What Is A Skin Lesion

There are hundreds of diseases of the skin, and Norris Dermatology in Portland, OR, specializes in diagnosing and treating these common skin lesions. While about aren't serious, they tin can cause symptoms that range from mildly annoying to extremely painful. Fortunately, help is bachelor. If you lot're dealing with discoloration, a rash, bumps or other skin issues and you alive in the Portland area, schedule an appointment with our board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Patricia Norris, for testing and handling.

What Are Pare Lesions?

A peel lesion is whatsoever type of abnormal lump, bump, rash, blister, sore or ulcer, equally well every bit any crusty, scaly or discolored areas on the skin. Dermatologists classify these as either master or secondary skin lesions.

Chief: Present at nascency or acquired it over a lifetime.

Secondary: The result of irritating a chief lesion, such as the chaff that forms on a mole that has been scratched until it bled.

Causes

The good news is that nigh skin lesions are benign, which means they don't cause cancer.

Near often, they're acquired by a fungal or viral infection on or in the skin, such every bit with warts or the canker simplex virus, which causes cold sores.

Peel lesions that appear in multiple areas tin can exist acquired by systemic infections, which impact the entire body, such equally chicken pox.

Genetics can be a factor too, such every bit with freckles and moles, as well equally with birthmarks, which are present at nativity.

Still other causes include an allergic reaction, autoimmune weather condition like lupus, fungal infections and diseases such equally diabetes.

Common Types of Skin Lesions

Dermatologists are specialists in skin health and diseases, and we diagnose and treat a wide range of skin lesions, including:

Actinic Keratosis
Angioma
Cysts
Dermatofibroma
Dermatitis
Folliculitis
Hives
Hyper/hypopigmentation
Keloids
Lentigo
Lipomas
Milia
Moles
Molluscum Contagiosum
Rashes
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
Seborrheic Keratosis
Skin Tags
Tinea Versicolor
Warts

Diagnosis

Dr. Norris will examine the lesion and discuss any symptoms that may be nowadays. A small amount of the skin may need to exist scraped off and examined under a microscope. In some cases, testing such as a skin biopsy or lab tests on a swab sample from the affected expanse may be used to confirm a diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment of skin lesions depends on their cause and can include oral or topical medications to salvage symptoms such every bit itching and to help fight infection. Some lesions may demand to be surgically removed and some, like cysts, may need to be lanced and tuckered.

You tin learn more virtually common skin lesions at American Academy of Dermatology. Call 503-227-7117 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Norris.