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What is curettage?

Curettage is a surgical scraping procedure that can be used to remove dead or diseased tissues such as growths and or to obtain a biopsy that may be used for diagnosis. This procedure involves the use of a small, spoon-shaped tool that has a very sharp edge, called a curette. A curette is a medical device that plays a crucial role in skin care by excising skin lesions. 

When is curettage used?

Dermatologists use curettage to scrape away skin lesions such as:

• Benign lesions such as warts, skin tags, seborrheic keratoses growths and angiomas.
• Premalignant skin lesions such as actinic keratoses, a rough, scaly patch on your skin which develops from years of exposure to the sun.
• Cancerous skin conditions such as basal cell carcinoma, cancer of the skin cells that are responsible for producing new skin cells when old ones die off.

How is curettage done?

During the procedure, Dr Ndongeni will inject local anaesthesia into the skin that surrounds the lesion to make the skin numb so that you don't feel any pain while the lesion is being removed. He will then sear the surface of the wound using a pencil-like metal instrument or needle and apply high-frequency electric current onto the area. This is done to prevent bleeding and to also remove any remaining unwanted tissue. The dermatologist will also use a chemical solution called aluminium chloride hexahydrate to stop bleeding and seal small blood vessels.

What can you expect after a curettage procedure?

Dr Ndongeni will dress the wound, which should not be opened for at least 24hours. The wound may be sore for a few hours after the procedure, and once the anaesthetic has worn off, pain medication will be prescribed to address that.   

You should avoid stretching or using the wound area to prevent bleeding, and if the wound bleeds, press on it using a towel for at least 20 minutes. Seek medical attention if the wound doesn't stop bleeding, becomes red or becomes very painful.

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