I have seen Dr. Schmidt for more than 15 years and she always does an excellent job taking care of my skin issues. She is very kind and listens patiently. It is also usually easy to get in to see her without a long wait. read more

Stay clear from Lucy Schmidt. I have had 2 very disappointing visits at her office, the first was for myself, having a growth on my face looked at. She looked at it briefly and confidently told me it was nothing to worry about. I inquired about cosmetic removal and she brushed it off and just said it wasn't necessary. Fast forward and I am going to get it cosmetically removed (by a different dermatologist) and she was concerned and sent it in for biopsy turns out it's basal cell carcinoma. My second experience with Lucy was with my daughter who has moderate eczema. I was referred to Lucy by my pediatrician and when we walked in to the office and I started to take my daughters socks of to show Lucy her eczema she said literally said 'I know what eczema looks like I don't need to see it' then proceeds to just prescribe me a stronger steroid for her and hands me a 2 page handout on eczema with information I could find on google. Be warned, DO NOT see Lucy. She is NOT a good doctor. She is not attentive, she is not thorough, she clearly does not care for her patients. read more

As other reviewers have stated, the receptionist is extremely rude. I was going to schedule an appointment for an active medical issue but had to end the phone call just because of the receptionist. Made me feel like I was compromising my dignity. What a bummer. read more

Dr Lucy Schmidt is very knowledgeable and thorough. When she has removed several concerning areas on my face, there is never a scar. She hides the stitches in a fold so it is not visible. read more

Very friendly, been going to her for 20 years. highly recommend. Some reviewers mentioned that her receptionist was very unfriendly. I never encountered that but the ones she has now are very friendly. read more

I saw Dr. Schmidt to have some keratosis lesions removed using liquid nitrogen. It didn't work the first time so I came back a month later to repeat the process. She sprayed them again using liquid nitrogen but this time it was more intense. It was sprayed on my skin, not just the lesions. When she was finished she said I would have blisters and not to rub them. She also said liquid nitrogen is bad for the skin, after she just sprayed it all over my skin! Most of the lesions were on my neck and back so I couldn't see them when I was there. When I got home I used a mirror to look at them. There were huge, bright red, puffy blisters. It was very shocking! I did not rub them but just wearing clothes and other daily activities does cause some rubbing. They started oozing sticky fluid on the first day and were very itchy. There was also some bleeding and soreness. The oozing and itching had settled down after 7 days, although far from cleared up. I have seen different dermatologists over the years to have these types of lesions removed and it always worked the first time and there were never any blisters or unusual discomfort. This experience with Dr. Schmidt has been very distressing! read more

Has the worst receptionist. Avoid Lucy to avoid the receptionist. Makes you and appointment for a time when the office isn't open and gets her jollies doing so. read more

We came here to get away from dermatologists who are focused on selling cosmetic services and are very happy with the venerable Dr Lucy.

As someone who is in regular need of identification and removal of skin damage I've always been pleased with Dr. Schmidt's bedside manner, skill, and availability. Honestly I don't want more people showing up so I can't get an appointment for 6+ weeks like my previous dermatology practice but I think it's fair to give credit where credit is due. read more

As someone who has interacted with at least 7 Dermatologists in my lifetime, I can honestly say that Dr. Lucy Schmidt stands among the best of them, if not, she is the best Dermatologist whom I've had the pleasure to meet. I greatly appreciated her sincere, honest and professional approach to my problem. SHE WAS PATIENT AND I DID NOT GET THE SENSE THAT SHE WAS IN A HURRY TO LEAVE. She answered all of my questions and concerns. When the time came to remove my lesion, she did it with great expertise and care and she was very efficient. I like her simple no nonsense approach to my problem and I did not fear being surprised with an exorbitant bill. In fact, the reason why I ended up seeing Dr. Schmidt was because the Dermatologist's office whom I was scheduled (waitlisted for over a month) to have the minor surgery, could not tell me what they were going to charge. I went around in circles for the month I was waiting to see this doctor and the office and their large corporate billing department could not tell me what the cost would be. One simple initial visit to Dr. Schmidt's office and I was given a fair quote and immediately scheduled my procedure. By the way, scheduling with Dr. Schmidt's office was extremely easy and I did not have to wait for a long period at all. After reading other reviews, especially about her front office assistant, I must say that I did not have any negative experiences. I realize some people might have less than stellar days, both employees and patients, and I also believe that some reviewers have different expectations but my experience with the office staff was nothing but good - so you can put this review in the great experience column and, like always, take some reviewer's reviews with a grain of salt. If you like simple, honest, educated (she is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford), efficient, reasonably priced care without being pushed to buy the Nordstrom's counter of facial products or other grandiose treatments, this office and doctor is for you. I, too, am a physician who has occasion to see and examine patient's general skin conditions and I will not hesitate to refer them to Dr. Schmidt. I've already referred some family members to her as well. read more

