
A significant proportion of the small skin lesions that patients find bothersome, self-consciousness-inducing or simply unsightly are benign — they pose no medical risk, cause no harm and are simply a normal variation of skin appearance at various stages of life. The challenge is that their cosmetic impact on patients is real and consistent, and the routes to having them removed outside of a clinical aesthetic setting are limited. NHS provision for benign cosmetic lesion removal is now largely unavailable; GP referrals for cosmetic concerns are rarely actioned; and at-home removal attempts with over-the-counter products produce at best inconsistent results and at worst scarring, infection and an unhappier outcome than the original lesion.
Advanced electrolysis — specifically the Sterex system used at Elements Medical — provides a clinically precise, highly controlled and professionally delivered alternative. A fine disposable probe is introduced to or placed precisely at the surface of the target lesion, and a measured electrical current is applied. The current either cauterises the feeder blood vessel that sustains a vascular lesion (in the case of spider naevi, cherry angiomas and dilated capillaries) or dehydrates and desiccates the cellular contents of a structural lesion (in the case of skin tags, milia, sebaceous hyperplasia and fibromas), causing it to dry up, crust over and resolve naturally within one to two weeks without leaving a scar.
The treatment is well tolerated, typically quick — session length depends on the number and nature of lesions being treated — and requires no anaesthetic in most cases. Multiple lesions can be treated in a single session. Your practitioner will assess each lesion at the start of your appointment to confirm suitability and advise on the likely number of sessions needed.
Our Doncaster clinic is on Thorne Road with on-site parking, and we welcome patients from across South Yorkshire including Rotherham, Wakefield, Sheffield, Leeds and Barnsley.
Advanced electrolysis delivers a controlled electrical current through a fine sterile probe placed precisely at the target lesion. The current produces one or both of two effects depending on the nature of the lesion being treated:
Thermolysis / cauterisation (for vascular lesions): For lesions sustained by visible blood vessels — spider naevi, cherry angiomas, dilated capillaries and telangiectasia — the electrical current is applied directly to the feeder vessel. The heat generated by the current cauterises the vessel, cutting off the blood supply that sustains the lesion. The visible red or purple colour fades immediately or within days as the now-deprived vessel collapses and is reabsorbed by the body.
Electrodesiccation (for structural lesions): For lesions with a cellular structure rather than a vascular component — skin tags, milia, sebaceous hyperplasia, fibromas, cholesterol deposits and xanthelasma — the current desiccates and dehydrates the lesion’s cellular contents, causing the tissue to dry up rapidly. A small scab forms at the treated site over the following hours to days, which then naturally separates and falls away within seven to fourteen days, leaving the skin clear.
The healing process: Following treatment, the treated site is temporarily marked by a small crust or scab. This is a normal and expected part of the process — it indicates that the treatment has worked — and it must be left completely undisturbed to separate naturally. Picking, scratching or attempting to remove the scab prematurely disrupts the healing process and increases the risk of pigmentation or marking at the site.
The evidence base for advanced electrolysis in the treatment of benign skin lesions including skin tags, milia, vascular lesions and sebaceous hyperplasia is supported by established clinical practice. British Journal of Dermatology — benign skin lesion removal
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The primary purpose of Sterex advanced electrolysis is to restore the skin surface to a clear, lesion-free appearance — removing the specific benign skin growths that patients find bothersome, self-consciousness-inducing or uncomfortable, with a precision and safety that no over-the-counter product or home remedy can match. Each lesion is treated individually and precisely, with the electrical current targeted exactly at the structure to be resolved, producing a clean result without the surrounding skin disturbance that cruder removal methods produce.
Some lesions — particularly skin tags, sebaceous hyperplasia and cherry angiomas — may recur over time, as the underlying tendency to form them is not eliminated by treating the existing ones. Follow-up treatment as new lesions form is a straightforward, quick and accessible way to maintain the clear skin result achieved in the initial sessions. New lesions are treated as soon as they reach a treatable size, preventing accumulation over time.
The emotional impact of visible skin lesions is frequently underestimated by those who do not have them and consistently significant for those who do. Skin tags in visible locations, clusters of spider naevi on the cheeks, milia around the eyes or xanthelasma on the eyelids all draw the patient’s own attention to them in mirrors and in photographs, create self-consciousness in close social interactions and produce a sense of helplessness when conventional remedies have failed. Removing them precisely and safely with a treatment that takes minutes and heals within a week or two provides relief from this entirely disproportionate source of distress.
