Slievemore Clinic, Old Dublin Road
Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
Contact details
Contact details
Slievemore Clinic is equipped for minor surgery, and we can offer a broad range of procedures for our patients.
This is the application of cold (-194’C) liquid Nitrogen to lesions of the skin. Our practice have been pioneers of cryosurgery in Ireland, and have been treating people with cryosurgery since the mid 1980s. Cryosurgery involves the placing of a cold probe, or the application of a cold spray, to a treated area. The area becomes inflamed, and may even blister. After several days the inflammation settles down and normal skin returns. The expectation is that abnormal tissue will be destroyed and normal tissue restored. Its main applications are in the treatment of warts and verrucae, fatty tags, and the treatment of keratoses which are disturbances of growth of the keratin layer of the skin. It can also be used for skin lesions such as moles, spiders veins and occasionally for non-melanoma skin cancers.
Radiosurgery is the use of high frequency radio waves to cut or destroy tissue. It has several advantages over conventional surgery. It tends to be quick, there is minimal bleeding, and there is less scarring thereafter. For the removal of some skin lesions it can be much more cosmetically acceptable. Your doctor will advise whether your problem is suitable for radiosurgery or not.
Warts are viral infections of the skin, causing an overgrowth of the keratin layer of the skin. They have a characteristic architecture, often with a volcanic appearance. Alternatively they can be "mosaic". They are contagious, both from site to site on an individual, and from person to person.
The treatment of choice for warts is cryosurgery. Warts can be difficult to eradicate by any means, but cryosurgery is amongst the most successful. The initial treatment may be completely covered by Health Insurance. Subsequent treatments are charged at consultation rates.
These are also known as plantar warts and grow on the sole of the foot. They are similar to warts, but tend to be more stubborn. They are often picked up from wet surfaces. Initial treatments of plantar warts/verrucae are fully covered by Health Insurance. Subsequent visits are charged at the standard consultation rate.
We can suture most wounds after minor accidents. We will try our best to facilitate patients who have had accidents, and prevent long waits in Casualty. These procedures are part-covered by VHI/BUPA etc. If in doubt, please phone the surgery for advice.
Most moles are harmless. However, with the increasing exposure of Irish People to the sun, we are seeing a rise in malignant melanoma in this country. Warning signs are changes in size, shape, coloration, or texture of moles. Bleeding from moles should also be checked out. You should attend a doctor for review of these moles, and if necessary arrangements for excision will be made. Excision of moles is also part covered by VHI/BUPA.
The third type of skin cancer is a different level of problem all together. Melanomas represent about 10% of the cancers in the age group 15-44 years. They develop from moles (see above). Any suspicious mole should not be left unchecked.
These are blocked damaged sweat glands that build up into bags of fluid. Often they cause no trouble, but occasionally they become infected and abscessed. It is best to remove them before they become infected as it is difficult to do when they are inflamed. Often the only option at that stage is to drain them, and there is a reasonable chance of recurrence after this.
A lipoma is a fatty collection. It is not a true cyst, but appears similar to the sebaceous cysts.
Keratoses are lesions which are caused by the build up of the keratin layer of the skin. There are two common types of keratoses seen in practice.
"Senile" keratoses are common. They are wart like lesions that are larger and browner than common warts. Despite their name, they can occur in people as young as 30. They are always benign, and never progress to anything serious. However, they can catch in clothes, bleed and become inflamed. They are often removed for these reasons. They can be removed by cryotherapy, or Radiosurgery (the latter is more certain of success).
"Actinic" or "solar" keratoses are caused by exposure to sunlight, and appear in uncovered areas such as the forehead, face, neck, upper chest and backs of hands. They are scaly and can sometimes be mistaken for psoriasis. They are potentially pre-malignant and there is a high incidence of BCCs and SCCs (see below) arising from them. They should be treated. Early cases are treated easily with cryosurgery.
Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cell Carcinomas are forms of sin cancer. They are comparatively benign, in that spread away from the original lesion is rare, and much delayed. Only the most neglected lesions will lead to serious consequences. However, both are locally invasive, and will continue to grow until excised. BCCs used be called "rodent" ulcers.
The main problem is distinguishing keratoses from BCCs, and if there is doubt the doctor will usually advise that the lesions should be removed, and sent for pathological examination.
Ingrowing toenails are a common problem, especially in the teenage years. People should wear well fitting shoes, and not cut their nails back into the cuticle. Nails should be cut straight, allowing the advancing corners to be clear of the nail bed.
Some people have pre-disposition to ingrowing of nails, due to the width or convexity of their nails.
There are two treatments available. The first, and simplest, is cutting away the offending part of the nail, under local anaesthetic, and trying to ensure that re-growth is achieved, by nail care thereafter. This is the most desirable treatment. However, it carries a high failure rate, perhaps 50%.
The second type of treatment involves excision of nail-bed, and destruction of a portion of it. This can be done chemically or electronically. This has a very high success rate, but can leave a somewhat disfigured toenail on occasions. The treated toenail may not regrow exactly to the cuticle, and you sometime get small pieces of nail re-growing at the site of the excision (rare).