What are Skin Growths? Examples And Treatments

 An unwanted growth on the skin, like a mole, skin tags, or warts, can be unattractive and unpleasant, especially if it cannot be concealed. At SkinZest Clinic, the best dermatologist in Gurgaon can assist one in safely and successfully removing unsightly non-cancerous skin growth. 

The skin experts at SkinZest employ straightforward and secure techniques under local anesthesia (injection or cream) to make the procedure painless and effective. Depending on the type of skin growth, the experts at SkinZest eliminate undesirable imperfection by using a  laser or cryosurgery that does not entail cutting or stitching and thus provides a greater cosmetic outcome.

In this blog, Dr. Noopur Jain, one of the best skin doctors in Gurgaon at SkinZest, discusses various types of skin growths and their treatments. Read on to know more!

What causes Unwanted Skin Growth?

In most of the cases three skin growths are non-cancerous and one must consult a dermatologist to know if the growth is cancerous or not. The reasons of unwanted skin growth include:

• Viruses that cause warts

• A disease that affects the entire body (xanthelasmas or xanthomas caused by excessive fats in the blood)

• Genetics (seborrheic keratoses)

• External factors (moles or milia stimulated by sunlight)

What are the Types of Skin Growths?

1. Skin Tags: They mostly appear in the armpits, on the neck, or in the genital area and are soft, tiny, flesh-colored, or somewhat darker skin growths. Skin tags rarely cause problems, but they can be unattractive, and garments or surrounding skin might rub against them and irritate them, leading to bleeding or ache. Those with multiple skin tags may also have prediabetes or diabetes (insulin resistance).

Treatment- Skin tag removal is typically done for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons because they are mostly harmless. Large skin tags may need to be removed, particularly those that irritate people when they rub against clothing, jewelry, or skin.

• Cauterization- Electrolysis is used to burn off the skin tag

• Cryosurgery- Using a liquid nitrogen probe, the skin tag is frozen off during cryosurgery.

• Ligation- The blood flow to the skin tag is interrupted.

• Excision- The tag is cut off with a scalpel.

2. Moles: Small, typically black skin growths called moles are produced by the skin's pigment-producing cells (melanocytes). Atypical moles increase a person's chance of melanoma development. A biopsy should be performed on moles and atypical moles that vary noticeably to check for potential melanoma. Most benign (noncancerous) moles do not need to be treated. 

The majority of moles are benign and do not need to be removed. Some moles may be considered beauty marks based on their form and placement.

Treatment- When a mole is treated with lasers, damaged cells are evaporated layer by layer to eradicate the mole. This does not result in any form of bleeding and does not damage the surrounding healthy tissue. It is also regarded to be a relatively painless operation, although you may experience a minor tingling. Following the laser treatment, a scab forms over the afflicted area and eventually falls off. A few days following the treatment, you may also have some edema and redness in the area.

3. Cysts: They are present on the skin and are frequent, slow-growing bumps. Types of cysts:

• Epidermal inclusion cysts, also known as epidermoid or sebaceous, are broad skin growths up to two inches (about 5 cm). They are sometimes misidentified as sebaceous cysts. The pore over them is frequently expanded.

• Milia cysts frequently occur on the face and the scalp. They are small epidermal inclusion cysts.

• Pilar cysts' appearance may be linked to heredity. About 90% of pilar cysts occur on the scalp.

Treatment- Cutaneous cysts can be surgically removed after being numbed with an anesthetic. The cyst membrane must be entirely removed to prevent the cyst from resurfacing. Under the skin, cysts that have ruptured must be cut open to drain them. Small, painful cysts can be pierced and drained.

4. Warts: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a form of skin infection that results in warts. Rough, skin-colored bumps develop on the skin due to the infection. The virus spreads easily. By touching someone who has warts, one can contact them. The doctor can identify warts only by glancing at the bumps. The doctor may occasionally perform a biopsy to collect a specimen of the skin growth for HPV testing.

Treatment-

• Over-the-counter (OTC) wart treatment medicines. This single chemical layer removes warts at a time.

• The doctor uses liquid nitrogen during a treatment known as cryotherapy to freeze the wart.

• The doctor will use laser light to heat and kill the wart's small blood veins.

The majority of skin growths are harmless and safe. In some circumstances, determining whether a particular skin growth is malignant is crucial. A skin biopsy may be required to examine lesions that have altered or show signs of malignancy. Consult Dr. Noopur Jain at SkinZest, the Best Skin Clinic in Gurgaon, to know more.