Everything about my first appointment with Dr Schmidt more than above my expectations. Making the the appointment was easy, finding the location was easy and parking was very easy. Dr. Schmidt is professional and knowledgeable She was able to make me feel very comfortable immediately. If you are looking for a dermatologist, do not hesitate to contact Dr Schmidt read more

Dr. Schmidt is very empathetic and very easy to talk to. She explained my condition to me in detail and answered all of my questions. She explained the various therapies that are available to me (OTC and prescription) and she explained the pros and cons of each medication. She made a specific recommendation and after using the recommended product for several days my skin condition cleared up. Dr. Schmidt explained that I have a chronic skin condition, but she was very encouraging in assuring me that the regimentation of medications would keep the condition under control. read more

Dr. Schmidt and her staff have made each of my appointments easy as can be. The young woman at the front desk never hesitates to get me an appointment right away and is always so kind when I get to the office. Dr. Schmidt has wonderful bedside manner. She never makes me feel rushed no matter how busy she is. Most importantly, Dr. Schmidt is never dismissive of any of my concerns and I truly feel she takes my worries seriously. read more

Great doctor, knows her stuff, detail oriented and will take the time to explain. It was easy to get an appointment and I appreciate that!

The front desk receptionist is extremely unprofessional and rude. I had a last minute meeting come up and I wasn't sure if I could make my appointment, so I called to let them know and possibly reschedule. I told the receptionist I would try my best to make it. She tells me, "well it sounds like you're not going to come and we don't want you to try your best to come and we'll charge you $45 if you don't come," leaving me no other choice but to cancel my appointment. Thanks for being so accommodating and understanding, I really appreciate it, NOT. Things come up that are out of our control, I would at least expect the receptionist to be understanding, but instead I was met with an incredibly rude and disrespectful tone. read more

I used to see a private physician in San Carlos, (meaning not engaged with any monopolisitc healthcare providers) - I could call any time 9 to 5 and get an appointment sometimes the same day. I've been enrolled with Palo Alto Medical Foundation for over a year now (soon to become Essence Healthcare) and I'm in their Gold Advantage program. My primary care physycian referred me to Dr. Schmidt for some small skin anomalies. I called Dr. Schmidt's office one afternoon and the receptionist said Dr. Schimdt was out on family emergency. OK, fine I waited 2-1/2 weeks and called the same time around 3PM and the receptionist said the office only took calls from 9AM to 1 PM. Calling at 10AM I was asked a few preliminary questions including my reason for wanting an appointment, I said I had a referral from another doctor in the network they call Sutter Health (bought out PAMF) , then she wanted to know my insurance which I gave her and she said "Oh, sorry Dr. Schmid doesn't accept patients in any Advantage programs." So many questions unanswered bt I am thinking of switching to Kaiser, where everything is under one roof, and they don't put people through the crap I've been going through! read more

What a nightmare! First off, Dr. Schmidt and her receptionist are both extremely rude! The doctor gave me a prescription for a tropical cream, I brought it to the pharmacist - unfortunately, I had some issues with my insurance so I gave the receptionist a call. She told me that it was an over-the-counter cream and that I didn't need to bring it to the pharmacist. I asked her if I could talk to the doctor because I knew she wasn't telling me the right information. She kept getting irritated with me and asking, "Why do you want to talk to the doctor? (sigh) Okay well she'll have to call you back." I missed the doctor's initial call and then when I called her back, I heard her in the background say, "Well this wouldn't be an issue if she picked up my call in the first place." It gets worse. I asked the doctor if she could please call my insurance because my insurance had asked me if my doctor could call them to resolve a claim with the tropical cream. Dr. Schmidt got so annoyed, she said, "NO, I will not do that. NO, I won't. I don't have time for this. Do you know how much time it takes for me to call insurance?" I asked her, "And your receptionist can't do this for you?" Not only that, I asked them the day of my appointment how much copay I needed to pay. They said, "Nothing. If your cream doesn't work, you can come back then." Then they send me a big fat bill in the mail today. Nightmare. Do not go to this place. read more

