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The
Condition
A skin
lesion is a superficial growth or a patch of the skin that
does not bear any resemblance to the area surrounding it.
There are two categories of skin lesions, the primary and
the secondary. Primary skin lesions are usually present at
birth such as moles or birthmarks or those that are obtained
during a person’s lifetime associated with infectious
diseases, such as warts, acne, or psoriasis, allergic
reactions such as hives or contact dermatitis, or
environmental agents, such as sunburn, pressure or
temperature extremes. On the other hand, secondary skin
lesions are changes in the skin that result from the primary
skin lesions. These may occur either as a natural
progression of the primary lesion or through manipulation of
the lesion by the person, such as scratching or picking at
it.
Moles,
cysts, warts, or skin tags are known as skin lesions. Most
of the skin lesions are benign. But these are usually
removed when they are painful, unsightly or restrict
movement. The most common treatment for most skin lesions
is surgical removal. Warts, another form of skin lesion,
are removed by freezing them with the use of a liquid gas or
treating them with a chemical paint. Some warts may be
treated by burning them off. If a skin lesion is suspected
to be malignant, a biopsy is done and is taken to the
laboratory to be processed and checked for any signs of
cancerous cells.
A wide
variety of conditions and diseases can cause the development
of skin lesions. The development of moles, freckles or
birthmarks may be hereditary. The most common cause of skin
lesions is infection of the skin itself by bacteria,
viruses, fungi, or parasites. Some examples of skin
infections that result in skin lesions are acne, athlete’s
foot or tinea pedis, warts, and scabies. The
formation of skin lesions may also be caused by some
allergic reactions which often subside soon after the
offending agent is removed. Sensitivity to outside
environmental factors can also lead to the formation of
lesions. For instance, the decreased sensitivity and poor
circulation in a diabetic can add to the formation of
extensive ulcers on the patient’s extremities. A sudden
onset of skin lesions may be triggered by infections of the
body’s entire system. Examples are diseases such as chicken
pox, herpes, and small pox. Some cancers of the skin such
as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant
melanoma, and Kaposi’s sarcoma are recognized by their
lesions.
Lesions caused by infections or disorders heal depending on
the type of infection or disorder and the overall health of
the individual. Whether a lesion is localized or whether or
not it has spread to other areas of the body (such as the
lymph nodes) is the basis for the prognosis of skin cancer.
The cure rate is 95-100% in cases where the lesion is
localized and has not spread to other parts of the body.
Moles
and freckles are lesion that cannot be prevented. They are
benign growths that are common and unavoidable. On the
other hand, others can be avoided or at least minimized by
taking certain precautions. When a skin lesion is caused by
an allergic reaction, knowing the offending agent and
removing it from the home or workplace can aid in the
prevention of this. If this cannot be done, developing ways
for safely handling these agents with the use of gloves or
protective clothing may work. In order to prevent the
occurrence of infectious skin diseases, it is important that
you keep the skin, nails and scalp clean and moisturized and
avoid sharing personal care items such as combs, and
cosmetics with others. To prevent skin lesions connected
with sexually transmitted diseases, use of condoms is
recommended. One should avoid scratching and picking at
skin lesions in order to prevent spreading the infection
which may end up in scarring. Those who have systemic
conditions, such as diabetes mellitus or those with poor
circulation should always make sure that they have regular
inspection of their bodies for any changes in the condition
of their skin as they may lead to a serious skin lesion.
The key to preventing or minimizing the incidence of skin
cancer is to have a regular visual inspection of the skin
and a regular use of sun screen with an SPF of 15 or more.
Nevi,
a medical term for moles, are pigmented cells that are
clustered together and appear as small, dark brown spots
located on your face, torso, arms and legs. However, moles
can come in different colors and can grow virtually anywhere
including your armpits, scalp, under your nails, and even
between your fingers and toes. They also come in a wide
variety of shapes and sizes, from oval to round and can be
as tiny as a pinhead or large enough to cover an entire
limb. Those moles that are greater than 8 inches in
diameter and are seen at birth may need to be removed in
order to prevent the possibility of malignant melanoma,
which is the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Most
of moles are harmless. On the other hand, there are rare
cases wherein moles may become cancerous. It is important
to monitor moles and other pigmented patches as this would
help in the diagnosis of skin cancer especially malignant
melanoma. Even if not all melanomas develop from
pre-existing moles, they may still begin in or near a mole
or other dark spot on the skin.
Moles,
freckles, and birthmarks are a normal part of the skin.
They will not disappear unless they are removed deliberately
through a surgical procedure. Skin lesions, in general, do
not really cause serious problems; however, for practical or
cosmetic reasons, many would want to have them removed. A
lot of factors actually determine the technique used for
removing the lesion. Some of the factors are its size and
location. The surgeon will be the one to advise you on the
most appropriate method for your situation.
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Treatments Available
-
Laser Surgery
- Surgical Procedures
- Topical Antibiotics
- Oral Medications
- Punch Biopsy
- Shave Excision
- Excisional Surgery
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q:
How can skin lesions be removed?
A:
For minor lesions such as warts, freezing with a liquid gas
or treatment with chemicals that are painted on such as
salicylic acid may be done. However, for a more accurate
removal or for removal larger lesions, the choice of
treatment is a surgical procedure.
Q:
What is to be expected after the removal of skin lesions?
A:
usually, patients who undergo removal of skin lesions may go
home within one to two hours after the procedure. In the
event that a general anesthetic is used, arrangements should
be made for someone to drive you home and stay with your for
the next 24 hours.
Q:
Are skin lesions cancerous?
A:
Most of skin lesions are actually non-cancerous. Still,
doctors might want to observe and perform an excisional or
punch biopsy (tissue sample to undergo microanalysis) to
know whether or not a particular lesion is cancerous. One
should examine their skin regularly, that is, on a monthly
basis since the key to a successful treatment is early
detection. One should observe for changes in existing
moles, presence of new moles, or a change in a certain area
of the skin. As you observe moles, make sure that you look
for asymmetry as an irregularly shaped mole may be suspected
for cancer, border as a suspect mole may have irregular
borders, color as cancerous moles may appear as mixtures of
red, white, blue, brown, purple, or, black, and the diameter
as skin lesions greater than 5mm may be suspected as
cancerous.
Q:
When should I seek medical advice regarding my moles?
A:
If at past age 20 a new mole appears, it is wise to consult
your doctor. Pain, itching or burning, oozing or bleeding,
inflammation, presence of scales or crusting, and sudden
change in size, shape, color or elevation of the mole are
some of the signs and symptoms which may indicate a medical
concern. If you have any concerns about a mole in your body,
it is advisable that you see your doctor or ask for a
referral to a dermatologist.
Q:
Are there some medications that can cause skin lesions?
A:
Some medications or substances may actually skin lesions.
Some of these medications, substances, or toxins are:
Procainamide, Procan-SR, Procanbid, Promine, Pronestyl, and
Pronestyl-SR. These are not the only medications that may
cause skin lesions. There are many other drugs or
substances that are not listed here that may cause your
symptoms. Make sure that you let your doctor know of any
medications or treatments that you are currently using.
Indicate the prescription or whether it is over-the-counter,
supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
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