How you can banish those blemishes like Justine
An ever-growing range of treatments provide pain-free, no-scar removal... as the Education Secretary has found
EDUCATION Secretary Justine Greening turned heads last week when it was noticed that several of her distinctive facial moles had suddenly disappeared. The 47-year-old had reportedly had them removed following medical advice. Skin marks such as moles and thread veins are rarely a sign of something more sinister, but the negative effect an unsightly blemish can have on self-confidence can be crippling in itself.
Despite this, as treatment is in many cases considered cosmetic, removal is often not offered on the NHS. This has led to a misconception, say experts, that nothing can be done about them. However, treatments for these lumps and bumps have improved and there are now several options that are virtually painless and leave little to no scarring.
Here Dr Firas Al-Niaimi, consultant dermatologist at Sk:n Clinics, reveals the options.
MOLES
THESE are spots on the skin made up of cells that produce the pigment in the skin, called melanocytes. Some are present at birth, but most develop before the age of 30, and are more prevalent in people with lighter skin. They can be brown or fleshcoloured – like Ms Greening’s – raised or flat, smooth or textured and mostly up to 3in across. ‘They are normally harmless, but moleremoval will always include risk assessment for skin cancer to ensure that it is not malignant,’ says Dr Al-Niaimi. WHAT CAN YOU DO? The majority of moles can be ‘shaved’ – cut away at skin surface level under local anaesthetic. This leaves little or no scarring. Deeper excision, where more of the underlying tissue is taken and the wound is then stitched, is used if there is a chance that the mole is cancerous. This leaves a linear scar. HOW MUCH? Surgical shave including post-removal cancer check, from £270. Excision, including post-removal cancer check, from £415.
PORT-WINE STAINS
NEVUS flammeus, commonly known as port-wine stains, are red or purple marks on the skin, which in most cases are present at birth. They are caused by abnormal development of blood vessels near the skin. The majority are no cause for concern. They can vary in size, are flat or slightly raised and may darken with age. About 65 per cent appear on the head and neck. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Port-wine stains can be completely eradicated with a laser, says Dr AlNiaimi. The energy from the laser is set at a specific frequency which means it destroys the blood vessels without damaging the surrounding tissue, so the stain fades. The procedure is carried out without anaesthetic as pain is minimal. Adults need six to ten treatments. Children need fewer sessions. HOW MUCH? Between £270 and 480 per treatment, depending on size.
SKIN TAGS
ACROCHORDONS, or skin tags, are brown or flesh-coloured growths the size of a grain of rice that are often to be found in crevices on the body, such as eyelids or armpits. These benign skintissue tumours ‘hang’ off the skin, and they are believed to be caused by friction. WHAT CAN YOU DO? A small skin tag is normally snipped off with surgical scissors or cut off with a scalpel – ‘shaved’ – under local anaesthetic. Dr Al-Niaimi says: ‘There are other methods such as freezing or burning, but I have seen scarring from this and would not recommend it. Snipping or shaving will give a better scarring outcome,’ says Dr Al-Niaimi. HOW MUCH? From £150.
THREAD VEINS AND RED MOLES
THREAD veins are caused by superficial blood vessels that become enlarged and visible. Cherry angiomas, sometimes called red moles, occur for similar reasons but form spots. They are more common in women. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Thermocoagulation, also referred to as Veinwave or Thermavein, uses heat in the form of microwave energy delivered into the vessel via a hand-held needle. This causes the blood vessel to collapse. One 15- to 20-minute treatment is normally sufficient to remove thread veins on the nose and cheeks. HOW MUCH? From £150 to £200.
MILIA
THESE are small white cysts caused by an excess build-up of the skin protein keratin. They look like whiteheads and are usually found around the eyes and eyelids and on the cheeks. WHAT CAN YOU DO? A dermatologist will either carry out a simple extraction by piercing the skin with a sterile needle, or using a topical cream which exfoliates the skin and pushes the contents out. HOW MUCH? Extractions cost from £50.