Electrodesiccation in Houston, TX

Electrodesiccation and curettage (ED&C) is an outpatient, nonsurgical procedure at Advanced Dermatology in Houston, TX that removes benign, dysplastic, or cancerous skin growths. This simple procedure treats small lesions by scraping the skin down to an unaffected layer. The procedure eliminates cancerous lesions on the skin, as well as growths that are diagnosed as benign. Electrodesiccation remains a proven and effective substitute for surgery and is used in cases where the growth affects the top layers of skin. We use patience and precision to ensure that your procedure goes smoothly and scarring is kept to a minimum. If you would like to have an evaluation for electrodesiccation, please make contact with one of our Advanced Dermatology locations in Katy, League City, Pearland, or Sugar Land, TX.

At Advanced Dermatology, we are constantly looking for innovative and simplifying procedures to give our patients the best care possible. Electrodessication provides our patients with many benefits, such as:

• Nonsurgical approach to remove unwanted growths
• Minimization of scarring and invasion
• Ability to avoid unaffected and healthy skin cells
• Keeps you healthy and unbothered by potential trouble areas

Electrodesiccation and curettage are most often used to remove low-risk skin cancer. It may be used if you have been diagnosed with actinic keratosis (precancerous cells), basal cell carcinoma, or squamous cell cancer. Skin lesions are quite common and many of them are benign, having no indications or signs that it will grow to be malignant. The sizes of these lesions will vary and are usually found among elderly people. Most of these skin lesion colors will range from brown to beige or black. The growth to be treated should be small and have clear borders. Electrodesiccation can be performed quickly with local anesthesia.

Prior to starting the treatment, your practitioner will apply local anesthesia to your skin to manage your discomfort. Utilizing a curette, we will scrape away the growth until a later of healthy skin is reached. Electrodesiccation with heat is then performed on the treatment site to minimize bleeding.

Following the electrodesiccation and curettage procedure, it is very important that you follow the instructions given to you by our team so that your skin heals properly. You can remove your bandages after 24 hours to clean your skin and change the dressing. We may also prescribe or suggest an ointment to use on the area.

Is electrodesiccation painful?
Because the team at Advanced Dermatology will use a local anesthetic before the electrodesiccation and curettage procedure, this treatment should not cause pain while it is performed. Following the procedure, you may feel some discomfort at the treatment sites as they heal. However, we will provide detailed aftercare instructions to help minimize post-treatment discomfort.

Is there a chance I might need a stronger skin cancer or lesion removal method in the future?
Electrodesiccation and curettage is typically only used on benign growths, pre-cancerous cells, and areas of skin cancer that are unlikely to spread. That said, the use of electrodesiccation and curettage does not preclude unrelated skin cancer from developing in another area. The success rate for electrodesiccation is over 95%, so you can rest assured that recurrences at the treatment site(s) are rare.

How long will it take for me to heal from electrodesiccation and curettage?
The length of recovery will depend on a few factors, including where the growth or cells were extracted from, the size of the treatment area, and close adherence to aftercare such as switching out the dressing at the treatment sites.. Healing may take as few as 2 – 3 weeks or up to 2 – 3 months.

If you have a skin lesion or growth, it is important to have it checked out by our dermatology team so that a proper diagnosis can be given. Whether the lesion is cancerous or not, electrodesiccation and curettage may be appropriate for you. Take the first step in understanding your skin condition by scheduling an appointment at Advanced Dermatology in Katy, League City, Pearland, or Sugar Land, TX.