Atheroma is a cyst of the sebaceous gland of the skin in the form of a dense formation with clear contours. May appear on any part of the body except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. But the most common parts of the body where atheroma can occur are:
- the area near the ears;
- scalp;
- face;
- chest;
- back;
- genital area.
Atheromas are smooth to the touch, can be different in size, but more often have a rounded shape. Formations are often caused by blockage of the sebaceous glands, the growth of hair follicles and the excessive production of the hormone testosterone. Hereditary causes of atheromas include Gardner syndrome, basal cell nevus syndrome.
Often atheroma becomes a hotbed of infection and therefore becomes inflamed. A subcutaneous abscess forms, which is accompanied by severe suppuration, which causes pain. The danger in such cases is that pus can burst under the skin. This can cause serious complications.
It rarely happens that atheroma itself disappears without a trace. You should not start the disease in the hope that everything will disappear by itself. With small tumor sizes, difficulties in treatment should not arise.
Causes
There are a number of possible reasons for the development of atheroma, including:
- blockage of the sebaceous glands;
- metabolic disease;
- increased levels of testosterone and steroids;
- injuries of the sebaceous glands (scratches, surgery, skin condition after acne);
- genetic predisposition;
- microtrauma of the hair follicles;
- non-observance of personal hygiene.
Symptoms
Atheromas, as a rule, grow slowly and are most often painless, especially at small sizes. The cyst is in a closed sac - a capsule. The main clinical manifestations of formations are:
- The presence of a round movable cone located above the surface of the skin.
- The cyst itself is painless, but the skin around it can bring discomfort.
- The size of the tumor usually has a size of 1 to 5 cm in diameter.
- Sometimes a cyst may have a small hole and look like a boil. In contrast, atheroma grows very slowly and quite a long time. But the boil, on the contrary, can disappear within a few weeks without treatment.
- Viscous yellow pus with an unpleasant odor can ooze from atheroma.
- Swelling, redness, and soreness may appear. This is a sign of inflammation or infection.
Diagnostics
Doctors often diagnose a cyst after a simple physical examination. If the cyst has unusual characteristics, the doctor may prescribe additional diagnostics to exclude the presence of cancer.
Common tests used to examine sebaceous cysts include:
- Computed tomography, which helps the doctor make an optimal plan for the operation.
- Ultrasonography. With this method, the content of the cyst is determined.
- Puncture biopsy. It involves taking a small amount of tissue from a cyst for examination in the laboratory for signs of oncology.
Treatment
Atheroma is a type of education that does not resolve itself. In view of this, conservative methods are usually used for treatment. Sometimes people who discover an atheroma try to squeeze out an education. However, this not only does not help get rid of the cyst, but can also lead to serious complications, such as infection and inflammation. When squeezing the atheroma, the capsule will remain under the skin and after a while will be filled again with pus.
Currently, removal of atheroma on the head, chest, genitals, or anywhere else is carried out in the following ways:
- Surgical method.
- Laser destruction.
- RF excision.
These procedures are considered simple, therefore they are performed on an outpatient basis.
It is important to remember that, regardless of the method of removing atheroma, the formation must be removed along with the capsule. Otherwise, relapse may occur.
Indications for removal
There is no risk of malignant atheroma. But education in itself brings discomfort and an aesthetic defect, especially if it is in open areas of the body or face. Among other things, there is a risk of injury and inflammation of the atheroma. For these reasons, such cysts must be removed.
Contraindications
Like any other operation, the removal of atheroma has a number of contraindications, for example:
- oncology;
- pregnancy;
- diabetes;
- autoimmune diseases;
- herpes infection in the acute stage.
Surgical removal
Surgical removal of atheroma is a simple outpatient operation. During the procedure, the doctor injects into the tissues located around the atheroma, an anesthetic for local anesthesia. Then atheroma is removed along with the capsule and suturing of the edges of the wound. Some surgeons make excision of atheroma with an electric knife. The operation takes only 30-40 minutes. After 10-12 days, the stitches are removed. If the manipulation is carried out correctly, the scars from the operation will be minimal, and the wound will heal quickly.
