Skin growths

Skin growths can appear on everyone's skin. They can be found virtually everywhere on our body, depending mainly on the skin type. They tend to increase in number with age. There are several basic types of skin protuberances:

• Fibroma - Ligamentous skin growths similar to freckles, found mainly in the armpit groin and neck areas. They are harmless and only pose an aesthetic complication or may mechanically chafe.
• Keratoses - Bounded hypertrophy of the top layer of skin. They are grayish brown in colour, they split and get itchy on the surface, but they are harmless.
• Warts (Verrucas) - infectious viral tumours, most often on the hands and soles of feet, where they can even cause pain. Sometimes, the tubercles are grey, but they can also have the colour of skin.
• Milia - Small cysts on the face, they are smooth and whitish and vary between 1-2 mm in size. They are small cavities in the skin filled with sebum. They are more frequent for oily skin stypes and are harmless and only pose an aesthetic complication.
   

Skin growths which worry us for mechanical or aesthetic reasons, can be painlessly removed by the erbium laser. They can also be removed surgically and histologically examined afterwards (a small scar remains after the surgery).

Erbium Laser

Erbium laser evaporates the tissue of the growth by thin layers (in tenths of a millimetre). The result is only a surface wound which is gradually covered by a scab that usually disappears within a week. Its big advantage is the lack of a classic scar after the procedure.

The Course of the Procedure

• First, you will be examined by the digital dermatoscope
• The dermatoscope can magnify the growth up to 50 times, and thus reveal whether it is safe to use the erbium laser.
• The procedure is painless, an anesthetic gel or an injection of local anesthesia can be applied for greater comfort.
• The laser then gradually slices the growth by a well targeted beam, thus removing it and smoothing the skin surface.
• Only a surface wound remains which is naturally covered by a scab.
• The scab usually disappears within a week.
   

After the Procedure

It is good to know that the treated area must be protected from sunlight even a month or two after the surgery. Winter months are therefore the best period of the year for the procedure.

 

 

Consult the expert

Use our online consultation centre and ask our experts about anything you want to know about this procedure.