Skin Growths

There are a variety of skin growths that are harmless and not cancerous but can appear to be so to the non-dermatologists. We advise all of our patients to alert us to any new growths so we can examine and ensure no skin cancer is present. Many of the typical skin growths we see include:

Seborrheic keratosis: a rough scaly tan/brown flat growth that increase in number as we age. These are genetic in nature and are not related to sun exposure. Many times these can become irritated due to their location or size so we will either freeze or shave them off.
Dermatofibroma: a firm round nodule that is most common on the legs of women. They may occur from reaction to a bug bite or ingrown hair. They do not cause any harm and are typically left alone unless they become large enough to interfere with shaving.
Solar lentigos & Freckles: a flat tan lesion that are on sun-exposed areas and are a sign of sun damage.
Cherry Angiomas: Red small papules that increase in number as we get older. They are not harmful but may be removed with our IPL procedure cosmetically.
Lipomas: A non-cancerous growth of fat cells that results in a mobile nodule just under the skin. Often patients will present with multiple lesions. A simple excision in the office can remove the unwanted growth.
Skin tags: These are also known as achrocordons or skin polyps and most commonly occur on areas of skin that rub such as the neck and under the arms. Removal is simple to accomplish in the office thought typically this is considered a cosmetic treatment and may cost approximately $100.