I have received wonderful treatment from Dr. Schmidt. She was able to cure a skin condition in a very short time, when a prior dermatologist spent years trying to do so, to no avail. She is very knowledgeable, personable, and thorough. She does not deserve a 1-star review because someone does not care for her receptionist, or a lower than 5-star review because she doesn't do 'cosmetic' dermatology. I recommend her highly. read more

It's been about 5 or 6 years since the last time I saw Dr. Schmidt and I have nothing but great things to say about her. My Mom has also seen her a few times and has had positive experiences as well. After reading previous reviews about the office receptionist I wasn't too surprised. I remember her being somewhat cold and that she would speak to people in a short tone. I actually just called to make an appointment and sure enough the 2 things she said to me were "are you a new patient?" and "can you call back in 10 minutes? I have someone here." Who does that??? Either way I'll still go back just based on the doctor...that is if I'm ever able to make an appointment. read more

Very happy with Dr. Schmidt. I got a cyst removed from my back. She did a wonderful job with the small surgery. I have no complaints at all. Easy parking. Covered by my insurance plan. Easy to book appointment. Recommended. read more

We'll never go back! I booked an appt for my son and husband to get annual skin checks only. They billed my 17 year old son $ 50 more for some reason that they won't give me. They coded it higher. I absolutely refuse to pay especially after being talked to rudely by the front desk gal. She has zero people skills. Healthcare is so expensive as is at least we deserve an explanation and politeness. From other reviews this is how this office rolls......Bye bye!! read more

The front desk person is so RUDE. She is quick in her responses, does not say thank you and has no manners. Doctor Schmidt, however is great. I would definitely recommend getting a new receptionist, she shouldnt be working there. Ruins the environment, and the atmosphere of her clients. read more

I chose Dr. Schmidt after reading the reviews here. I had a very positive experience that far exceeded my expectations. It made my day and I left feeling happy. There was easy parking right in front. There was a garden right outside a big window in the waiting room. The receptionist was nice. I didn't have to wait long to see the doctor. I felt like I got expert treatment. It cost about 1/3 of what I expected. I was in and out of there quickly. read more

My son and I have seen Dr Schmidt for quite some time now (last time for flee bites got on Caltrain. Really?!). Dr Schmidt is amazing as everyone agrees. Knowledgeable, caring, we totally trust her! Her receptionist Leslie has always been very nice and pleasant to talk to (aside from being extremely efficient and organized with her work), seems like a very different person as some people described on Yelp. For a while I really thought they must have two receptionists lol read more

Wait- what the heck? I walked in yesterday to schedule an appointment for today after already seeing the doctor. The receptionist was distracted and answered a personal call on her cellphone while I patiently waited. I made the appointment anyway after waiting for some time. Today I woke up with a fever and after trying to rally decided it was better to call and cancel. I apologized and the same receptionist ( who answered the phone laughing and talking to someone in the background) said to me rudely: "No. you need to come in." What? I work in healthcare too and this is crazy inexcusable. Also my first visit with the Doctor left less to be desired. She gave me a cream for psoriasis and told me to "try it out." It's not a good sign if your receptionist (the face of your practice) cares more about her cellphone, ignores you and then berates you. Do not go here. read more

I have been to Dr. Schmidt a few times, even though I have Kaiser insurance. I liked her the first time I went a few years ago, and even more so after my most recent appointment! Dr. Schmidt got me in for an urgent appointment a few days before my wedding. She is very experienced, professional, personable, and respectful (as in, she really listens). I was shocked by how affordable the appointment was, considering I paid out of pocket. It was very sweet how excited she was that I was getting married. I am so thankful she helped me in a very important time! read more

