A new worrisome trend has emerged on social media channels to remove skin bumps, age-related warts, tattoos and even birthmarks yourself using a variety of different techniques. Consider a rubber band method, acid patches, burns and high concentration acids. I like to tell you the best steps to take to remove these troublesome warts and spots.
- It is important to have a skin patch checked for malignancy by a family doctor, dermatologist or skin therapist beforehand. Not all spots that look harmless at first glance can be treated just like that.
- Most techniques are dangerous when they fall into incompetent hands. The risk of complications such as inflammation or infection is then high.
- The chance of permanent scarring is very high.
- The devices and acids offered are mostly from China and do not meet European requirements. So you have no idea what you are doing. This could turn out ugly!
In short, removing skin bumps yourself is not a good idea.
Why have skin blemishes treated by a doctor or skin therapist?
- Doctors and skin therapists know what to look for to prevent complications.
- Your practitioner works hygienically according to strict protocols and has appropriate medical knowledge.
- Your practitioner is qualified and skilled to remove skin bumps in a safe effective manner.
- Your skin will become smooth again without scars.
- Your practitioner is up to date with new medical insights and is receiving continuing education.
- Physicians and skin therapists work with safe and approved techniques with medical CE approval.
Different skin bumps and their causes
I’d like to tell you about some skin bumps that we as skin therapists see a lot in our clinic. You can see that there are different treatment options for each skin lump. You can find the different treatment options at the bottom of this article. We always determine the best technique based on your skin image in combination with a medical questionnaire. For us, this is natural to reduce risk and to be able to recommend the most appropriate treatment.
When we find suspicious spots, we always recommend having them evaluated by your doctor or dermatologist. At The Laser Clinic, we have short lines of communication with dermatologists and plastic surgeons, so we can always consult on an interim basis.
Age-related warts
Age-related warts (also called verruca seborroica or verucca senilis), are benign skin tumors. They are common in people 30 and older. They result from too rapid cell division of the superficial skin layers. It is not contagious and the cause is unknown. They are equally common in men and women, especially on the trunk and face. For age-related warts, treatment with curettage, the zapper or laser is preferred.
Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra
These are age-related warts in people with dark-tinged skin. They look like small brown to black bumps and usually occur on the face (forehead, temples and cheeks). They are smaller than standard aging warts. For this indication, we use the Apilus treatment to accurately remove spots.
Fibromas
Fibromas (also called stem warts), are benign skin flaps composed of connective tissue. They are usually skin-colored or light brown. They occur mainly on the neck, armpits, on the eyelids, under the chest and in the groin. They are easily removed with a zapper treatment.
Syringomas
These are proliferations of sweat gland exits. They are small yellowish or skin-colored flattened bumps and are often located under the eyes. They can be confused with Xanthelasma or barbed grains. For these bumps, we employ the Apilus or zapper treatment.
Cherry angioma
Cherry angiomas are also called blood blisters. They are outbreaks of small blood vessels in the skin. They are characterized as round, globular cherry-red bumps. They range in size from 1 mm to 5 mm. These spots are especially common on the trunk, but they are possible all over the body. After pregnancy, for example, you see them develop more. Depending on your skin color, we use the Apilus treatment or IPL or laser therapy (ND-YAG) to remove these blood blisters.
Gerstein grains
Gerstein granules (Milias) are yellowish, white bumps filled with keratin. They are common and mainly around the eyes and on the cheeks. Some people have only a few barley grains, while others have dozens. To remove these barred grains, we usually choose to clean them out with a medical peel.
Sebaceous gland hyperplasia
This is a harmless increase in sebaceous glands in the skin in one spot. This creates a bumpy lump that is usually light red to yellowish in color. You can recognize them by a dent in the center of the spot. The location where they are most common is on the forehead, temples and around the nose. We use the apilus or zapper treatment to counteract these bumps.
Lentigo Solaris
Lentigo Solaris are sun spots that appear as the skin is exposed to sunlight. These brown spots often appear on the face, hands and décolletage. With this indication, it is more difficult to achieve a long-term effect. We therefore recommend annual maintenance treatments. The best treatment consists of IPL and laser therapy or a TCA spot treatment.
Xanthelasma are benign localized flat fat deposits on and around the eyes. The striking yellow color makes them stand out. They are also called cholesterol bumps. With the apilus or zapper treatment, we can get rid of these spots.
Do you recognize these skin blemishes and would like to get rid of them? Then schedule a free intake with skin scan with a skin therapist at De Laserkliniek in Groningen.
What are the skin therapy treatment methods?
Various skin therapy treatment techniques are available for benign skin blemishes. In our experience, we get quick results with these requests for help. On average, 1 to 3 treatments are sufficient. You can choose a stand-alone treatment, but a combination of different techniques is sometimes more effective. This is different for each person, spot and skin. Cosmetically, the techniques below give the most beautiful results without scarring.
Apilus treatment
With electrocoagulation (local heating), we can remove most skin bumps. During Apilus treatment, we insert a fine needle into the skin condition and an electric current locally heats and destroys it. Afterwards, a scab forms on that spot. It is a safe method that is ideally suited for small areas and does not scar afterwards.
Zapper treatment
We use the Zapper for larger spots. The Zapper is a small and handy device that runs on low current. With the Zapper, the spot is touched and then a scab forms.
Laser
When the spots or blemishes are not on the skin but are in the skin, laser treatment is the gold standard. With this we can treat targeted pigment spots as well as blood blisters or spider naevus. During the intake, the skin therapist examines what kind of spots are involved.
Curettage
In curettage, we use a sterile sharp ring to scrape away larger, superficial, aged warts. This leaves a small scrape. We choose this technique only for skin blemishes where the spot is softer than the skin around it.
TCA spot treatment
For deeper skin patches such as Lentigo solaris, we may choose to use a TCA 35% to renew the skin. This causes the pigment to rise and then flake off. This treatment can only be done during the fall and winter seasons.
Do you want beautiful even skin? Make an appointment for a free skin scan and find out which approach works best for you.
