Your Ultimate Guide to Common Benign Skin Lesions
Skin lesions are extremely common; most people have them and an overwhelming majority of them are benign. Benign skin lesions can present themselves in many different ways, from freckles and moles, to skin tags and ‘age spots’. Whilst many people are not fazed by their ‘lumps and bumps’, others may feel self-conscious by their appearance and therefore seek removal treatment.
Recently, we have seen a huge increase in patients enquiring about their benign skin lesions seeking an effective and safe treatment. As a result, we have enlisted the help of Dr Tanja Phillips, one of the UK’s leading laser specialists, who will now be offering laser removal treatment for all lumps, bumps and benign lesions here at our London based aesthetic clinic.
But, before we talk about our method for treating your benign skin lesions, let’s look at the most common benign skin lesions in a bit more detail.
Moles
A mole (otherwise known as a nevus) is a Formation of pigment that cluster, rather than spreading out over the skin. They are smooth-edged brown spots that can vary in size and are usually harmless. However, moles can change in appearance due to several different factors, most commonly sun exposure. It is always important to seek medical advice immediately if you notice any changes or become concerned. Click here to see the NHS guidance for Moles.
Skin Tags
Skin tags are made up of blood vessels and collagen fibres. They are smooth and ‘fleshy’, often hanging loose from the skin without causing any pain or discomfort. Skin tags tend to develop on areas of the skin that rub together, such as the groin, underarm and under the breast. They also commonly appear around the neck area. They are harmless, but can impact on a person’s self-esteem.
There are many ‘do it yourself’ tricks and tips that we have heard through the years (tightly tying cotton thread around the base of the tag is one of them!) but we would strongly recommend seeking medical assessment and assistance for the removal of skin tags.
Solar Lentigo/Lentigines
Otherwise known as ‘Age spots’ or ‘sun spots’, solar lentigines are pigmented areas of the skin. Usually a brown/greyish colour, they can occur on any area of the skin that has been exposed to the sun and often develop over many years.
Although sun spots are common and fairly simple to remove, being aware of the dangers of sun damage is vital. It is important to protect your skin every day with a SPF50 (we highly recommend Heliocare 360) to prevent further damage to skin health.
Seborrhoeic Keratosis
Seborrhoeic Keratosis (also known as seborrhoeic warts) are rough, wart-like skin growths that vary in colour and are generally harmless. Although they can affect people at any age, they tend to develop more as we grow older and often run in families.
Seborrhoeic keratosis can be safely left alone, but for many they can become unsightly and a cause of discomfort. It is also possible for solar lentigines to develop into seborrhoeic keratosis, as a thickened crust can form over the affected area.
Treatment
Using Fotona’s award winning laser technology (Fotona SP Dynamis), Dr Tanja Phillips is able to undertake benign skin lesion removal treatments that are simple yet highly effective.
For raised lesions, the laser emits a highly focused beam of light that removes (‘shaves down’) the area, so that it becomes flush with the skin. Scarring and surrounding skin damage is minimised by adjusting the depth of the laser’s penetration. For pigmented lesions such as solar lentigines, Fotona’s versatile multi-wave Q Switch system (Fotona Starwalker) is used to break down the offending pigment safely, without adversely affecting the skin.
For many patients, only one treatment session is required, with no scarring and often no evidence of a lesion ever being present! Local anaesthetic is not required and although treatment times will vary from patient to patient, most sessions are quick. You could pop in on a lunch break and be back to your day in no time! So, it’s no wonder patients are seeking laser treatment for their benign skin lesion removal rather than more traditional methods!
Please note: It is important that only benign lesions are treated. Dr Tanja Phillips will conduct a thorough skin assessment during patient’s first consultation, ensuring the most appropriate treatment is undertaken. The safety and wellbeing of our patients is paramount. In the unlikely event that Dr Tanja is unable to proceed with the treatment, she will signpost patients to other appropriate medical professionals/services.
If you would like to discuss the removal of a benign skin lesion, contact the clinic here to book you face to face consultation with Dr Tanja Phillips.