2 words .. Never. Again. First, the receptionist gave me a hard time about my referral even though it was what my doctor gave me. Second, I don't need to hear about how you were already closed out of the system because you thought your day was over. Um, the office closes at 5pm and it was 430pm. Second, as soon as Dr.Schmidt took me into the examining room she told me she couldn't help me. I had barely sat on the examining table. I'm not sure she couldn't help me because of the issue with the referral (I am covered 100% thru my job) or because she genuinely couldn't. What really sucks is, I thought I would get the help I've been needing because of all the great reviews here on yelp. Guess not. read more

I just got back from a visit to Dr. Schmidt and I was a little skeptical of all of the great reviews - I was wrong in my assumptions and I am very glad that I was wrong. Upon entering, Dr. Schmidt's office isn't your glammed up space - it's a bit older (though I appreciated the skin-related doctor's cartoon strips along the wall - gave me a few chuckles!) but I appreciated that. It's a no-frills environment. Dr. Schmidt was patient with me - not the usual rushing to get me out of there to see her next patient whatsoever. I had a LOT of questions about my skin (acne-prone) and discussed with Dr. Schmidt all of the remedies I've tried. She was patient, understanding, listened to all of my stories and took her time in explaining the potential causes and even went as far as to go into medical term explanations (totally beyond my understanding)! When I had follow-up questions (and I did have a lot), she was thorough with her answers and examination. She really is an expert in the field of medicine and dermatology. She even went as far as to take out her medical encyclopedia to make sure she was giving me the proper side-effects of the medication that I will be taking! I highly recommend seeing Dr. Schmidt. Her wonderful bedside manners combined with empathy (so rarely experienced in doctors, sorry I have to be honest) has made me really change my mind about dermatologists (and trust me, I've seen over 30 in the last 18 years). read more

I love this doctor. She is a straight to the point, no nonsense, no frills, no medi spa stuff. I mean I love medi spa, but I don't want my doctor to be selling me facials when I have a real skin problem. Dr. Lucy really knows her stuff and is very honest with her patients. I have been going to her for years and have always been happy. My husband has seen her a few times and always gets the answers he is looking for. Another bonus is her prices. She takes many insurances, but even when I was switching insurances I had to pay out of pocket and it was very affordable! read more

Dr. Schmidt was dismissive and didn't really listen to me at all (I don't think she cared what I had to say about my own skin). She also gave me the WRONG diagnosis. She told me I had sun damage and that isn't what was going on with my skin at ALL. I wear SPF 30 on a regular basis as I have fair skin so when she told me that it just didn't sit right. I felt like she really wanted just to get rid of me rather than help me. Not a good feeling! I sought out a second opinion with Dr. Jennifer Boldrick who really listened to what I was experiencing and worked with me to find the right solution. If you are looking for a great dermatologist look up Dr. Boldrick. read more

Dr. Lucy Schmidt is like the German grandma I never had (and I'm not German but today I wish I was!). She might not have the accent to make it authentic, but is a very very very experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly doctor (dermatologist) who is also good with the little ones (child friendly waiting area with a bowl of buffet style M&Ms, aka help yourself, and so I did!). She makes you feel very at ease, and can be a little witty in her delivery or talking about instructions of how to apply medications. I went in today and showed her my right thumb, the only part where the skin was dry and cracking. Without even looking close she knew how to diagnose, and guessed that I handle metallic objects quite a bit. No time wasted, literally prescribed treatment that I needed within a minute. This doctor is amazing. She won't waste your time with medical prescriptions if all you need is a little bit of topical cream from a pharmacy (where you might end up with a huge tube that you don't use up all of it)...she'll hook you up with some samples. 5 cracked and peeling skin thumbs up! Hopefully after the treatment, 5 healthy smooth skin thumbs up! read more

I am writing this review because i think it's important for Dr. Schmidt to know how her staff treat prospective patients on the phone. I phoned Dr. Schmidt's office this morning on the recommendation of my Allergist. I've had a rash on my face for over a month and requested an appointment. I was offered an appointment for 'next Monday' which was actually two weeks from now. When i asked if she didn't mean an earlier date, she said no, that was the date. I then asked if she had anything earlier because I've had this rash for sometime and need to be seen. She then said if i changed my mind and wanted the appointment she offered, to phone back. I asked her if the doctor knew about her attitude towards prospective patients and she started attacking me verbally and then hung up on me. When you make a doctor's appointment, you are seeking help, not abuse from the staff. This is unconscionable behavior. read more

