ELECTRODESICCATION AND CURETTAGE

At Dermatology & Skin Cancer Surgery Center, we treat each patient with the utmost care and offer numerous alternatives for skin cancer treatment. Electrodesiccation and curettage is an outpatient procedure that removes skin growths from specific areas on the body where precancerous or cancerous growths may exist. This simple procedure treats small lesions by scraping the skin down to the unaffected layer. The procedure eliminates cancerous cells and lesions on the skin, as well as those that are diagnosed as benign. This treatment causes minor scarring and mild discomfort. It has remained a proven and effective substitute for surgery and is used in cases where the growth only affects the top layers of the skin. Our skilled providers will use patience and precision to ensure that your procedure goes smoothly and that scarring is kept to a minimum.

What to expect

During the procedure, the providers will scrape away affected areas of the skin down to an unaffected skin layer. Prior to starting the treatment, your provider will inject the procedure site with an anesthetic to manage pain and discomfort. This will help numb the area where the lesion exists. Using a curette, they will scrape away the harmful or cancerous skin until they have reached a layer of the skin that is not affected by the lesion. Electrodesiccation is then performed on the treatment site to help alleviate bleeding. Patient can expect minor discomfort at the treatment site following the procedure, but this will subside after a few days.

Electrodesiccation and curettage is a removal procedure that has been used for decades. It can be used to remove warts, angiomas, horns or bumps caused by actinic keratosis, as well as mild forms of skin cancer such as basal and squamous cell cancers. Following the simple procedure, patients will have the opportunity to heal over several weeks experiencing only mild discomfort and little scarring.

Treatment aftercare

Following your procedure, it is very important that you follow aftercare instructions given to you by your dermatologist so that you may have effective healing. Typically, patients may remove their bandages after 24 hours to clean the procedure site and change the dressing on the area of the skin. Your provider will direct you on how to properly clean your site as well as dress the wound. He or she will also prescribe or suggest appropriate healing ointment or moisturizers to place on the area. Each patient’s healing process is different and varies based on the size of the area treated, the amount of skin scrapped off, and the location of the procedure.