Skin Lesion Removal Specialist Q&A

A skin lesion is an atypical growth or discolored area on the skin. There are a seemingly endless list of skin conditions that are considered skin lesions because “skin lesion” is a general term used to describe basically any growth or color change. Skin lesion growths could be dangerous and life threatening. Differentiating between benign and malignant is an important job of professionals, and a single picture to a dermatologist could reveal a mysterious growth to be a life threatening emergency. Here are some skin lesions one could have:

• Mole (nevus)
• Skin tags
• Cyst
• Lipoma
• Angioma
• Dermatosis papulosa nigra
• Actinic keratosis
• Seborrheic keratoses

Treatment will depend on the size of the lesion, how deep it is and where it is on your body. You may experience one of the following procedures depending on the benign skin lesion to be removed:

• Partial removal — This is where your doctor cuts the lesion off at the base so it is even with the surrounding skin. This may be combined with cautery, which seals the skin and stops bleeding. This procedure is used for lesions such as keratosis, shallow moles and skin tags.

• Complete removal — This is where the entire lesion is surgically removed. Your doctor will remove the lesion and some of the tissue around it and you may need stitches afterwards. This is a technique used for larger moles or for lesions which are suspected to be cancerous.

• Freezing — Also known as cryotherapy, it can be used to remove warts, skin tags and keratosis. The liquid nitrogen is applied to the lesion for about 10 seconds. A blister will form which, when it falls off, will take the lesion with it. Not all centers offer this treatment.

• Curettage — This is where your doctor will carefully cut out the lesion and is generally used for warts. It is often combined with cryotherapy or cautery. This may not be available at all centers.

Skin lesions come in many different shapes and sizes:

• Annular — round or circular with central clearing
• Circinate — round, circular > arciform: partial circle
• Iris or target — also known as target lesions, they are a series of concentric rings. These have a dark or blistered center.
• Gyrate— connecting arcs
• Linear — straight
• Serpiginous — meandering; waves as though following the track of a snake.
• Margination — sharp, ill-defined
• Satellite Lesions — located adjacent to the body of the main lesions, a beefy red plaque may be found surrounded by numerous, smaller red macules.
• Zosteriform — dermatomal

They also appear in different patterns, over different parts of the body:

• Localized — grouped into specific areas
• Generalized — dispersed all over
• Symmetric — no pattern
• Asymmetric — pattern lacking randomness
• Discrete — separate
• Grouped — clustered
• Confluent (coalescing) — smaller into larger
• Cleavage plane — presented along lines of skin tension

If you or someone you know is experiencing skin lesions, don’t worry! At Dr. Shima Hadidchi MD Family Practice, we’re here to help! We have certified specialists to help you find the solution you need! Contact our office today to get in touch with a specialist. To book an appointment, call us or visit us online! We serve patients from Victorville CA, Apple Valley CA, Adelanto CA, Hesperia CA, Crestline CA, Highland CA, Barstow CA, and BEYOND!