BY DR ROGER DOWN, MBBS, FRCS, FRACS, MD (LOND)
Unfortunately, many of us are born with or develop unsightly moles, skin lesions or lumps. Can they be fixed? The truth is, some can and others cannot.
Common lesions that can be removed include:
- Compound naevi (moles) or hairy naevus are usually elevated, unsightly, pigmented non-cancerous (benign) skin lesions. They frequently occur on the face, often referred to as beauty spots. Some people treasure them, others regard them as cosmetically unacceptable and prefer to have them removed. For a good cosmetic result, choose a qualified plastic or specialist skin reconstructive surgeon. Remember, straight line scars stand out and are unsightly, so choose wisely.
- Skin tags are frequently found around areas of friction, like armpits, neck, flank, and thighs. They are simple, if small, to remove often without anaesthesia. Do not freeze them with cryotherapy!
- Sebaceous cysts occur anywhere, and it is recommended that they be removed early. If left, they will gradually enlarge and often become infected. This results in a nasty abscess that antibiotics will not cure. Why? The antibiotic cannot get into the cyst contents to kill the pathogen. Controlled trials have shown that the treatment is early complete excision under antibiotic cover. Ask your GP for a referral to a surgeon who is experienced in this procedure. This reduces the period of pain with immediate relief, instantly curing the problem in one go.
Drainage of the abscess is now not acceptable as it requires repetitive dressings and discomfort for three to four weeks, with all the complications of antibiotic therapy. You will still need the cyst removed at a later date.
An experienced surgeon can instantly diagnose and manage these common lesions, differentiating them from hernias. There is no need to waste your or taxpayers’ money on ultrasounds. It does not alter the management!
More next time. Have fun, take care, and God bless.
