DIATHERMY
- Skin Tags
- Milia
- Angiomas
- Age Spots
- Benign Moles
- Broken Capillaries
- Cysts
- Warts
Treatment of Skin Blemishes & Lesions
What is Diathermy?
Diathermy is a safe and effective medical cosmetic procedure performed to treat skin problems such as skin tags, spider veins, dilated and broken capillaries, red spots, milia, sebaceous hyperplasia, seborrheic keratosis, and other benign skin lesions. It involves the use of a high-frequency electrical current to produce heat to a specified treatment area. This intense heat is able to destroy unhealthy or unwanted tissue such as skin tags and moles or can be used to clot blood, which effectively reduces the appearance of broken capillaries. The procedure is sometimes referred to as electrosurgery.
Skin tags are benign, innocuous growths that vary in size, shape and attachment. They are often found in areas where there is friction, such as where the skin creases or clothes rub. Skin tags (technically known as fibro-vascular papilloma) are increasingly common as we age and affect almost half of the population. While they are benign and do not pose any direct risk to your health, skin tags can easily be removed if they are impacting your self-esteem or mental well-being.
The most effective treatment for removing a skin tag is Diathermy. Diathermy uses heat to cauterise harmless non-malignant imperfections. The Diathermy device itself is a small handpiece that delivers the electrical current through a probe the size of an eyelash. This means that the treatment is very precise and only the targeted tissue is affected. As such, the risk of scarring or post-inflammatory pigmentation is very unlikely. Heat is delivered through a very fine needle directly onto (not into) the area of concern, immediately dissolving the skin tag, milia or cauterizing blood flow to a stubborn broken capillary. The area treated will take about 7-10 days to fully heal. An LED Light Treatment will aid in faster healing for the area treated.
Diathermy gives blemish-free, smooth skin, instantaneously. It is a bloodless procedure and does not require any stitches. It is used primarily for the cosmetic treatment of the face, neck, shoulder, chest, and back. These are the areas of the body that get exposed to the harmful effects of the sun and the environment and more often develop skin problems.
Following a diathermy treatment, some lesions will immediately disappear whilst others will appear to turn white or grey, with the surrounding skin appearing pink. Mild swelling and redness may result and this will resolve in a few hours.
In the next few days after treatment, lesions can darken or appear to become dry or scab-like. This skin should not be picked at or irritated. The affected tissue generally forms a crust and will slough off whilst showering or fall off after 7-10 days. If all aftercare instructions are followed, the treated area should look completely untouched and clear of any blemishes. The risk of scarring or post-inflammatory pigmentation when performing a Diathermy Treatment is very unlikely.
delivering blemish removal services that restore confidence and help boost self esteem
Diathermy treatment techniques are clinically proven to reduce or remove many of the common, benign skin blemishes that are of concern to our clients.
These blemishes and lesions can often be quickly and effectively resolved, sometimes in just one treatment. These techniques give a clinical solution to something with their appearance that often causes them worry and embarrassment.
Diathermy Treatment Prices
Common Skin Blemishes & Lesions
Age Spots
Angiomas
Benign Hairy Moles
Generally, it is best to avoid treating moles, but if yours is causing you severe distress it may be able to be treated with diathermy. You must always consult your GP before mole reduction treatment and we will need written consent from your doctor to perform diathermy on the specific mole.
Telangiectasia
Telangiectasias, also known as spider veins, are small dilated blood vessels that can occur near the surface of the skin or mucous membranes, measuring between 0.5 and 1 millimeter in diameter. These dilated blood vessels can develop anywhere on the body but are commonly seen on the face around the nose, cheeks and chin. Dilated blood vessels can also develop on the legs, although when they occur on the legs, they often have underlying venous reflux or "hidden varicose veins". When found on the legs, they are found specifically on the upper thigh, below the knee joint and around the ankles.
Cysts
Epidermoid cysts usually affect young and middle-aged adults and contain keratin and pus. These can be formed after trauma or injury or from a hair follicle that has become inflamed.
Pilar cysts are subcutaneous keratin-filled cysts that originate from the outer hair root sheath. They can often be found in multiples on the scalp of middle-aged females.
