What is skin lesion removal?
Skin lesion removal is a procedure to remove growths on your skin. You may choose to have a skin lesion removed for a plethora of cosmetic reasons, or because it is potentially cancerous or precancerous. No matter the reason, at Skin Wellness Center, we can get rid of your skin lesion during a routine visit using cryotherapy, surgical excision, or ESKATA.
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy, also known as cryosurgery, uses liquid nitrogen to remove abnormal skin tissue. This treatment is recommended on basal cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, moles, and warts. Using the extreme cold of the liquid nitrogren, we will target and freeze any abnormal cells. After the procedure is over, the frozen tissue thaws and will either dissolve and form a scab or will be naturally absorbed by the body. We will use an MRI to guide the cryoprobe (a hollow instrument that circulates the liquid nitrogen) and will monitor the freezing process to limit damage to the nearby, healthy tissue. For external tumors, liquid nitrogen is applied directly to the cancerous cells with a cotton swab or spraying device.
What are the benefits?
- It is less invasive than surgery and only involves a small incision (which is made to insert the cryoprobe through the skin)
- You’ll experience less bleeding, pain, and complications compared to traditional surgery
- Treatments are inexpensive
- The recovery time is shorter, compared to surgery
- It is performed with local anesthesia
Since cryotherapy only targets a limited area, damage to healthy tissue is easily avoided. If your cancer is considered inoperable or does not respond to standard treatments, cryotherapy is an excellent option. Treatments can be safely repeated and used alongside chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and hormone therapy.
What is surgical excision?
Surgical excision, or excisional biopsy, relies of surgery to remove cells or skin samples from the skin’s surface. It is performed to rule out or diagnose serious skin conditions and diseases. A scalpel is used during the procedure to remove a lump or an entire area of abnormal skin. A small sample of normal skin and fatty tissue will also be removed during the procedure so that we can check for abnormal cell growth. Before the excision takes place, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area. With the biopsy site numb, you shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. Afterwards, we may close the wound with stitches and adhesive bandages will be placed over the excision to prevent bleeding.
What are the benefits?
They are extremely helpful and necessary for diagnosing:
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
- Actinic keratoses
- Psoriasis
- Moles
- Warts
- Dermatitis
After the biopsy is taken, we will send the skin sample to a lab for testing. The results will usually come back after several days or a few weeks. Once the results are in, we will discuss them with you and go over the next steps.
What is ESKATA?
ESKATA is an FDA-approved treatment for raised seborrheic keratoses (SKs). ESKATA is a topical treatment that uses hydrogen peroxide to remove SKs and provide clearer skin. Treatments are applied with a device similar to a felt-tip pen. The pen contains a 40% hydrogen peroxide solution, which is perfect for minimizing the appearance of raised SKs. During treatments, the felt-tip applicator is applied to any raised seborrheic keratoses. You may feel a slight tingling sensation, which indicates that the hydrogen peroxide solution is working. Once treatment is over, we will give you instructions on how to take care of your treated SKs from home.
What are the benefits?
- Quick treatments (30 minutes)
- With just two treatments, you can see results*
- There is no downtime and no lengthy recovery process
Candidates for ESKATA treatments have raised and/or shiny marks that look like light moles, freckles, or pimples. Treatments cannot be used on open and/or infected SKs, nor can they be used around the eyes.
Request skin lesion removal in Pinellas Park, Florida
For skin lesion removal in Pinellas County, Florida, schedule an appointment at Skin Wellness Center in Pinellas Park. During your in-office consultation we will determine the best method for removal. To get started, request an appointment online or give us a call at (727) 545-3376.