Skin lesion treatment or removal

Skin lesion removal is a procedure or surgery to remove growths on your skin. You may have a skin lesion removed because it is too big, bothersome, or uncomfortable. Or you may have a lesion removed because it could be cancerous or precancerous.

Often the doctor can remove simple skin lesions during a routine visit. In some cases, the doctor may remove the lesion in an operating room. This depends on the size and type of lesion. The doctor can remove a skin lesion in many ways. These include:

Biopsy.

The doctor cuts out or shaves a small part of the lesion. A doctor looks at the sample to see if there are any cancer cells.

Excision.

The doctor cuts out the entire lesion and, often, some of the area around it.

Cryosurgery.

The doctor uses a very cold liquid or special tool to freeze and destroy skin cells.

Curettage.

The doctor uses a special tool to scrape away parts of your lesion.

Electrocautery.

The doctor uses a device that gives off an electrical current to destroy, burn, or cut out skin cells.

Laser surgery.

The doctor uses a device that gives off laser light to destroy skin lesions.

Mohs micrographic surgery.

The doctor removes tissue a little bit at a time while checking to make sure that any cancer is gone.

Most people are awake during these procedures. Your doctor may give you medicine to numb the area so you will not feel pain. The doctor may use stitches to close your wound. You will have a scar that fades with time.

Most of these procedures take about 5 to 20 minutes. Sometimes the more complicated procedures, such as Mohs' micrographic surgery, can take a few hours. Most people can go back to their normal routine on the same day or the day after the procedure.

Procedures can be stressful for both your child and you. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for your child's procedure.

Preparing for the procedure

• Talk to your child about the procedure. Tell your child that the procedure will remove the skin growth. Hospitals know how to take care of children. The staff will do all they can to make it easier for your child.
• Understand exactly what procedure is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• Tell the doctors ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies your child takes. Some of these can increase the risk of bleeding or interact with anesthesia. Your doctor will tell you which medicines your child should take or stop before the procedure.

Activity

• For the first few days, try to help your child not to bump or knock the wound.
• Depending on where the wound is, your child may need to avoid strenuous activity for 2 weeks after the procedure or until your doctor says it is okay.
• If your child wears makeup and had a lesion removed from the face, your child should not use makeup near the wound until the stitches are taken out.
• Ask your doctor when it is okay for your child to shower, bathe, or swim.

Medicines

• Your doctor will tell you if and when your child can restart any medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about your child taking any new medicines.
• Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• Do not give your child two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.

Incision care

• If your doctor told you how to care for your child's incision, follow your doctor's instructions. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice:
  • Keep the wound bandaged and dry for the first day.
  • After the first 24 to 48 hours, wash around the wound with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
  • You may cover the wound with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage.
  • Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.
• If your child has stitches, you may get other instructions. Your child will have to return to have the stitches removed.
• If a scab forms, do not pull it off. Let it fall off on its own. Wounds heal faster if no scab forms. Washing the area every day and using the petroleum jelly will help prevent a scab from forming.
• If the wound bleeds, put direct pressure on it with a clean cloth until the bleeding stops.
• If your child had a growth "frozen" off, your child may get a blister. Do not break it. Let it dry up on its own. It is common for the blister to fill with blood. You do not need to do anything about this, but if your child says that it is painful, call your doctor.
• Protect your child's skin from the sun. Make sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Apply it several times a day.