Advanced cosmetic procedures encompasses skin tags, milia, warts, verruca, blood spots and cysts. All these conditions can be removed simply by electro-cauterization or laser and usually only require one treatment.

Skin Tags

A skin tag is a small flap of tissue that hangs off the skin by a connecting stalk They are usually found on the neck, chest, back, armpits, under the breasts, or in the groin area. Most often they are caused by friction and can become irritated and are removed by electro-cauterization.

Milia

Milia are small white, or pale yellow, keratin filled cysts that appear just under the epidermis mainly around the eyes, on the cheeks and on the eyelids.

Milia are removed by electro-cauterization using the tip of a small probe. The treatment itself is a little uncomfortable but easily tolerated. There are minimal after effects, with a little scabbing which is to be expected but then leaving a clearer and healthier lookingskin.

Warts

Warts are small, non-cancerous growths within the skin caused by the human papilloma virus of which there are more than 100 types.

Common Warts - These raised growths, which have a hard, uneven surface, are the most familiar type of wart and usually appear on the hands and feet.

Periungal Warts – appear around the tips of fingers or toes.

Subungual Warts - These appear under and around the fingernails. Flat /Plane Warts - These are smooth warts with flat tops that mostly occur on the hands or face.

All warts are removed first by electro-cauterization using the tip of a small probe followed by laser which destroys any bacteria in the skin. The treatment is a little uncomfortable but easily tolerated. After care instructions are given on how to deal with the slight scabbing which is to be expected.

Seborrheic keratoses/Body Warts

Seborrheic keratoses are brown or black growths usually found on the chest and back, as well as on the head. They originate from cells called keratinocytes. As they develop, seborrheic keratoses take on a warty appearance. The cause is unknown but they are benign and are not contagious. They do not need to be treated unless you decide to have them removed because you do not like the way they look in which case this is done by electro-cauterization.

Verruca (plantar wart)

Verrucas are small warts (1 to 10mm wide) that occur on the soles of your feet, heels or toes. They can be painful when under pressure. They have a rough surface and small black dots can sometimes be seen under the hard skin. Verrucas can be seen alone or in clusters.

To remove a verruca the area is cauterized using the tip of a small probe and an electric current followed by laser to destroy any remaining bacteria. It can be a little uncomfortable but is easily tolerated. Aftercare instructions will be given and the area must be kept dry for a period of time. Sometimes treatment needs to be repeated.

Blood Spots

Blood Spots (also know as Campbell de Morgan spots) are bright red spots usually a couple of millimetres across although they may grow to being half a centimetre. They are coils of abnormal blood vessels that come through the skin and are very close the surface hence their bright red colour. They are often found on the chest, abdomen, back and arms.

Removal is purely for cosmetic reasons since blood spots do not cause any problem. They are effectively removed by laser which coagulates the blood leaving a slightly darker spot, which, is then is absorbed by the body and disappears resulting in a clearer looking skin.

Epidermoid and Pilar Cysts (Sebaceous Cysts)

A cyst is a sac that is filled with a fluid or semi-fluid material. These cysts used to be called sebaceous cysts but this term is no longer correct, as the origin of these cysts is not from the sebaceous glands in the skin (as was once thought).

  • An epidermoid cyst is a cyst where the cyst sac forms from cells that normally occur on the top layer of the skin (the epidermis).
  • pilar cyst is a cyst where the cyst sac forms from cells similar to those that are in the bottom of hair follicles (where hairs grow from).

Both epidermoid and pilar cysts are smooth round lumps which you can see and feel just beneath the skin surface. They are very common. Often they are small (pea size) but sometimes they slowly get bigger over many months to become a few centimeters in diameter. Epidermoid cysts can affect anyone but are most common in young and middle-aged adults. They can appear anywhere on the skin but develop most commonly on the face, neck, chest, and upper back.

Cysts can be removed by electro-cauterization and aftercare instructions will be given.