What are skin lesions?
Any abnormal bump, mole, or sore that develops on your skin is considered a skin lesion. Most skin lesions are benign, but if you find any abnormal growths on your skin, you shouldn’t hesitate to have it evaluated.
Common skin lesions include:
Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma are cancerous skin lesions that require immediate medical attention and management to prevent the skin cancer from spreading to other areas of your body.
How do I know if I need excision of a skin lesion?
For your health, you should be checking yourself regularly to not only identify skin lesions, but also so you know what your skin looks like normally should skin lesions appear later. The team at Dr. Bridget Bellingar DO & Associates also offers skin cancer screenings, which involve close inspection of your skin from your scalp to your toes to look for skin abnormalities.
If the team has concerns about any skin lesions they find, they can talk to you about your treatment options. Surgical excision, or removal, is the most common course of action for a skin lesion, especially for lesions that may be cancerous.
What can I expect during excision of skin lesions?
The experienced team at Dr. Bridget Bellingar DO & Associates offers many techniques to remove skin lesions based on the seriousness of the lesion, location, and your ability to tolerate the procedure. Some of the common methods include:
- Shave excision
- Full-thickness excision
- Curettage and electrodessication
- Laser excision
The team reviews the various techniques with you, including how they’re conducted, what to expect afterward, and recovery time, so together you can choose an excision technique that works best for you.
What happens after excision of skin lesions?
Recovery from the excision of your skin lesion may depend on the type of procedure used to remove your lesion. If the team has any concerns about the skin lesion, a sample of your extracted tissue is sent out for testing. The team reviews the findings of the test and provides additional treatment recommendations, if needed.
Most skin lesions may be harmless, but an evaluation and removal of the lesion may ease your mind. Call Dr. Bridget Bellingar DO & Associates or select the online booking button to schedule an appointment today.
