Do dermatologists remove skin lesions?

Dermatologists are medical doctors who specialise in diagnosing and treating skin, hair and nail problems. They are also known as “skin doctors” or “skin specialists”. They diagnose and treat several skin conditions including acne, eczema, psoriasis and skin cancer. They also perform procedures like biopsies and mole removal.

If you are wondering whether dermatologists remove skin lesions then let us tell you, yes. They can remove skin lesions. But, what are skin lesions, what causes these and how the dermatologist can remove them? Follow this guide to learn about all of this.

What Are Skin Lesions?

Skin lesions are areas of the skin that are different from the surrounding skin. They can appear as lumps, bumps, sores, patches or discolouration. There are different types of skin lesions, take a look:

• Freckles are round, brown spots that are more common in people with fair skin or red hair.
• Sunspots are light brown to black spots with clear borders. These are caused by excessive exposure to the sun.
• Nodules are small to medium growth that may be filled with tissue or fluid.
• Cold sores and blisters are lesions that usually go away on their own within a few weeks.
• Eczema and psoriasis are long-term skin lesions that need ongoing treatment.

Nodules, cold sores, freckles or psoriasis, whatever the type of skin lesion you have dermatologists can help you get rid of them. How? Let us tell you.

How Do Dermatologists Deal with Skin Lesions?

Dermatologists address skin lesions by first performing a thorough examination to diagnose the type of lesion. Based on the lesion’s characteristics, a dermatologist will choose the most suitable treatment method for you. The treatment method can include medications for minor issues and surgical removal for larger or suspicious lesions.

Your dermatologist may advise laser therapy and biopsy to check for cancer (if necessary). The treatment always depends on the type and severity of the skin lesion. Look at the treatment options a dermatologist may suggest for skin lesion removal depending on the size, type and location:

Topical Medications

A dermatologist can use topical medications to treat benign skin lesions such as retinoids and corticosteroids. The medication is applied to the skin. Mostly these topical medications are used to treat benign skin lesions.

Laser Therapy

Laser therapy can be used to remove skin lesions by heating the cells in the lesion until they break down. The focused beam of laser is targeted on a small area of the skin and it can target the specific cells. A low-level laser often red is applied to the lesion.

The skin’s mitochondria will absorb the light and energy causes the cells to break down. The body’s immune system will remove the breakdown particles. Laser therapy can remove skin lesions without scarring and the procedure is often quick and effective.

Radiation Therapy

A dermatologist can remove skin lesions with radiation therapy by using a machine to deliver low-energy X-rays directly to the lesion. It can effectively destroy the cancerous cells while minimising the damage to surrounding tissues. This procedure is often performed when the lesion is located in a sensitive area. Compared to other treatment options this is the minimal side-effect treatment method.

Chemotherapy

Your dermatologist will remove the skin lesion by applying a topical chemotherapy cream directly. In this treatment, the most commonly used drug is fluorouracil (5-FU). It essentially kills the cancerous cells on the skin’s surface and effectively treats superficial skin cancers. The cream will be applied directly to the affected area as prescribed by the skin specialist. Common side effects may include redness, irritation and burning in the area.

Biological Treatments

The dermatologist can remove skin lesions with biological treatments like creams, gels, freezing and laser therapy. Cream or gel can be prescribed to treat warts or actinic keratosis. These creams contain medicines and will effectively deal with the area where skin lesions are present.

Based on the size, location and type of skin lesion the treatment may vary from person to person. It is always better to ask a dermatologist instead of treating based on unprofessional knowledge.

Conclusion

Skin lesion removal is possible with a dermatologist as they have several treatment plans for you. The treatment plan can be personalised based on the type of skin lesions. Location, size and type of skin lesions are the factors that decide the treatment you will get.

It can be treated with topical medications, chemotherapy, laser therapy and biological treatments. Ask your skin specialists which type of the skin lesions you are having, what are the possible treatment options and side effects of the treatment.