Precancerous Skin Lesions

Precancerous skin lesions may look harmless, but many skin cancers begin with these abnormalities. Proper treatment or removal of these lesions can help protect your health.

Monitoring and Management

Areas of the skin that have scaling, are rough or raised, or have white spots can carry the risk of being or turning into squamous cell cancer. Sometimes moles are determined to be precancerous upon analysis by a pathologist because they have concerning features. Therefore, these lesions can need ongoing monitoring and management through a variety of modalities

What is a Precancerous Skin Lesion?

A precancerous (benign) lesion is an area of the skin that is different than the surrounding skin. It has the potential of becoming cancerous. This lesion can be a dry patch, sore, growth, a colored mole, or simply an area of skin that isn’t normal.

At Skin Dermatology, Dr. Lamoureux offers many different treatments for removing these precancerous lesions, all of which are performed in her modern office in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

When Should I Check My Lesion?

Is today too soon? Skin cancer varies widely in appearance, and it’s impossible to self-diagnose yourself. However, you can monitor your skin and moles for changes that warrant a visit to Dr. Lamoureux. Examples of things that are growing on the skin that could require evaluation include actinic keratoses, dysplastic nevi, cysts, lipomas, bumps, or moles that are changing in size, shape, and color—or those that are bleeding or itching.

Dr. Lamoureux may remove suspicious moles or lesions altogether, or she may perform a biopsy to determine whether malignancy is present. For benign-appearing skin lesions, she may suggest another treatment plan. No matter what, scheduling an evaluation of the changing lesion is the best first step toward making a treatment plan.

How are Precancerous Skin Lesions Treated?

In most cases, Dr. Lamoureux can remove precancerous skin lesions during a routine visit to Skin Dermatology, utilizing the methods described below:

Biopsy

A technique used to cut or shave a small part of the lesion. The part is then sent out to our pathology partners to review, analyze, and report back to us. We can then call you with the results and make further treatment recommendations.

Excision

This is a process in which we cut out the entire lesion and often some of the surrounding normal skin surrounding it.

Cryosurgery

In this process, we use liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy skin cells.

Curettage

In this process, we use a special tool to scrape away the lesion.

Electrocautery

In this process, we use an electrical current to destroy, burn, or cut out skin cells.

Laser surgery

In this process, we use one of our state-of-the-art Cynosure® lasers to destroy skin lesions.

Why Choose Skin Dermatology?

Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Alissa Lamoureux is highly trained in the surgical management of skin conditions. As a specialist of the skin, she possesses unique expertise and is always considerate of how a surgical procedure can affect skin healing and appearance. No expense is spared in providing the very best dermatological care to our patients, and we represent the best value in this area when you weigh training, expertise, safety, technology, and atmosphere. Skin Dermatology, you can be certain that you’re in the hands of a practice that truly cares.