topical steroid therapy to remove dermatofibromas?

hello,

i have several self-diagnosed dermatofibromas on my legs that i am getting more and more uncomfortable with and i want them to be removed.  these run in my family; my father had dozens of them on his legs in a random pattern.

it's not that i have a lot, but it's that they form a linear pattern which makes them stand out more and it looks odd.  they are not painful.  they are not getting larger, but i seem to be getting more of them on my legs as time goes on.  they just look like something a guy who is "aging" or who is "getting older or IS old!" would have, and i cannot tolerate this.

i know you can get them removed surgically and also removed with laser therapy, but i cannot see how this can be done without leaving pitting, etc.  i cannot tolerate THAT, either.  i read that these dermatofibromas often can be removed with *high-potency topical steroids* and this is the way i want to go.  i think i read they help bring the dermatofibroma cells to the surface and remove them that way, much in the same way topical acids remove a plantar wart, etc.

does anyone know if i can expect good results with topical steroids or if i may have to resort to laser therapy or surgical therapy if i want to do something about these dermatofibromas in the first place?  i want them to look like they weren't there in the first place--not like there was something that had to be "cut out".  also, are there any health drawbacks to short- to medium-term topical steroid therapy?  does it get absorbed into the skin significantly?  

last, i'd like to mention that i sent email to a NYC dermatologist who insisted the only complete way to remove these skin lesions is with conventional outpatient local anesthesia surgery.

thanks for letting me know.

-- 6060-842.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Dermatofibroma is a benign skin nodule which is present on lower legs. The treatment of dermatofibroma consists of surgical excision of the lumps, cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen therapy and CO2 laser treatment. I suggest you to get this evaluated and discuss these treatment options with your dermatologist.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.