their so called Super Agers. still active in my late 80's and have a great memory! Surely there could be some remedy for some of my skin problems..instead of getting service I got a bag of creams and tubes of shampoo. Larisa B. read more

tend to agree with the posts - waits were long/delays, and check-up was VERY short. So far diagnosis is/was spot on, and the treatments seem to be working OK. As an upside, they accommodated me quickly on short notice, and that was a plus !! * * * is probably all I can give, as I still need to make some follow-up visits. read more

I have gone to see Dr. Shanker numerous times and have always had a very positive experience. I even sent my husband to have a few spots check out as well. We would both agree that Dr. Shanker and his staff are very reliable, honest and welcoming. If you are looking for a derm in the loop area I would definitely recommend Dr. Shanker. read more

Let me preface this by saying that posting rants on yelp is absolutely NOT my style. I rarely review things at all. But I feel so strongly upset by my entire experience with Dr. Shanker that it seems my responsibility to speak up. I have developed problem acne over the past year for the first time in my life and decided to book an appointment with a professional to help me via Zocdoc. I was happy that Dr. Shanker could see me so soon (not surprising in hingsight.) I'll start with the one positive: his secretaries were very sweet to me when I called saying I would be 10 minutes late- although I did let them know a full hour ahead of my appointment time. Negatives: I'll summarize by saying I walked out of his office feeling so ripped off and overwhelmingly upset that tears were welling up in my eyes during the elevator ride out. They take your credit card at the beginning of the appointment to precharge the copay, which seemed sketchy to me. For good reason. The moment I walked into his room he abruptly asked me why I was there. I wanted him to check on an abnormal mole I've been concerned about for a while because my mother and grandfather have both had skin cancer. He glanced at the mole from several feet away and immediately dismissed it, despite my concerns. So I thought, "...Okay, I'm probably just being paranoid." Then we (or should I say he) started on acne. He didn't ask me a single question about my routine or concerns, or even LOOK at my skin up close. Instead, he immediately started an incredibly condescending lecture about how I need to stop using many products I don't even use, to stop cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizering, using sunscreen (WHAT?!?) and that I don't need to do anything about anti-aging or vitamins or anything at all, except just wash with cetaphyl at night and put this cream he's prescribed on pimples and that should be fine. The longer he went on, the angier I felt that he was making so many assumptions and talking over me(!) and brushing off my questions. He even went so far as to spurn my professors and career- I'm studying cosmetology and esthetics currently- by condemning it all as pointless "paaampering." Eventually I was able to ask a few questions. Of course he disregarded all my concerns and rushed me out. The appointment lasted about 15-20 minutes. Then was stopped in the lobby to find out there'd been a problem with my insurance card. Drama. Now, as I said, I'm a student and don't have a lot of money. The $20 ride to his office from my house and the $50 copay means I just spent $70 (two shifts at my job) to have someone tell me to stop taking care of my skin! I felt sick, furious, and neglected walking out of there, but I'm absolutely not the kind of person who can complain or confront strangers, regardless of the service I've received. The copay had already been charged, so I feel helpless to do anything. I just wish I had seen these negative yelp reviews earlier. Needless to say, I will not be going back to Dr. Shanker and urge you not to either. read more

My family and I have been seeing Dr. Shanker for over 35 years. I am a male of Asian descent who has facial age spots and eczema in many areas of my body. My children and my spouse have also seen Dr. Shanker for their skin issues, including a case of melanoma. He is very knowledgeable and his recommendations are spot on. I would highly recommend Dr. Shanker. Peter M read more

My husband and I went to Dr. Shanker for our annual skin check and this was 100% covered by my insurance. The DR. was very sweet, took time to explain things to my husband and I, and seems very old fashion. The problem is....they require you to put your credit card on file BEFORE your appointment "just in case". So we had our appointment, the DR. had no concerns with our skin (we are both in our early 20s) and we left happy. A couple days later our credit card was charged 300+ for our appointment. We called and instead of insurance coding our appointment as a preventable skin check as it should've been he "upcoded" it and therefore it was not covered at all. I've had a past of acne but it is completely resolved. I put that in my medical history and he coded it as an acne exam. My husband was making small talk during his skin check and asked a simple question about shaving as he sometimes gets ingrown hairs and therefore he coded it as something to do with that. We fought back and forth with them about the coding and they would NOT revise it. Therefore we paid full price 100% out of pocket. It was just really disappointing as I am an Advocate health care employee (RN) and went to him because he works for Advocate as well. This put a financial burden on myself and my husband. Ethically, I feel like what they did was very wrong. read more

I've been going to see Dr. Shanker for many years. He was referred as the best dermatologist to go to by my internist at that time. I can always get an appointment there. The staff are always friendly and inviting. Dr. Shanker always has a resolution for your issue without over-complicating things. I preferred many friends to him over the years and they are just as happy as I've been. I would recommend him without hesitation. read more

I just got back from an appointment with Dr. Shanker. First of all the front desk girl Brenda was FANTASTIC! Along with her coworker! They were SO nice and joked around with me and just had a SUPER friendly attitude! I really enjoyed talking to them. Dr. Shanker was very nice to me. Very efficient. Took a mole off my face right than and there. Made me comfortable. Asked if I felt okay before and after. I really enjoyed him! I would go back to him in a heartbeat! read more