With inflammation, surgical removal of atheroma is carried out in several stages. First, the contents of the capsule are removed and drainage is established. After the wound is cleaned, the capsule itself is removed.
After removing the atheroma, the patient receives some care instructions to help heal. They include:
- use of an ointment with an antibiotic;
- refrain from showering for 36 hours;
- Prevent wetting and bleeding wounds;
- if cyst rupture occurs before or during surgery, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent inflammation and relapse.
Laser removal
Laser removal of atheroma is a more modern method of combating cystic formations. It practically does not leave scars, which is especially important when treating formations on the face. There are several methods for removing atheroma with a laser knife:
- Laser coagulation - cauterization of tissue capsules. Used to remove small cysts up to 5 mm in diameter. At the end of the procedure, the cyst remains on the skin, so the sutures are not overlapped. After 2 weeks, the formation dries and falls off, exposing a clean area of the skin.
- Laser removal of the cyst together with the capsule is carried out by performing a cut with a laser scalpel. Used to remove cysts from 5 to 20 mm in size. During the operation, an incision is made, the laser separates the cyst from healthy tissues. Then the formation is removed, drainage is established, and the wound is sutured. After 7-12 days, the sutures are removed.
- Laser evaporation is used to remove cysts with a diameter of more than 20 mm. First, the capsule is opened, its contents are carefully removed. After the capsule is vaporized by laser radiation. The operation ends with the installation of drainage and suturing, which are removed after 8-12 days.
The advantages of laser atheroma removal are:
- security;
- low risk of postoperative complications;
- quick recovery;
- lack of cosmetic defects;
- minimal risk of relapse.
Radio wave removal
Atheromas of small sizes up to 5 mm can also be removed by radio frequency. This method is the most effective and safe. With radio wave removal of atheroma, suturing is not required, respectively, there is no scarring on the skin.
The operation is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis and takes about 15-20 minutes. Neoplasm cells evaporate using special equipment that generates radio waves. Radio wave removal of atheroma is contraindicated in the presence of a pacemaker.
The advantages of this method are:
- lack of relapse;
- lack of seams;
- quick rehabilitation.
Postoperative Recovery
After the intervention, minimal discomfort may occur, usually relieved by pain medication. During water procedures, it is not recommended to wet the wound surface and dressings. Within a month after the operation, you can massage and moisturize the scars with a special cream. For two years, the affected area should be protected from direct sunlight to prevent burns.
Prevention
The main cause of atheromas is malfunctioning of the sebaceous glands. Therefore, primary measures should be aimed at the implementation of a balanced diet and regular thorough hygiene.
To minimize the likelihood of atheroma, the following preventive measures should be followed:
- exclude fatty, sweet, spicy foods from the diet;
- carry out thorough skin care;
- refuse to wear synthetic clothes;
- during washing, it is advisable to use cosmetics to reduce the oily skin and scalp.
Patient Reviews
Reviews about the removal of atheroma are usually positive and can serve as a good argument in favor of a timely visit to a specialist to solve problems with neoplasm. Despite the fact that the operation is not traumatic, in any case it is accompanied by excision of the skin. Otherwise, the cyst cannot be removed. Even the radio wave method involves a small incision. Accordingly, the larger the atheroma, the larger the postoperative scar. As a rule, suture material resolves quickly, within 1.5-2 months, it all depends on the location of the tumor, its size and condition. Relapse of atheroma occurs in the case of incomplete removal of the cyst, when access to it is difficult due to suppuration.
Finally
It should be noted that the degree of patient satisfaction with the results of the operation depends on its speed: the earlier the atheroma is removed (respectively, the smaller its size), the less severe the consequences of surgery in the form of scars and scars. When the first signs of atheroma appear, you should not wait for a long time and postpone a visit to a specialist.