1. Precise, targeted removal of a wide range of benign lesions in a single appointment Advanced electrolysis treats skin tags, milia, spider naevi, cherry angiomas, sebaceous hyperplasia, xanthelasma, cholesterol deposits, fibromas and dilated capillaries — a comprehensive range of common benign lesions addressed by a single technique.
2. Fast treatment with immediate visible results for vascular lesions Vascular lesions such as spider naevi and cherry angiomas often show immediate or same-day fading as the feeder vessel is cauterised — one of the most gratifyingly rapid visible results in cosmetic treatment.
3. Minimal downtime — return to normal activities the same day Most patients return to their normal activities immediately after the appointment. The treated site will scab and heal over the following week or two, but this does not prevent daily activities.
4. No cutting, no surgery and no sutures required Advanced electrolysis achieves lesion removal through electrical current alone — no incisions, no stitches and no surgical wound that requires post-procedure management or creates a significant scar risk.
5. Suitable for face and body — almost any accessible skin surface Sterex advanced electrolysis can treat lesions on the face — including around the eyes, on the eyelids and on the nose — and across the body including the neck, décolletage, torso, arms and legs.
6. Multiple lesions treated in a single session Several lesions can be assessed and treated within a single appointment, making it practical to address a cluster of skin tags, a group of milia or multiple spider naevi in one efficient visit.
7. Long-lasting results — treated lesions do not return, though new ones may form Once a lesion has been successfully treated with electrolysis, it does not return to that specific location. New lesions of the same type may form elsewhere over time and can be treated as they appear.
Skin Tags
Soft, small pedunculated growths that project from the skin surface on a narrow stalk. Most common on the neck, eyelids, underarms, groin and under the breasts. Electrolysis desiccates the tissue of the tag, causing it to scab and resolve over one to two weeks. One session is usually sufficient for small to medium tags; larger tags may require a follow-up.
Milia
Small, firm, white or yellowish keratin-filled cysts typically found around the eyes, on the cheeks and across the nose. They sit just below the skin surface and are resistant to squeezing or topical products. Electrolysis pierces and desiccates the cyst contents, allowing them to resolve. Well tolerated in the periorbital zone with careful technique.
Spider Naevi
Small, central red spots with fine radiating blood vessels extending outward, resembling a spider. Most commonly appear on the cheeks and nose. The electrical current is applied to the central feeding vessel, cauterising it and causing the radiating vessels to collapse and fade. Results are often visible immediately or within days.
Cherry Angiomas
Bright red, smooth, slightly dome-shaped benign vascular lesions that become increasingly common with age, appearing most often on the torso, arms and shoulders. Electrolysis cauterises the blood supply, causing the lesion to darken and resolve over one to two weeks.
Telangiectasia and Dilated Capillaries
Small, dilated visible blood vessels near the skin surface, most commonly appearing on the cheeks, nose and chin as fine red lines or a generalised redness. The current is applied along the vessel length, cauterising it and causing it to fade. Multiple sessions may be needed for extensive areas; IPL thread vein treatment is an alternative option for larger or more widespread presentations.
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
Enlarged sebaceous (oil) glands that appear as small, flesh-coloured or yellowish, doughnut-shaped bumps on the face — most commonly on the forehead, nose and cheeks. Electrolysis desiccates the enlarged gland, causing it to reduce and resolve over one to two weeks.
Xanthelasma
Soft, flat, yellowish deposits of lipid material beneath the skin surface, most commonly found on or near the eyelids. Electrolysis treats the visible deposit effectively. Patients with xanthelasma may wish to discuss the finding with their GP, as it can occasionally be associated with elevated cholesterol levels — though many patients with xanthelasma have entirely normal cholesterol and the lesions are cosmetically motivated to remove.
Cholesterol Deposits
Similar to xanthelasma in their lipid composition, cholesterol deposits may appear as small, soft, yellowish lumps in various locations on the face. Electrolysis treats the visible deposit. As with xanthelasma, discussing findings with a GP is reasonable if not already done.
Fibromas
Benign skin growths composed of fibrous or connective tissue, typically appearing as firm, flesh-coloured or slightly pigmented bumps. Electrolysis desiccates the fibrous tissue, allowing the lesion to resolve over one to two weeks.
