Zhirovik, in the scientific community known as lipoma, is a benign neoplasm. It can be localized on various parts of the body. Particularly unpleasant is the wen behind the ear, on the earlobe or directly in the ear itself. In most cases, it does not cause pain and is not life threatening. The presence of lipomas, as a rule, causes aesthetic problems.
What is a lipoma and can it disappear?
If a wen is found in the ear area, you should immediately take into account that this tumor itself will not pass, but rather will continue to grow slowly.
Lipoma is a mobile subcutaneous tumor resulting from pathological division of fat cells. It consists of fat and is enclosed in a fibrous capsule. This benign formation is devoid of ducts, so it does not spill out. Most often it appears in places with a minimum content of subcutaneous fat.
Zhirovik behind the ear: reasons
To say unequivocally why lipomas appear, modern medicine is not able to. Predisposing factors for the development of the considered neoplasms are:
• genetic predisposition;
• hormonal and endocrine disorders;
• bad ecology;
• bad habits (alcohol and smoking);
• sedentary lifestyle;
• malnutrition;
• slagging of the body;
• violation of metabolic processes;
• non-observance of personal hygiene rules.
The fat on the earlobe may form due to improper puncture in the beauty salon. Therefore, when performing the procedure, it is important to ensure that the specialist uses a sterile instrument.
How dangerous is this?
Zhirovik behind the ear (treatment of the neoplasm will be discussed later) may not change its size for a long time. If it grows, it is usually very slow. When the size of the lipoma does not exceed a few millimeters, this does not cause inconvenience. However, over time, having reached a significant size, the tumor may begin to compress adjacent tissues and nerve endings, causing pain. The lipoma formed in the auditory opening impairs sound perception, and its inflammation provokes otitis media. In this case, a benign formation is subject to mandatory removal.
Do not try to pierce or squeeze the wen behind the ear yourself, because as a result of such manipulations you can bring an infection. Do not forget that the ear is very close to the brain. With infection of the lipoma, suppuration occurs, which can be fraught with serious consequences.
Although a wen is a benign formation, doctors warn: despite the general belief that lipoma is not life threatening, in some cases it can still turn into oncology (liposarcoma). Prerequisites for malignant degeneration are trauma, infection, rapid growth and large education.
How to identify a lipoma
Zhirovik behind the ear, just like in other places, has signs characteristic of a tumor of this type.
Firstly, it is soft to the touch and mobile.
Secondly, it has an oval or rounded shape, clear borders and develops under the skin.
Thirdly, with pressure on the wen there should be no pain. The exception is infected lipomas, accompanied by suppuration, redness and swelling. In such cases, urgent medical attention is required.
What to do when a tumor is detected?
First of all, do not panic, assuming the worst and making yourself fatal diagnoses. In addition, do not try to get rid of the tumor yourself, especially if it is inflamed. You can make sure that this is actually a lipoma at the reception of a surgeon who examines the tumor, correctly diagnoses it and helps to determine the future tactics.
What if it's really a wen? With a scanty and constant size of the neoplasm, there is no danger. And if the doctor does not insist on removal, you can leave everything as it is, in the future watching the growth of a benign tumor. With rapid growth (about 1 cm in six months), pressure on nearby tissues, soreness and burning, the neoplasm should be eliminated. Also, the reason for the removal is the open location of the lipoma. Since the swelling in the ear area is noticeable, this affects not only the appearance, but also the self-esteem. In addition, a wen in such a place is often traumatized when combing hair, wearing hats, causing redness and inflammation.
Diagnostics
To make the correct diagnosis to an experienced doctor is not difficult. As a rule, for this it is enough to conduct a visual examination with palpation. However, in some cases, an additional examination may be necessary to clarify the diagnosis. Typically, these are:
• a detailed blood test, where an increased content of lymphocytes may indicate a malignant nature of the tumor;
• puncture of the contents of the wen with subsequent histological examination for oncopathology;
• Ultrasound, X-ray, computed and magnetic resonance imaging (performed for a more complete picture of the lipoma, growing in the depths of the ear canal).
Zhirovik behind the ear: how to get rid?
Unfortunately, today there are no drugs that can eliminate or at least reduce the neoplasm. Even strong weight loss, which reduces all adipose tissue, does not affect the size of the lipoma. Many patients live for years with wen in the ear and are in no hurry to get rid of them. First of all, this applies to those who are not very worried about such a cosmetic defect. Of course, if the aesthetic side is not important, with small sizes of a benign tumor, surgery can be delayed. But with significant growth, it is better to get rid of lipomas. Fat loss in the ears (how to remove it will be prompted by a qualified specialist) can be eliminated only by radical methods, namely with the help of surgical intervention.
Surgical removal of lipoma
Modern medicine offers to get rid of lipomas behind the ear in several ways.
1. Standard surgery. It consists in husking a wen with a capsule using a scalpel, thereby eliminating the possibility of relapse. The disadvantage of this method is the presence of a postoperative scar and the duration of its healing.
2. Electrocoagulation. It is a surgical technique associated with exposure to a lipoma of high-frequency electric current. Such an operation is not entirely simple to perform, therefore, it requires certain professional skills.
3. Laser removal is one of the most modern techniques that allows you to remove a wen with the capsule quickly and safely. Carried out using a carbon dioxide laser. The advantage of laser tumor removal is the absence of bleeding, quick healing without edema and inflammation. In addition, this technique leaves no traces, which is very pleasing in the case when the manipulations are carried out on a visible area of the body for others.
4. Radio wave therapy. Another bloodless and less traumatic hardware technique that allows you to get rid of a wen. Carried out using a radio wave knife. Laser and radio wave removal of lipomas in paid clinics costs about the same price.
The last 3 doses are used if the tumor is small. Large adipose tissue is removed surgically. Such an operation lasts about 20 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia. After removal of the tumor, cosmetic sutures are applied, which are removed a week later. All of the above methods do not affect further disability, therefore, immediately after removal, the patient can return to normal life. In any case, one thing is invariably - if a wen appeared on the earlobe, the doctor must decide how to get rid of it.
Does alternative medicine help?
Lipoma in the ear can occur in both adults and children. And since few of us like to visit doctors, the first thing that always comes to mind is to solve the problem on our own. To this end, they often resort to recipes of traditional medicine. In most cases, ointments and all kinds of warming compresses are powerless in the fight against wen. Moreover, self-pulling of their contents can be dangerous, since softening of the lipoma can lead to infection and inflammation.
Despite the fact that some folk remedies have a resolving effect, such treatment is very long. And delaying the problem, especially without prior diagnosis, can be dangerous. Therefore, so that a small wen behind the ear does not turn into a serious threat to health, it is better to consult a doctor and remove it with radical methods in just a few minutes.