Curettage and desiccation procedure for a skin cancer, otherwise known as scraping and burning to lay persons. Used here to treat a skin cancer, C&D (for short) has a failure rate depending upon body location, type of basal cancer biopsied under the microscope, and depth of penetration among other factors.		Following the curettage and desiccation treatment an ulcer results that may take months to heal. Using modern synthetic dressings may speed the healing somewhat but few dermatologists use them in this setting. A scar will always result from proper treatment. How noticeable the scar is depends upon many factors.