Dr. Shanker is the king of the five minute appointment. You really get the feeling the business model is for him to spend as little time with you as possible. His office is sooo convenient I tried to make it work with him, though. I had a skin issue I saw him about for 4 appointments or so over a 6-8 month period. He took little time to listen to me and threw some prescriptions my way. They were not working. So I found a new doctor who listened to my problem, and gave the appropriate prescription and solved my problem. One appointment. One prescription. Problem cleared up in 3 weeks. New doctor wins. Old doctor = one star. read more

A few of coworkers have gone to him so I thought I would give him a try. It was very easy to get a appointment with him, I didn't wait long for him to come into the room and see me. He was very thorough, checked all my moles, removed a sist on my face, and wrote me a RX for my eczema. I loved him and will definitely be going back next year. His staff was also great and very friendly. read more

Having dealt with acne for most of my life, I know my way around a dermatologist's office. Dr. Shanker is great. The assistants were very nice and I had no trouble getting an appointment (though the hours are a little restrictive). Once I got the new patient paperwork filled out, I was led back to an examination room. Dr. Shanker came in almost immediately. We had a quick back and forth, and he wrote me two prescriptions. He gave me some advice about things I already knew but would've been helpful if I didn't. He also had a great attitude and made me feel comfortable. He has a computer in the exam room which he used to send the two prescriptions I got directly to the pharmacy where I wanted to pick them up. He made sure I knew about generics that were available and was honest about the differences (or lack thereof) between them and the more expensive branded versions. I didn't feel pressured to go with name brands over generics (or vice versa) like I have been at some places. He also gave me enough refills for 6 months, which is about as long as you can hope to go. I would highly recommend Dr. Shanker and will definitely be going there again in the future for my dermatological needs :) read more

Just got back from an appointment here. Really nice office and the staff was super friendly and smiley! Dr Shanker was a pretty cool dude, took care of my problems quickly and even made little jokes during my visit. I will definitely be back the next time I need anything in the dermatology department. read more

I recently had a problem that needed to be addressed immediately. I called the office at 8:31 a.m. and was given a 9:15 a.m. appointment. The office staff is very friendly. Dr. Shanker saw me within 5 min. cleared up my problem. read more

My previous dermatologist recently stopped taking my insurance and he referred me to Dr. Shanker. Appointment was easy to make, staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and location was convenient. I have had skin cancer in the past and went in for my annual check-up. The doctor was friendly and had a great personality. He gave me a thorough exam, answered all my questions, took a biopsy on something that looked suspicious (came back clear), and gave me a prescription for an existing eczema condition. Surprised and the some of the negative reviews here. My experience was very positive and will be returning. read more

Dr David has humanity and he make sense what you feel. İ been there for my skin problem and i was really nervous. He sepend time for me really effective. When i arrived and when i left there also desk workers were really nice. After that my insurance got me a trouble about payment for medicine. İ called back Dr David office and his assistans solved my problem. İ am really glad with my experience. Strongly recommend. read more

An honest doc. I had some bumps on my face, which my primary care doctor thought -- sadly -- were warts. So I went to Dr. Shanker. Easy to get an appointment, friendly. He is speedy, it's true. But he's also honest. Here's why. When I went it to see Dr. Shanker the first time, I had a beard. (Trying not to shave to avoid making the warts worse.) He looked but couldn't really see the bumps through the beard. A few days later, I shaved-- and there they were, clear as day. A little embarrassed, I called to figure out if his office would give me another appointment. He agreed to see me *the same day,* for free. And ... this part was most important to me ... he agreed that they were warts indeed. A lesser doctor would have tried to stay with the original diagnosis. But he was honest enough to re-evaluate the situation once the beard was gone. He froze them off right away, all without charging any extra. THAT's a good doctor-- willingness to work with you and stay honest. Good work. read more

Dr. Shanker is an honest, direct doctor who knows dermatology extraordinarily well. I went to see him for an unusual skin situation (not a rash, not warts, or basic thing) and he asked me a battery of questions, which ultimately led to a biopsy. Beyond just getting the results, he took the time to speak with me over the phone for an extended period to make sure I understood what my condition was and essentially what the next steps would be - he even made sure I got my results quicker-than-usual and that the next specialist would have the full picture of my case. Dr. Shanker is as seasoned as dermatologists come - you can have full confidence in his knowledge, ability to reach an accurate diagnosis, and his advice. Any questions I had, he was able to answer and do so in a way that made sense to me. I'd highly recommend him and his staff (who are very people-centric and kind). read more

I have been going to Dr. Shanker for many years and he has taken care of my skin issues. I cannot be more pleased with him and his personal attention along with an outstanding and most accommodating staff. I have recommended many of my family and friends to him and they are very satisfied. Dr. Shanker is not only very experienced and knowledgeable but is very easy to communicate with. He puts everything in layman's terms so you can easily understand the situation and how it will be taken care of. read more

my experience has been positive. my mole was removed without pain but some bleeding. there is no scar. de s. called me to assure me there was no cancer. i recommend. read more