I'd give more stars if it were possible. I've seen her a few times over the past few years and have always gotten excellent care. But today, she (and yes, the receptionist you will read about if you are looking at reviews) came to my rescue today! After going through Kaiser Hell for two weeks (story for a different time) to get a growth on my lip taken care of with no success, I finally decided the hell with insurance and called for an appointment Tuesday late afternoon. "The receptionist" got me in at 7:15 on Friday morning in a call that lasted less than 3 minutes. My kind of phone call. Both Dr. Schmidt and her receptionist were very understanding and empathetic to my situation. Dr. Schmidt explained what was going on, what she was going to do and why, and made me feel more at ease than I have since this thing appeared. 30 minutes later I was out the door. And take a deep breath about anything you read about her receptionist. She is efficient. Personally, I like her and find her funny if you take a minute to really talk to her. At the end of the day, if you're looking for a great Doctor, establish your priorities. Do you want a hug when you walk in the door or do you want to call, and get an appointment in under 5 minutes with an amazing dermatologist? read more

I first went to Dr Lucy to check on my Rosacea. She took time and answered all my questions. She prescribed me some medications and its helping already. I will definitely return to Dr Lucy for any dermatology needs. I agree with others about the receptionist part. She is rude and very unfriendly but I go to doctor's office to see a doctor not a receptionist. read more

I went to doctor Schmidt to remove my 2 pillar cysts, it was quick and smooth, very good service, professional and friendly. A good experience for me as a foreigner patient read more

Dr Schmidt is awesome! She's very knowledgable and kind, she listened to me carefully and understood my skin issues right away. I left her office feeling positive and happy I would definitely recommend Dr. Schmidt! read more

I visited Dr. Schmidt about a week and a half ago and had a really good experience. I called and got an appointment that I had to wait about 2 weeks for. I got there a few minutes before my appointment and the receptionist was friendly to me. I filled out some paperwork, paid the co-pay and within 5 minutes I saw the doctor. Dr. Schmidt was very attentive. I clearly laid out my 3 concerns and she explained all three, offered solutions, and got me out quickly. My biggest concern was my acne that even at 27 just won't completely away. I must say with the 2 prescriptions she gave me - my skin has cleared up so much and the red puffiness is gone. She knew exactly what to prescribe for me. I'm really happy with my experience and recommend her. read more

I just visited Dr. Schmidt this week based on other Yelp reviews. I like her office location, because I run a lot of errands down in San Mateo. And it *is* nice to have free and easy parking. But I'm not sure I'll go to Dr. Schmidt again. She certainly seems capable and knowledgeable. But she only does medical dermatology and does not address anything cosmetic. I am looking for a one-stop dermatologist who can do both. As for personality, Dr. Schmidt is nice but a bit reserved. Unfortunately, her receptionist comes off as very unfriendly and lacking warmth, which added some negativity to the office visit experience. Anyway, Dr. Schmidt is probably a good choice if you're looking for a dermatologist on the peninsula who can address a specific medical skin condition or issue. But if you're looking for a warm and fuzzy experience or a dermatologist who can address what would be considered cosmetic issues, you may want to look somewhere else. read more

Going to start off by saying that since moving to San Mateo from Vancouver I have felt so welcome and warm inside. This was not the case upon communicating with this dermatology office. The doctor has really great reviews and a friend from bible study recommended her to me for my sun spots and dry skin I've been wanting to take care of. The receptionist literally killed my experience. She was so rude over the phone and would not answer any of my questions about what type of insurance they accepted. When I told her if she could speak a little louder, she snapped at me and said "fix your phone, ours is perfectly fine lady" I then told her I was on my cell and volume was all the way up. She hung up on me. When I called back she basically told me that she didn't have time for me or my phone issues and that it was not my fault I was deaf. Seriously people! The nerve of this person! I should've taken the time to read the reviews on "the receptionist Leslie" b/c let me tell you, they are not good! I will be taking my business elsewhere! Terrible when "employees" kill your image as a doctor! read more

Dr. Schmidt is a great dermatologist. She helped me to get rid of scene problems I had had for 14 years. It took a year, but now I'm the happiest person in the world! Now I visit her with each skin issue and get a great service. Thank you! read more