General Dermatology Overview of Skin Lesions
- Lesions on your skin can occur anywhere on the body, for women and men of all ages. The most common types of skin lesions include Nevi (raised and flat moles), Seborrheic Keratoses, Cherry Angiomas, Fibroepithelial Polyps (skin tags), Sebaceous Hyperplasias, and Milia. These lesions can be unsightly and may also be uncomfortable, since they can get caught on clothing, jewelery and cause irritation and inflammation due to rubbing in areas of friction.
- Removal of a mole can be completed by either shave excision (no sutures required) or by surgical excision (cutting a small piece of skin and suturing area). Rest assured that your practitioner is highly trained to identify malignancies, any lesion suspected to be precancerous or malignant will be biopsied and evaluated by a dermatopathologist. The advantage to your specimen being read by a dermatopathologist is that they specialize in skin and skin-related neoplasms only, qualifying them to be absolute experts in this area.
Seborrheic Keratoses
- Seborrheic Keratoses are benign genetic lesions, common after the age of 30 years old. They take on a variety of shapes and colors but are typically light brown, oval and have a scaly texture. These can be removed by shave excision, cauterization, or liquid nitrogen application. Your practitioner will advise which therapy is the best route for you at your consultation. These do tend to recur eventually, but many patients can enjoy years of clearance of the specific lesions that were treated. Once you begin to develop Seborrheic Keratosis, you are likely to continue to have more arise
Cherry Angiomas
- Cherry Angiomas are small, red vascular growths, which are fed by a tiny network of blood vessels at their base. These lesions are benign and are removed through shave excision and cautery (using a small-tipped tool to burn area) to heat the base of lesion in order to shut down the network of blood vessels. Smaller cherry angiomas can be treated effectively with cauterization alone.
Fibroepithelial Polyps
- Fibroepithelial Polyps are more commonly known as skin tags. These tend to occur on surfaces of the skin that are exposed to rubbing or friction, such as the underarm or the neck in those who wear necklaces and ties frequently. These also can arise for no reason on those who have a genetic tendency for them. Removal is typically achieved through shave or scissor excision, no sutures required.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
- Sebaceous Hyperplasias are small skin-colored, yellow or pink, benign donut shaped lesions that typically appear on the face and upper neck. The appropriate skin care regimen can help to prevent these oil-loving bumps, but cauterization is an extremely effective method for removal. Depending on the size and amount of lesions that you have, multiple treatments are typically recommended initially. These areas heal beautifully and can make a drastic change in the texture and appearance of your facial skin.
Milia
- Milia are extremely common and occur mainly on the face. These pesky lesions are caused by clogging of the pore and upset the appearance of the facial skin complexion. A healthy skin care regimen, extractions (releasing the content in the pore) and cosmetic facial treatments performed by our long-time medical esthetician Wendy will help to treat and prevent these unsightly lesions.
Treatment
- Removal of skin lesions is a quick and fairly painless procedure for the patient but should always be performed by a highly skilled and experienced practitioner to minimize scarring as much as possible and ensure an easy, successful healing process. The precise, delicate technique you will receive at Advanced Cosmetic Laser and Surgery Center is unmatchable and the care you will receive will be of the highest quality with the extensive education and training of our practitioners.
* Based on agreed upon expectations and goals achieved through the consultative process.
