How Do You Handle Spots?
Question From D in Seattle:
My husband has 2 spots, one on his chest and another on his back. The one on his chest has gotten worse and is starting to bleed. We feel they both need to be removed. When would be the next available appointment he can get? Thanks
Dear D, Thank you for your question.
We can see you within the next week.
Spots can mean anything from true moles or other benign “lesions” to skin cancer. The benign form of “spots” include such diagnoses as seborrheic keratoses (age spots), angiomas (tiny red collections of blood vessels), sebaceous hyperplasia (yellowish bumps that are collections of oil glands), warts, moles, etc. The way that we treat benign “spots” depends on what they are. We can often use an electrical heat device called cautery, or liquid nitrogen to freeze the spots away. Sometimes we need to use lasers. We have a laser for every “spot”.
Sometimes “spots” turn out to be skin cancers. The most common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Very dark or atypical “spots” may indicate a bad mole, or a melanoma. For basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, we will often surgically remove them. Dr Reichel specializes in a surgical treatment called "Mohs Micrographic Surgery”. Please read about Mohs surgery on our website. Dr Reichel is a member of the American College of Mohs Surgery. This requires a year of fellowship training after graduation from Residency in Dermatology. Because we specialize in both cosmetic procedures and skin cancer surgery – we will be able to help your husband from any angle.
Dr Reichel
