Curettage and cautery

Curettage and cautery is a technique used to remove superficial skin lesions by scraping them away and sealing the base with heat. It is particularly useful for certain benign lesions and selected superficial skin cancers where a full thickness excision is not required.

Lesions treated with curettage and cautery

This method may be used for:

• Some seborrhoeic keratoses
• Selected superficial basal cell carcinomas
• Certain benign lumps such as small dermatofibromas or other nodules

How the procedure is performed

After numbing the skin with local anaesthetic, a curette (a small, sharp, scoop-shaped instrument) is used to gently scrape away the lesion. Cautery is then applied to the base using a fine heated tip to control bleeding and destroy any remaining abnormal cells.

The treated area forms a crust which gradually falls away as the skin heals underneath.

Healing and risks

Healing usually takes one to three weeks depending on the size and location of the lesion. A flat, pale or slightly indented scar may remain.

• Low risk of infection with appropriate wound care
• Possibility of pigment change at the site
• Occasional recurrence requiring repeat treatment

If you have a superficial lesion that may be suitable for curettage and cautery, please contact us via the contact page.