What are Skin Lesions?

Skin Lesions

Skin Lesions are treated by the destruction of lesions (abdominal growth) of the skin by various methods. Skin lesions are removed for 3 main reasons: a concern that a lesion is malignant; concern about appearance; concern about irritation of the lesions by clothing.

This medical condition may be caused by various types of diseases; so many methods exist in treating them. The exact technique that is chosen depends on the type of skin lesion, its location, size, doctor’s preferences, and whether the skin lesions are benign or malignant. The lesions known as actinic keratoses, which are overgrowths of the horny outer layer of the skin are caused by sun exposure and may be removed by alternating application of the anticancer drug Fluorouacil and Triamcinolone acetate, which are used to lower symptoms of irritation caused by the fluorouracil. Patches of dilated blood vessels may be destroyed with an argon laser, and warts may be removed using a carbon dioxide laser. In a widely used technique cryotherapy, an application of liquid nitrogen destroys skin lesions by freezing them.

Any part of the lesion that remains after the frozen skin has healed may be removed with a scalpel. Other methods for treating skin lesions are: a method called curettement, in which a curette (a spoon-shaped instrument) is used to shave away the lesion in layers until normal skin is reached; cutting of stalked lesions with surgical scissors; wide excision; destruction by a heated needle or high-frequency current; and removal of the skin lesion by a biopsy punch. The main goal in treatment of skin lesions is to destroy the entire lesion and produce minimal scarring. Usually small lesions are removed by a dermatologist. In cases, where the lesion is large or complex, or if there are multiple lesions covering a large region, it is best to have a board-certified plastic surgeon performing the surgery.

This procedure is usually done in an outpatient surgery department or in a doctor’s office. The patient with large skin lesions requires brief hospital stay.

This entry was filed under Diseases and Conditions.