ABSTRACT
Curettage and cautery are used when the material being removed is softer than the surrounding skin or there is a natural plane to separate the diseased tissue from the normal. Electrocautery and electrodessication are used to destroy small areas of abnormal skin such as tags and prominent blood vessels, and also to cauterize vessels after curettage and shave excision. At low power this can be done without local anaesthetic. Because it is a destructive method there is always the likelihood of some permanent scar or indentation. Lesions on stalks, such as skin tags, are often best treated by snipping the base with sharp scissors. The small amount of bleeding stops with a little pressure. Large tags and fibroepithelial polyps have a broad base and anaesthetic is used, not only because the snip itself will be more painful but also because cautery may be needed to stop the bleeding.
