Diathermy
Diathermy is a process in which commonly occurring but harmless minor skin lesions, such as those described below, are removed.
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Telangiectasias Small, dilated blood vessels (red veins) near the surface of the skin on the face. |
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Skin tags Small, generally skin-coloured growths that may have a narrow stalk and can be irritated by friction from clothing, etc. |
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Cherry angiomas (red spots) Often arising in middle age, they consist of clusters of tiny capillaries that form a small, round dome on the skin’s surface. |
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Sebaceous hyperplasia Skin-coloured to yellow-white elevations on the skin caused by enlargement of the oil glands (generally found on the forehead). |
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Milia Keratin-filled white cysts that sit just under the epidermis (usually found around the nose and eyes). |
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Xanthelasmas These growths, mostly found in people of Asian origin and those from the Mediterranean, consist of sharply demarcated, yellowish collections of cholesterol beneath the skin; although neither harmful nor painful, they can be quite disfiguring. |
During diathermy, a fine probe is used to cauterize (burn) the lesion requiring removal. A mild, stinging sensation may accompany this process, and if necessary an anaesthetic cream can be applied 30 minutes beforehand. Afterwards, the treated area will crust over for as long as a week while healing takes place. Generally, removal of the lesion is permanent. That said, diathermy does not prevent further lesions from developing, particularly in sun-damaged skin. In such cases, maintenance treatments, combined with IPL, may be required.
