Electrodesiccation Treatment Options: What is Electrodesiccation Treatment?

What Does Electrodesiccation Treatment Do?

Electrodesiccation is a fast, simple procedure that uses electric current delivered via a needle-shaped device to superheat your skin in pinpoint precise areas.

What Conditions Does Electrodesiccation Treatment Resolve?

This targeted treatment can be used to remove both cancerous and non-cancerous growths. For skin cancer patients, electrodesiccation treatment is often combined with the use of a curette – a small, spoon-shaped instrument designed to scrape away abnormal skin cells.

Is Electrodesiccation an Effective Treatment for Skin Cancer?

Yes. After removing the growth(s) and scraping away layers of cancer cells with a curette, your Forefront dermatologist uses the electric needle to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Electrodesiccation can be used to treat basal or squamous cell carcinoma, which are the most common types of skin cancer.

Fortunately, if skin cancer is identified and treated early, most cancerous growths can be removed successfully. Be sure to contact your Forefront dermatologist right away if you notice any changes on your skin, specifically a new growth or changes in the appearance of an existing growth. The main cause of skin cancer is overexposure to sunlight, so keep a close eye on the parts of your body that get the most sun (such as your face, shoulders, and arms).

What Are the Benefits of Electrodesiccation Treatment?

Electrodesiccation is a quick but extremely precise procedure for removing skin cancer. You typically do not feel any pain during treatment, no stitches are required, and the entire process takes less than an hour.

Almost everyone is eligible for electrodesiccation treatment, unless you have an implanted electrical device (such as a pacemaker).

What About Electrodesiccation Aftercare?

Your Forefront dermatologist will give you care instructions to follow at home, but the shallow wound that results from electrodesiccation treatment should heal on its own. The healing process may take several weeks.

Do not wash the wound for the first 24-48 hours to allow the healing process to begin. After that, you can clean the wound with gentle soap and water as needed. You can also cover the wound with a bandage and antibiotic ointment each day until healing is complete.

What’s the Difference Between Electrodesiccation and Hyfrecation?

Hyfrecation uses the same needle-shaped device as electrodesiccation but focuses on removing other types of unwanted growths.

What Conditions Does Hyfrecation Treatment Resolve?

Your Forefront dermatologist may recommend hyfrecation treatment for benign (non-cancerous) skin lesions, such as warts, skin tags, seborrheic keratosis, and more.

How Does Hyfrecation Treatment Work?

Much like electrodesiccation, hyfrecation treatment delivers a controlled, precise electric current to destroy the targeted tissue. Your Forefront dermatologist will numb the area with a local anesthetic to make the procedure relatively painless.

What Hyfrecation Treatment Results Can You Expect?

After hyfrecation treatment, you can expect a small scab to form for about a week. The scab should fall away on its own.

You may only need one hyfrecation treatment session to remove a skin lesion completely. However, more persistent skin lesions may require a few treatments to fully clear.

Is Hyfrecation Aftercare Complicated?

Don’t let the idea of a falling scab alarm you. But it’s important to let it heal naturally, so be sure to avoid picking, peeling, or scrubbing the area. If the scab rubs against your clothing, you can cover it with a bandage temporarily – just remove it when you’re back home to allow the scab to heal in open air.

Schedule Your Electrodesiccation or Hyfrecation Treatment Consultation

At Forefront Dermatology, protecting you from skin cancer and keeping your skin healthy are two of our highest priorities. To learn more about electrodesiccation or hyfrecation treatments, find a Forefront Dermatology office near you and schedule a consultation today.

When removing skin cancer and other growths, precision is key. Book a consultation with a skin specialist today.