Skin Blemishes

Skin blemishes cover a wide range of marks, growths and imperfections on the skin. This includes skin tags, moles, fibromas, cysts, lipomas, granulomas, in-growing toe nails and other minor lesions. They can appear on the face, neck, chest, hands, and anywhere else on the body, and range from a minor cosmetic irritation to something that genuinely gets in the way of daily life.

Most blemishes are entirely harmless, but they can still knock a patient’s confidence, particularly when they appear somewhere visible such as the face or neck. I see this most days in clinic: someone who is otherwise perfectly happy with their skin, but fixates on one patch, lump or lesion every time they look in the mirror.

Types of skin blemish we treat

Skin tags – small, soft growths, usually skin coloured, often found on the eyelids, neck, armpits, groin and under the breasts.
Moles – pigmented lesions that are usually harmless, though any that change in size, shape or colour need checking before treatment.
Fibromas – firm, benign growths of fibrous tissue, commonly found on the skin or in the mouth.
Cysts – fluid or keratin filled sacs beneath the skin, which can become tender or inflamed if left untreated.
Lipomas – soft, slow growing lumps of fatty tissue sitting just under the skin, most often on the trunk, neck or arms.
Granulomas – small areas of inflamed tissue that can form in response to injury, infection or a foreign body under the skin.
In-growing toe nails – where the edge of the nail grows into the surrounding skin, causing pain, swelling and sometimes infection.
Other minor lesions – including seborrhoeic keratoses, warts and general benign skin growths not listed above.

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Causes Treatments

Causes of skin blemishes

The cause varies considerably by blemish type. Sun exposure over many years is behind a good deal of what we see, particularly pigmented lesions and seborrhoeic keratoses. Skin tags are more common in older people and pregnant women, likely due to hormonal changes and skin friction. Cysts, lipomas and fibromas develop for reasons that are not always clear, though genetics and previous skin trauma can play a part. In-growing toe nails are usually down to nail shape, poorly fitting footwear or how the nail has been cut.

I’m often asked whether blemishes can be prevented altogether. For sun related lesions, the single biggest factor is sun protection, worn daily and reapplied properly, not just dabbed on in summer. Most of what I treat in this category is essentially sun damage that showed up twenty years late.

Blemishes are generally benign, but any lesion that changes shape, colour or size, bleeds, becomes painful, or looks different from your other moles should always be assessed by a doctor before any cosmetic treatment is considered. This is a basic safety principle I will never compromise on, whatever a patient’s cosmetic preference.

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Our Consultations

Our consultations are in-depth and tailored to you, creating a bespoke treatment plan catering to all of your concerns.

Consultation

Treatments

Our Consultations

Our consultations are in-depth and tailored to you, creating a bespoke treatment plan catering to all of your concerns. Every blemish is assessed individually before any treatment is agreed.

Treatments

At Health & Aesthetics we treat skin blemishes using a range of methods depending on the type, size and depth of the lesion:

Hyfrecator (electrocautery) for skin tags, warts and many other minor lesions.
Cautery using Plexr or Lamprobe as an alternative for suitable lesions.
Minor surgical excision for moles, fibromas, cysts, lipomas and larger lesions requiring removal.
Minor surgical treatment for in-growing toe nails, including partial nail avulsion where needed.
Laser and chemical peel options for pigmented and sun related blemishes.

What works well on a shallow sun spot can be entirely wrong for a raised fibroma or a deep lipoma, which is why we don’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach. Treatment on the face, and any excision requiring histology, is carried out or overseen by Dr Rekha Tailor.

Related Treatments

LOCAL ANAESTHETIC

Minor Surgery & Mole Checks

Concerned about a mole, lump, cyst or skin lesion? Dr Andrew Welch, GP Minor Surgery Lead, provides expert assessment and treatment of moles, lumps, bumps and skin lesions at our CQC-registered Surrey clinic. Many procedures can be performed under local anaesthetic in a single appointment, with histology included where appropriate. Common Reasons Patients See Dr Welch ✓ Mole checks & dermoscopy ✓ Skin tags ✓ Cysts ✓ Lipomas ✓ Lumps & bumps ✓ In-growing toenails Why Patients Choose Us ✓ GP Minor Surgery Lead ✓ Dermoscopy available ✓ Histology where appropriate ✓ Local anaesthetic procedures ✓ Free parking ✓ Easy A3 access Cherry angiomas, thread veins and spider naevi are usually treated separately by our therapist-led laser service.

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