Shave
biopsy (or "tangential excision") slices a surface growth off using
a blade. A
"curette" does a similar task with a special scraping tool. These are often done to
remove a small growth and confirm it's nature at the same time.
A "Punch" biopsy is typically used by dermatologists to
sample skin rashes and small growths. After a local anesthetic is
injected, a biopsy punch, which is basically a small (1 to 4 mm
diameter) version of a cookie cutter, is used to cut out a cylindrical
piece of skin. The hole may be closed with a suture and heals with
minimal scarring.
Grenz rays are a form of black light classified as ultrasoft radiation.
Grenz ray treatments should not be confused with the
"Superficial radiation therapy" or "superficial
X-Ray" which were used for everything from acne to eczema back 30
to 40 years ago, and are still used in the treatment of malignant skin
cancers today.
UVB
Phototherapy is a treatment for skin eruptions using artificial
ultraviolet light. The initials UVB stand for the type B
ultraviolet, the part of sunlight that
gives you sunburn. Carefully controlled, it is an extremely
effective tool for significant skin disease.
PUVA is a combination of psoralen (P) and long-wave ultraviolet
radiation (UVA) that is used to treat several severe skin conditions. Psoralen
is a drug taken by mouth that makes the skin disease more sensitive to
ultraviolet light. This allows the deeply penetrating UVA band of light to work
on the skin.
ED+C: Scraping or burning-off skin growths (also
known as curettage and electrodessication) can be used for
less serious skin cancers, pre-cancers and benign growths. A local
anesthetic is injected, then the abnormal tissue is scraped off with a
special tool. The area is then cauterized until bleeding stops. This
may be repeated if the growth is cancerous. The wound will need to be dressed
until it heals, and it usually
leaves a small white mark.
Intralesional injections are the direct placement of a medication
into a problem skin area through a very fine needle. Most often, a dilute
solution of triamcinalone (Kenalog) is used. Acne cysts, psoriasis and
chronic forms of eczema are treated this way. If too much medication
is used, a white spot or dent develops, but eventually goes away,
Cryosurgery, also known as cryotherapy, is used frequently by
dermatologist to treat many skin problems. Liquid nitrogen is sprayed
on to the area of skin freezing it. Light freezing causes a peeling,
moderate freezing a blistering and hard freezing a scabbing. It is
used for acne, scars, growths and some skin cancers. Older
dermatologists still use a swab to apply it, but the result is the
same.
Acne surgery is the removing of acne lesions, usually by opening up
comedones and pimples by using a needle or small pointed blade and
expressing the lesions with an extractor.