Skin Lesions

COMMON SKIN LESIONS

Below are some of the most common skin lesions with a short description of each.

If you have any questions about your skin, please call us on: 031 763 4738 or click here to contact us.

Solar (Actinic) Keratosi are the most common sun-related pre-cancerous skin growths noted in fair-skinned people. They are benign (not cancerous) and appear crusty, dry scaly, rough textured and feel like sandpaper. If left untreated, they can develop into Squamous Cell Carcinoma (skin cancer).

 

 

Are soft yellowish plaques of lipids usually found around the eyes, smaller on the nose. They are very tiny to medium in size and some may be raised. Usually a symptom of high cholesterol

 

 

 

Clogged Pores are caused when the sebaceous glands located near the hair follicle become overactive, inflamed, infected with bacteria and fill up with pus. (acne)

Clogged pores can also be treated with topical treatment: to be applied twice a day.

Important Update (June 2015) :  Xanthelasma and clogged pores are easily treatable with lamprobe with no “downtime” and very little discomfort. You can read more about Lamprobe on this page or Contact Us to find out more.

 

 

These are non-cancerous benign skin growths from the horny layer of the epidermis. These “barnacles of old age” vary in colour from light to black, are round or oval, slightly elevated and vary in sizes. They can appear anywhere on the body. They sometimes look like a melanoma (skin cancer) but if in doubt get it checked!

Update (June 2015)  – Seborroeic Keratosis is easily removable with lamprobe or curetting, depending on size. There is little discomfort and very little (if scarring.  Read more about Lamprobe here or Contact Us to find out more.

 

 

These are skin growths that are more common in darker skins. These lesions are darkly pigmented without scales, and are found most commonly on the face around the eyes, on the cheeks and the neck area.

 

Update (June 2015) – Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra is easily removable with lamprobe, no scarring! You can read more about Lamprobe on this page or Contact Us to find out more.

 

 

This is a non-elevated pigmented lesion on the skin, uniform in colour, with a clearly defined edge surrounded by normal-appearing skin. If parts of it get darker be aware that it may have turned cancerous. (Cancerous freckle or lentigo maligna).

 

 

 

Tiny, superficial, dilated blood vessels appear as red wavy lines just below the surface of the skin, mostly on the nose, cheeks and décolleté area. Constant blood stimulation causes the thin elastic walls of the capillaries to dilate, causing breakage.

Update (June 2015) – Teleangiectasia, broken capillaries and spider naevus are also quick and easily removed with lamprobe. Click here to find out more about Lamprobe or Contact Us to find out more.

 

 

This is a common benign vascular lesion present in healthy adults and young children. It is characterized by a central red dot, representing the body of a spider, with radial patterns of thin walled capillaries that look like the wavy legs of the spider.

 

 

Chronic sun damage contributes towards these lesions, resulting in enlarged sebaceous glands. They appear as a soft, yellowish pinkish skin growth, cauliflower-like or doughnut shaped, 2 to 3mm.They are usually solitary on oily skins.

 

 

These are small skin growths. They can become inflamed with constant friction from necklaces or clothing when the area of the outer layer of skin begins to overgrow, protruding from the surrounding skin. They vary in colour and shape and can be irregular. They are commonly found on the neck, breasts and axillae in skin folds and on eyelids.

 

 

 

These plugs of sebum are like yellowish white grains under the skin and are commonly found on the face (forehead, cheeks and around the eyes) where there is poor exfoliation for example on very oily or very dry skins. They can also occur during the healing of traumatic scars.

 

 

Also known as, Ruby Points or Blood Spots. These are bright red to purple dots of blood usually found on the upper body and neck area. In children they appear raised, red and soft.

 

 

 

These cherry red to purple coloured growths on the skin (clusters of capillaries under the surface of the skin) form a flat or raised round dome.

 

 

 

 

 

A Sebaceous Cyst (blocked sebaceous gland), is a small sac-like bump under the skin that contains a putty-like white yellow substance with a foul odour. They vary in size and place, can be uncomfortable and unsightly and may or may not become infected.

 

For More Information about Skin Lesions or Lamprobe treatment, Call Us on: 031 763 4738 or Book an Appointment Here