What is Electrodessication & Curettage?

Electrodessication and curettage is a procedure used for the treatment of skin cancers. It’s most commonly used for superficial skin cancers usually on the trunk and extremities.

A scraping is done on the top layer of skin where the initial skin cancer was located. This is followed by electrodessication of the skin surface. This is done in a checkerboard pattern and repeated two to three times until the skin cancer is adequately treated. It takes on average four to six weeks for that area to heal. The heal is left to granulate, and when I say granulate, it means to heal from the inside out so it can take a little bit longer than a surgical excision for this area to heal.

The residual effect from electrodessication and curettage. Usually it leaves a hypo pigmented or light colored scar usually around the size of a quarter depending on the size of the initial skin cancer.

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