At DERMABARE, a med spa located in Laguna Niguel, California, Ramin Tayani, MD and his team can identify problematic lesions and carry out the minor surgery required to remove them safely. If you have a mole or lesion on your skin that’s beginning to bother you, it’s best to err on the side of caution and have it professionally removed.
Skin lesions: an overview
Skin lesion is an umbrella term that covers many different types of skin-based protrusions. These growths are often harmless, but it’s important to identify and monitor any marks that appear on your skin, especially if they change size, shape, or color. Your doctor might identify your lesion as one of the following:
- A skin tag or mole
- Keratosis pilaris (a harmless build-up of keratin that plugs a hair follicle)
- A wart
- A cold sore or herpes
- Eczema
- A sebaceous cyst (lump filled with excess sebum)
- A keloid (excess scar tissue)
This list is not exhaustive, and some marks might not be easily identified. As long as you’re not bothered by the lesion, and your doctor rules it as benign, you can leave it be. However, removal is preferable or necessary in some cases.
When to consider lesion removal
There are a few factors that might lead to your doctor suggesting that a lesion be removed. In some cases, the lesion might grow or change in a way that suggests malignancy (or pre-malignancy). While many marks on the skin are harmless, it’s always good to be cautious.
Certain lesions can also make people self-conscious, which can lead them to have the growths removed for their own peace of mind.
Benign skin lesions might be removed because they’re:
- In the way (near the eye, near orifices, on the hands)
- Being irritated by bra straps, collars, waist bands, etc.
- Infectious (lesions like warts might be removed for this reason)
- Causing pain or inflammation
Regardless of the reason, removal of skin lesions is a minor surgery that can be handled in-house at our office. If you’re feeling anxious about the procedure, here’s what to expect.
What to expect from lesion removal
A surgical excision is a very short, simple surgery that involves shaving the lesion from your skin. Some of the surrounding skin might be removed as well, to prevent re-growth and ensure that you heal normally.
Your doctor might recommend that the collected tissue be sent off for testing, though this isn’t something to worry too much about. It’s just a precaution to make sure that the growth was not malignant in any way.
If you have a lesion that’s beginning to bother you, don’t be afraid to get it checked out and removed. You can get in touch with the team at DERMABARE by calling 949-545-6600, or by requesting an appointment online.