A self-cleaning lance (10) includes a lance body (12) elongated along a longitudinal axis and having an upper end portion (14) and a lower end portion (16), the lower end portion (16) being spaced apart from the upper end portion (14) along the longitudinal axis. One or more main nozzles (18) are located proximal to the lower end portion (16) and are adapted to release an oxygen-containing gas. One or more deskulling nozzles (20) are spaced upwardly from the lower end portion (16) and are adapted to release a deskulling gas. The lance body (12) has a first portion (28) that extends axially from the deskulling nozzles (20) to the main nozzles (18) and a second portion (29) above the deskulling nozzles (20). The first portion (28) has a smaller outer perimeter than the outer perimeter of the second portion (29). Each of the deskulling nozzles (20) extends by an angle of not greater than 25 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.