Problem Faced
In general, acne lesions and subsequent scar on sub malar (buccal/cheek) area of the face are of severe grade. For extracting the contents of the lesions, various types of instruments are used.[1,2] However, the extraction on this area is difficult and usually incomplete because of free, loose, and thick skin which is not attached to underlying hard bony surface.
Solution Proposed
An aseptic barrel of disposable syringe as per need (10 ml or 20 ml) after cutting its outlet is used. The barrel is placed in between buccal cavity and jaw, and the patient is told to clinch the teeth to give stability to the barrel [Figure 1a]. This makes the buccal area of the face stretched and firm. After this, under aseptic condition, the extraction of the lesions (comedone to cysts) is done by punching the lesions. Different parts of a disposable syringe (syringe outlet, needle hub, cap of the needle, and syringe barrel of a 3 ml syringe) are used as extractors as per size and type of the acne lesions. The center of the rim of the extractor is positioned at the center of the lesion and a gentle vertical pressure is applied to extrude out the keratinous contents [Figure 1b]. During the procedure, the barrel site is manipulated as per site of the lesions. Thus, the intraoral use of syringe barrel is a good option to extract and to drain out the acne lesion on buccal area of the face.
Figure 1.
(a) A 20-ml syringe barrel is placed in the oral cavity to stretch out sub malar skin of the face. (b) The acne lesions on stretched sub malar zone of the face are punched out with disposable syringe outlet
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgement
Dr. Bushra Khan, MD (Dermatology) helped in editing this article.
References
- 1.Mukhtar M. Surgical pearl: Disposable syringe as comedone extractor. Cosmet Dermatol – Cedar Knolls. 2003;16:57–62. [Google Scholar]
- 2.Kim JY. Disposable syringe punching: An aseptic alternative to a comedo extractor. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;83:e175–6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.11.062. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]