Moles / Milia Seeds / Warts / Skin Tag

SKIN – MOLES REMOVAL

WHAT ARE MOLES?

Moles are small brown or black patches which form on the skin.  They may be present at birth, but most appear later in life.  Moles can have different appearances.  They can be flat or raised and some even have hair growing from them.  Moles can be confused with other pigmented lesions such as seborrheic keratosis.  They can appear anywhere on the skin especially on the face, neck and arms.  In some instances, it will have to be differentiated from melanoma, which is cancerous.

Most of the time, we ignore them because they do not give problems. We will start thinking of removing them when they appear on our face or when the moles grow bigger and more protruding and become unsightly.  Afterall, face is the first thing we are drawn to when we see a person.

WHAT CAUSES MOLES?

Moles are caused by skin cells that form in clusters, called, ‘melanocytes’, which produce the colour or pigment in your skin.  It is formed mainly due to genetic reasons and the amount of sunlight our body is exposed to.  It is commonly seen on areas of the skin that are exposed to sunlight. The moles are usually darker in complexion as compared to the surrounding skin areas. People who are prone to freckles (tanned, slightly reddish flat spots on the skin) have more chances of mole formation than others and is one of the major causes of moles.

WHICH MOLE REMOVAL TREATMENT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

WILL THE MOLE GROW BACK?

There is small chance that your mole might reoccur after having it removed, as a few mole cells may remain in the skin. If this is the case, we will book you another treatment. Usually, however, you will find 1 treatment session is enough.

WILL THERE BE A SCAR?

Depending on the depth of the mole and the type of removal technique, there may be a faint scar. If the mole has deep roots, we can minimize scarring by removing themole over 2 to 3 sessions, 6 to 8 weeks apart.*

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE PROCEDURE?

A scab might form over the removal area. Do not worry. It will fall off after 1 to 2 weeks when your new fresh skin grow underneath. Do not remove the scab forcefully. If your mole is very big and stitching is required, you will be asked to return to have the stitches removed in 2 weeks.*

ANY COMPLICATIONS?

Mole removal is safe. Sometimes, there may be mild bleeding during the procedure, but it can be stopped easily. You may experience redness or itching over the mole removal area that will go away in a few days. Infection is very rare.

SKIN -SKIN TAG REMOVAL

Skin tags are small flesh-coloured skin growths that hang off the skin. They can appear on any part of the surface of the body, most commonly on the neck, eyelids, armpits, groin folds and under breasts. They can also grow on the eyelids or under the folds of the buttocks.

Although they are common and harmless, skin tags can be unsightly to some people. Skin tags can get bigger due to the amount of blood, which increases due to constant rubbing, pulling, twisting or friction. They are made of loose collagen fibres and blood vessels surrounded by skin. Collagen is a type of protein found throughout the body.

WHAT CAUSES SKIN TAG?

Skin tags can be hereditary, and people who are obese, have diabetes or pregnant are also more prone to have them.  They tend to occur in older people.  Some people develop them for no apparent reason.

WHICH SKIN TAG REMOVAL TREATMENT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

WILL THE SKIN TAG GROW BACK?

Although the removed skin tag doesn’t grow back, new skin tags may form.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TREATMENT?

After your skin tag has been removed the skin left behind may feel tender for a few days and will need to be covered. It’s also best to use a strong sunscreen on the area for six months, as it will be more sensitive to sunlight.

WILL THERE BE A SCAR?

Scarring is extremely rare. If you are prone to keloid formation, a cream will be given to you to minimise the chance of scarring.

ANY COMPLOCATIONS?

Removal of skin tag is a very safe procedure. Compications include bleeding and infection, but they are very rare.

HOW DO I TELL IF IT IS A SKIN TAG OR A WART?

Skin tags are smooth and soft, whereas warts are rougher with an irregular surface. Skin tags usually hang off the skin, whereas warts are flatter. Skin tags are not contagious, but warts are. Therefore, a sudden outbreak is more likely to be warts.

SKIN -WARTS REMOVAL

WHAT IS WART?

Warts are small, harmless skin growths caused by a virus.  Warts grow on any part of the body.  Common warts are raised and have a rough surface on which tiny, dark dots can often be seen.  They may grow around the nails, on the fingers other than on the face, neck and body.

WHAT CAUSES WART?

Wart are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) which first enters the skin and then spreads to other body parts and multiplies rapidly.  They develop commonly on the broken skin areas where the skin has been nicked by shaving.

Most of the time, warts are contagious and hence, you should avoid direct contact with a person affected by warts.  However, not everyone is affected by warts virus and there is no way to prevent warts. Even with treatment, warts may not disappear.  And new warts may appear.

WHICH WART REMOVAL TREATMENT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

There are different types of wart removal, including laser removal and excision. The method of removal depends on the size and shape of the wart. During your consultation, Dr Chau will discuss with you which type of wart removal is best for you.

• Co2 laser removal – a highly targeted beam of laser light is aimed at the wart. The energy from the laser heats up the blood vessels feeding the problem area, which collapse in on themselves as a result and stop the blood supply. This starves the wart of nutrients, so it naturally falls off after a few weeks.
• Excision removal – the wart is carefully cut out using a surgical scalpel. The wart is removed immediately in this treatment option.

WILL THE WART GROW BACK?

Yes, wart may reappear. There is no way yet to prevent warts, but you can lower your chances of getting or spreading them.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TREATMENT?

After your wart has been removed the skin left behind may feel tender for a few days and will need to be covered.

WILL THERE BE A SCAR?

If you are prone to keloid formation,a cream will be given to you to minimise the chance of scarring.

ANY COMPLICATIONS?

Removal of wart is a very safe procedure. Complications include bleeding and infection, but are rare.

HOW DO I TELL IF IT IS A SKIN TAG OR A WART?

Skin tags are smooth and soft, whereas warts are rougher with an irregular surface.  Skin tags usually hang off the skin, whereas warts are flat.  Skin tags are not contagious, but warts are.  Therefore, a sudden outbreak is more likely to be warts.

SKIN – MILIA SEEDS REMOVAL

WHAT ARE MILIA SEEDS?

Milia seeds are usually very small, white or flesh colored bumps which don’t have a head and cannot be squeezed. They usually appear on the skin around the eyes in groups but is possible to have just one milium at a time and can occur on any part of the body. Milia seeds are also known as milk spots. Though common among young babies, they can occur in adults and become permanent.

In fact, milia seeds are also considered tiny cysts and located right below the epidermis, the very outer layer of the skin and making their coloring so visible.

WHAT CAUSES MILIA SEEDS?

The most commonly known milia seeds is caused by dead skin cells built up in the pore lining because they are unable to shed properly. Another reason is because of a skin condition or infection that blisters, cause damage or lifestyle.

WHICH MILIA SEEDS REMOVAL TREATMENT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

The most common type of milia seeds removal is performed using a needle. A sterile needle is used to create a tiny incision in the skin once the skin with milia has been cleaned. The contents of the milia are then carefully extracted so as not to cause any trauma to the skin.

Some types of milia seeds may need Co2 laser to remove.

WILL THERE BE A SCAR?

Scarring is extremely rare.

ANY DOWNTIME?

There may be some slight redness to the treated area immediately following the milia removal procedure, however this subsides within a matter of hours and benefits of treatment can be noticed instantly.

TREATMENTS AVAILABLE