Pimples and Blocked Pores
Electrolysis can address individual persistent pimples and blocked pores through precise desiccation of the contents. For patients with generalised congestion, oily skin or multiple blocked pores, DermaQuest skin peels or HydraFacial are more appropriate as a treatment programme for the underlying skin condition.
For individual, clearly defined thread veins and small vascular lesions — spider naevi, cherry angiomas, isolated facial capillaries — Sterex advanced electrolysis is a highly precise and immediately effective option, treating each vessel individually with minimal disruption to the surrounding skin.
For more widespread facial redness, extensive networks of thread veins or rosacea-associated vascular presentations, IPL thread vein treatment is more appropriate — delivering light energy across a broader treatment area to address multiple vessels simultaneously rather than individually.
The two approaches are complementary: IPL for the general vascular pattern; Sterex for individual persistent lesions that remain after IPL. Your practitioner will discuss which is most appropriate for your presentation.
At Elements Medical, Sterex advanced electrolysis is performed by experienced practitioners who assess each lesion individually and apply the treatment with the precision and technique appropriate for its specific type and location. We treat lesions across the full face — including the delicate periorbital zone — and across the body, and we will always advise honestly on the expected number of sessions needed and the realistic outcome before treatment begins.
All lesions are assessed at the start of your first appointment. If any lesion requires GP assessment before treatment for any reason, we will advise accordingly and will not proceed until appropriate.
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Varies depending on the area
Results depend on the area treated as more than one treatment may be required. This will be discussed at your initial consultation.
None
None
You can return to work the same day. This is down to preference of the patient
Not required
Sterex advanced electrolysis is a precise skin lesion removal treatment that uses a fine sterile probe to deliver a controlled electrical current directly to a benign skin lesion — causing it to dry up, scab and resolve naturally over one to two weeks. It is used to remove skin tags, milia, spider naevi, cherry angiomas, sebaceous hyperplasia, xanthelasma, cholesterol deposits, fibromas, dilated capillaries and similar benign lesions from the face and body.
Most patients find the treatment very well tolerated without anaesthetic. A brief sharp or pricking sensation is felt during each pulse of current — most lesions take only a few seconds each to treat. The discomfort is minimal and short-lived.
A small scab or crust forms at the treated site within hours to a day after treatment. This is a normal and expected sign that the treatment has worked. The scab must be left completely undisturbed — not picked, scratched or rubbed — and will separate naturally within 7 to 14 days, leaving the skin clear.
Many lesions resolve in a single session. Larger lesions, multiple close-together lesions, or lesions that are deeper in the skin may require two sessions at a minimum four-week interval to achieve full clearance. Your practitioner will advise on the likely number of sessions at your first appointment after assessing your specific lesions.
Once a lesion has been successfully treated, it does not recur at that site. However, the underlying tendency to form skin tags, cherry angiomas or similar lesions is not removed — new lesions may form elsewhere over time and can be treated as they appear.
Yes — Sterex advanced electrolysis can be used almost anywhere on the body, including the face (including around the eyes and on the eyelids), neck, décolletage, torso, arms and legs.
Advanced electrolysis is appropriate for benign, stable lesions only. We will not treat any lesion that appears atypical, has changed in colour, size or border recently, bleeds spontaneously or has any features that suggest it should be assessed medically first. If your practitioner has any concern about a lesion, you will be advised to have it assessed by a GP or dermatologist before cosmetic treatment proceeds.
Sterex is a professional-grade advanced electrolysis brand widely used in UK aesthetic clinics. The underlying mechanism — precision electrical current via a fine probe — is consistent across advanced electrolysis devices, though specific probe designs and current modalities differ. Your practitioner will confirm the equipment used at Elements Medical.
For individual spider naevi and isolated thread veins, yes. For widespread facial redness, extensive thread vein networks or rosacea-associated vascular presentations, IPL thread vein treatment is a more appropriate option — treating a broader area simultaneously. Your practitioner will advise on the best approach for your specific presentation.
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Browse through our website and choose the treatment that’s right for you.
Book Online or Call Us
Follow the link below to book your treatment online. Or call us on 01302 34 34 32
Complete Your Forms
Your medical history form will be emailed for you to complete before you attend.
Select Your Treatment
Browse through our website and choose the treatment that’s right for you.
Book Online or Call Us
Follow the link below to book your treatment online. Or call us on 01302 34 34 32
Complete Your Forms
Your medical history form will be emailed for you to complete before you attend.
Call us: 01302 34 34 32
Email us: reception@elements.org.uk
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