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Skin lumps and bumps are abnormal growths or skin patches that do not look like the areas around them. These are common with advancing age and may be due to cumulative sunlight exposure over the years, resulting in skin photo-damage. These lesions are usually benign (harmless), although some may be cancerous.
Some people may have an inherited tendency to develop moles, freckles and birthmarks. Examples of common skin lumps and bumps are keratoses, warts, moles, cysts and skin tags.
Excision refers to removal of a skin lesion by surgically cutting it out. Common reasons for skin excision include removal of irritating or inflamed skin lumps, abnormal growths suspicious of skin cancers or for cosmetic appearance.
Elliptical excision is commonly practiced, so that the resulting scar runs parallel with the existing skin creases. This ensures that the scar is as narrow and short as possible. Excisions of skin lesions are common procedures and are safe. These are usually one-time removals with low recurrence rates.
An audit was done on 567 patients in CGH who underwent excision of skin lesions by doctors in the Dermatology Department from January – December 2010. Our results show a monthly success rate of 99.8% - 100%.
(Source: Dermatology Department & Medical Information Department, CGH) |