Milia
Milia are irritating small, hard, round white nodules slightly raised above skin level, formed when keratin is trapped beneath the outer layer of the skin, forming a tiny cyst. Milia can also be confused with stubborn whiteheads but they are much harder in texture due to keratin, a protein found in hair and nails. They are called Milia plural or Milium singular and most people will experience at least one in their lifetime. Milia can appear on people of all ages, ethnicity and genders. They often develop when the ducts leading to the skin surface are clogged up, such as after an injury, blockage by rich creams/products (such as suncream) that prevent the skin ‘breathing’ as normal. They can also be caused by dry dehydrated when dry flakes of skin block the pores.
Seborrhoeic Keratosis
Skin Tags
Warts
Unwanted Skin Blemishes?
FAQ
Diathermy can only be performed on a healthy skin. If there is any evidence of a skin disease or disorder in the treatable area then treatment may not commence. Some conditions may prevent treatment until the skin has healed e.g. cold sores, eczema or active acne etc. Some conditions may prevent treatment such as vitiligo. During the consultation the area to be treated will be assessed and in some cases we may require written consent from your Doctor prior to treatment.
It is possible to have diathermy and electrolysis treatments during pregnancy as the tiny amounts of current used will not affect the pregnancy. However, we will NOT offer treatment during the first trimester. There are 2 methods of diathermy and electrolysis mainly offered in salons today, the blend method and short wave diathermy. The blend method allows the current to flow through the body and short wave diathermy remains at the tip of the needle. Our Skin Specialist may prefer to offer short wave diathermy only to pregnant clients.
NO. Unfortunately, neither diathermy nor electrolysis can be offered to clients with a pacemaker. This is for the safety of the client. Diathermy and Electrolysis use an electrical current to treat and this could affect the pacemaker.
There are two methods of diathermy and electrolysis offered, short wave diathermy and the blend method. The blend method may leave a metallic taste experienced in the mouth, therefore, if you have a lot of fillings or metal braces, the short wave diathermy method may be preferred.
We usually recommend that swimming and gym workouts get a night off while the skin calms down to ensure no minor infection can happen. If the skin has returned to normal and is not hot or warm, sore, pink or red and shows no sign of any swelling, then there should be no problem. Our Skin Specialist will advise you during the initial consultation.
Both Diathermy and Electrolysis can be a little uncomfortable for many people but others can fall asleep during treatment. During a treatment a tiny sterile probe is introduced into the opening of the hair follicle or blemish. A small burst of energy is released and a sensation will be experienced like a tingle, heat or a minor sting. Everyone has their own individual pain threshold which can be affected by a number of factors:
- Individual pain thresholds – this can be affected by health, stress, time of menstruation etc
- Area to be treated
- Strength and size of hair
- Skin sensitivity
- Type of current used
One thing that you can depend on is diathermy and electrolysis works so any minor discomfort is well worth the results.
A wide diversity of skin blemishes can be treated:
- Facial Thread Veins – commonly found around the nose and on the cheeks
- Blood Spots – bright red vascular blemishes frequently found on the midriff, back or front
- Spider Naevus – a central dilated capillary with smaller capillaries like the legs of a spider
- Skin Tags – Commonly found on the neck, underarm and areas of friction
- Milia – Tiny white hard lumps containing keratin
- Warts – Various types such as, common, seborrhoeic and verrucas
- Moles – With GP written consent the mole can be visibly reduced
Immediately after a diathermy treatment it is normal for the skin to be sensitised with a pink appearance. This reaction is temporary and should return to normal within 24 hours. If you are having an advanced cosmetic procedure your blemish is likely to take on a different appearance that will heal over time.
Post treatment, the blemish may disappear immediately or should begin to disappear several days to weeks after the first treatment.
Following your treatment an aftercare product will be applied to calm and soothe the area protecting it from an unwanted reaction. We strongly recommend you purchase aftercare skin care products to continue the good work at home.
When deciding upon having a diathermy treatment, it is important to find the correct person to perform this procedure. Look for a qualified skin specialist that has been certified or licensed, making sure that it is up to date. Asking for recommendations from family, friends and co-workers is often helpful.
It is important to get a consultation first to ask questions and concerns about the procedure. Good questions to ask include how long the procedure will take, how it will feel, how many treatments are expected, the cost of each treatment, and how many clients they have performed the procedure on.
When at the consultation, look around. Notice if the place is clean, if the clinicians seem knowledgeable about the procedure. Ask if you can meet the skin specialist that will be performing the procedure on you to ensure it’s a specialised clinician.