My family and I have been patients of Dr. Shanker for a number of years. We have seen him over that time for various dermatological related issues such as skin rashes, skin tags, warts, etc. I feel he is respectful of his patients' time, as I have always been seen on time. He makes it very convenient to make an appointment online (or by calling) at either his Chicago or Grayslake offices. I would recommend Dr. Shanker to anyone looking for a dermatologist. read more

This was one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a medical office. I left extremely upset. Dr. Shanker is unprofessional and a horrible listener. He made me feel unheard by lecturing about his skin philosophy without asking me any questions about my current routine or goals. He made assumptions about the kind of products I was using, imbuing his speech with judgment and adding to the frustration I felt as a patient who couldn't get a word in edgewise. He prescribed treatment that I had already tried before-- he hadn't bothered to ask if I had tried it and to what extent it worked for me. For the exam, I was given such a short time to undress I had to raise my voice to prevent him from opening the door to the hallway, and he did not use gloves or have a nurse or other person present to supervise, which made me especially uncomfortable given his inappropriate comment about my slim physique during his monologue about acne. I never post reviews, but I had to share my experience to prevent other people (especially young women) from making an appointment at this office. Dr. Shanker needs to learn to listen to his patients. read more

This is a great doctor if you know what your problem is and you need a prescription for the problem and you have no time to waste for waiting and talking about life. He is a "no nonsense" doctor, you get a quick appointment and you are quickly in and out and on your way. I have adult acne and I take antibiotics that work for me and I also use retin-A cream for acne and anti-aging. I see him once every 6 month to a year, get my prescription and I am all set and off to live my life. read more

Dr. Shanker was thorough, thoughtful and kind - all qualities I find make an excellent dermatologist. I'm typically a nervous patient, and found his demeanor to be patient and calming. I have seen him both for a skin issue and for a routine check up. In both instances, I thought his explanations of skin ailments were helpful and easy to understand. I have recommended his services to others, and will definitely continue to recommend him for his breadth of knowledge and warm personality. read more

I agree Dr Shanker is king of the 5 minute appointment, if you're lucky! I have been to see Dr Shanker several times with no success, he didnt spend more than 30 seconds listening to my problems, didnt even examine me and then writes me a prescription, suprise! It doesnt work. So I go back, another 1 minute appointment and another useless prescription, this time for some needless antibiotics, that's good for your health! I go to another dermo, one proper examination and hey presto! Solution, no more steroids, no more antibiotics, no more bad diagnoses. Don't do it! Go to someone else. read more

Only go to this doctor if you know what you have and just need a prescription refill. If it requires some brain power and a diagnosis, go to someone who actually has the mental capability to diagnose you and actually cares. It's literally a waste of time and copay. read more

Dr. Shanker has treated a number of my skin ailments over the years. I have always been impressed with his service and sincerity. Would highly recommend! read more

I did not have the best experience. I went in for adult acne and he wasn't too eager to hear out my medical history or even the products I have been using. He just assessed me within 2 minutes telling me that it's because I use moisturizer, which I openly disagreed with because I have been using moisturizer for a decade. I got a second opinion elsewhere and called and cancelled my follow-up with Dr Shanker. I am frustrated that I had to pay for bad advice. The only positive I can say is that it was incredibly easy to get an appointment. Considering my experience, I now don't find that surprsing. read more

I would highly not recommend this dermintologist based on my experience. This dr. Shanker rushed my appointment, blew off my concern and his only diagnosis was stop using my current products. Needless to say, waste of time, Not worth paying for parking and not worth the effort to deal with this Dr. and staff. read more

I should have read the other reviews beforehand :-( Dr. Shanker took a 5 second look at my skin, and declared me fine. I have a lot of sun damage and spots on my skin and I'm concerned about them. I even told him about my father's skin cancer and pointed out a suspicious spot, in my opinion, and he was like "eh, you're fine." In an effort not to waste my appointment time, I asked about having a tiny mole removed from above my eye. He said "sure, no problem." A few minutes later, I was out the door. Just received an email stating my credit card was charged $$$ for that removal because my insurance didn't cover it. DON"T SIGN THAT FORM UPON YOUR ARRIVAL!!! What a scam!!! I'm so pissed and livid and feel so taken advantage of. I was never informed of the charges involved with the removal. Mary in billing pretty much told me "so sad, too bad. Pay up." So much for customer service. read more

I should have read the previous reviews before making an app't here. I have never been so disgusted by a doctor in all my life. Not all people should become doctors - he made that very clear to me. He had terrible bed-side manner. He also suggested that I was making up the symptoms in my head... if a doctor ever tells you that, it's because he does not have enough expertise or patience, maybe, to figure out what your problem is. Not all doctors know what they're doing. Please know that. You cannot put your faith in every doctor you encounter. With decent study habits and enough money, ANYONE can go through med school. However, not everyone has the brains or compassion to be truly be a great doctor. He was a perfect example of such a doctor. The perfect example of MEDIOCRITY in the medical field. read more