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 which can be removed are:
- Compound naevi (Moles) or hairy naevus are usually elevated unsightly pigmented non-cancerous (benign) skin lesions. They frequently occur on the face, often called beauty spots.
Some people treasure them, while 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 frequently appear around areas of friction like the armpits, neck flank and thighs. They are simple to remove if small, often without anaesthesia. Do not freeze them with cryotherapy!
- Sebaceous cysts occur anywhere, and it is recommended they be removed early. If left they will gradually enlarge and – not infrequently – get infected. This results in a nasty abscess, which antibiotics will not cure. Why? The antibiotic cannot get into the cyst contents to kill the pathogen. Controlled trials have shown that early treatment, with complete excision under antibiotic cover, is effective. Ask your GP for a referral to a surgeon experienced at this procedure. This reduces the period of pain with immediate relief and instantly cures the problem in one hit.
Drainage of the abscess is not acceptable as it requires repetitive dressings and discomfort for three to four weeks with all the complications of antibiotic therapy – then you will still need the cyst removed at a later date!
An experienced surgeon is instantly able to diagnose and manage these common lesions and differentiate these lumps from a hernia. There is no need waste your or taxpayers’ money having ultrasounds – it does not alter the management!
