Aftercare after removal of benign skin lesions

Before the treatment

• Do not use products with active ingredients for 3 days before the treatment. Examples are self-tanning creams, retinol, arbutin, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and lactic acid.

What to expect

We can remove seborrhoeic warts, skin tags or other raised spots in different ways. We use the zapper, the KTP laser or cryotherapy.

With cryotherapy we use liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin. A scab forms, under which new skin is made.

Coagulation therapy and laser therapy work with heat instead, which burns away or seals the affected tissue. A scab often forms here too, under which new skin is made.

Aftercare differs per lesion. Your therapist will tell you after the treatment what applies to yours. Below is what usually applies.

Recovery step by step

1. First daysThe spots may turn darker at first. This fades by itself within a few days to weeks.
2. A few days to weeksA scab or small blister forms on the treated area. It falls off by itself or dries up.
3. AfterwardsThe new skin may initially be lighter than your normal skin colour. This evens out by itself over time, but it can take a while.

After the treatment

• Avoid picking, scratching and rough rubbing of the treated area. Let the scab or blister fall off by itself.
• For the first 4 weeks after the treatment, stay out of the sun as much as possible and do not use sunbeds. Use SPF 30 to 50 and reapply it every two hours. At the practice we have SPF products from Dermaceutic and Alpha-H.
• Do not pop a blister or pull off the scab. Washing is fine. If the skin is irritated, you can apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
• The treated spot may stay lighter in colour for a few months. Protect it from the sun.
• Do not use products with active ingredients on the treated area for the first week after the treatment (see above).

When should you contact us?

Red, warm or flaking skin is part of recovery. Contact us if you notice any of the following:

• The scab or blister has not healed after 3 to 4 weeks.
• The spot bleeds, or the redness around it grows.
• The pain increases or persists instead of fading.
• The redness or swelling increases after a few days instead of decreasing.
• You see pus or yellow or green crusts, or you develop a fever. These can be signs of an infection.
• Blisters or open areas appear that are not described in the recovery on your page.

Frequently asked questions

This is general information. If your therapist has given you different advice, follow that advice.