Minor Skin-Lesion Treatment

Because a number of skin cancers are mistaken for harmless bumps, including by the people who have lived with them for years. Once a lesion has been frozen or burned off there is nothing left to send to a laboratory, so a diagnosis that would have been made is simply lost. The examination costs you a few minutes and removes that possibility.

The examination itself is complimentary — there is no consultation charge for having a lesion assessed and identified. A booking fee is taken to hold the appointment with the physician, which reserves that time for you and reduces missed appointments. Reception will explain it when you book.

It is a handheld magnifier with a light source that lets a clinician see pigment patterns, vessels and structures just below the skin surface which are invisible to the naked eye. It often distinguishes a harmless lesion from one needing a biopsy, and it is painless — the device simply rests against the skin.

The local anaesthetic injection stings for a few seconds, and after that the area is numb. During treatment most people feel pressure, or cold with cryotherapy, rather than pain. Discomfort afterwards is usually mild and short-lived, and paracetamol is generally enough if anything is needed at all.

Any treatment that breaks the skin can leave a mark. Many small superficial sites heal with little or no visible trace, but a flat pale mark, a slight indentation or a colour difference is possible, and people who form thickened or keloid scars are at higher risk. Where a scar is likely, that trade-off is discussed before you decide, not after.

Yes, in one important respect. Deeper skin tones are more prone to visible pigment change after any inflammation, so a treated site may darken or, less often, lighten in a way that stands out more. It is a reason for a gentler technique and rigorous sun protection during healing, not a reason to avoid treatment.

Yes. Warts are caused by a virus that lives in the skin, so treatment removes the visible growth but does not necessarily clear the virus. Recurrence and the need for repeat treatment are common with warts, more so than with skin tags or sebaceous hyperplasia.

Several small superficial lesions can often be treated in the same visit, though this depends on where they are, how large they are and how much local anaesthetic is appropriate. Spreading them across visits is sometimes better for comfort and for aftercare, especially if the sites are in awkward places.

Cosmetic removal of a benign lesion is generally a private service, whereas the assessment or biopsy of a lesion that may be medically significant may be handled differently. Ask when you book so you know what applies to your situation before anything is done.

Yes. Treating an individual benign lesion is not a substitute for periodic skin checks, particularly if you have many moles, a history of significant sun exposure or sunburns, or a family history of skin cancer. Mention any of these at your appointment so you can be advised on appropriate monitoring or referral.