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Fat formation under the skin of the scalp can not only become a serious cosmetic problem, but also lead to the development of inflammation as a result of, for example, injury to the comb. The size of a wen on the head varies from a few millimeters to 5-6 cm in diameter, and such a large tumor cannot be hidden under the hair. The treatment of this pathology should be entrusted to a dermatologist or surgeon, you should not try to get rid of a wen on your head on your own, because this threatens to infect the wound, incomplete removal and subsequent increase in education to an even more impressive size. In addition, any tumor needs a thorough diagnosis, since another, much more dangerous disease can be hidden behind the symptoms of a wen.
Symptoms of warts on the head
The scalp, the back of the head, the area behind the ears, the skin of the face are areas of the body saturated with sebaceous glands. For various reasons, their secret does not find a way out, the excretory duct becomes clogged, and fat begins to accumulate inside. This is how atheroma develops – a cyst of the sebaceous gland. It is this pathology that is usually meant by the phrase “wen on the head.”
Atheroma is a bulge of the correct rounded shape, rising above the surface of the skin. Most often, it does not change its color if an infection does not enter the capsule. Sometimes the contents of the wen peep through the upper layer of the epidermis, the formation acquires a white or intense yellow tint. On palpation, atheroma is elastic and painless, it can shift to the sides and roll under the skin.
There is another common pathology, which is called a wen – lipoma. This is a benign tumor consisting of fat cells enclosed in a connective tissue capsule.
Differentiating a lipoma from an atheroma on the head is quite difficult, but nevertheless these wen have some obvious differences:
Lipoma is usually localized deeper than atheroma, so its contents do not look out;
A lipoma looks like a rounded or oval mound above the surface of the head, while atheroma looks more like a ball rolling under the skin;
The lipoma has a softer and looser consistency, while the atheroma is dense and elastic to the touch;
The skin above the surface of a large lipoma can be folded, which is completely impossible in the case of atheroma;
A lipoma on the head can reach the size of an orange, while an atheroma rarely grows more than 3-4 centimeters in diameter.
Both types of wen on the head do not pose a great health hazard. If a lipoma or atheroma is diagnosed in a small child, and the formation does not cause discomfort and is not prone to rapid growth, it is recommended to wait until the patient reaches the age of seven in order to be able to remove the wen without general anesthesia and the risks associated with it.
Reasons for the formation of a wen on the head
Excessive production of sebum in combination with improper care and injury to the epidermis leads to blockage of the excretory duct of the sebaceous gland on the scalp. Usually, atheromas on the head occur in people who are simultaneously suffering from oily seborrhea, dandruff or hyperhidrosis. There can be several reasons for this, ranging from hereditary predisposition to hormonal failure.
As for the lipoma, everything is much more complicated here – such a benign tumor often has an unclear etiology. The leading factor, according to modern scientists, is a congenital deficiency of the TAG-lipase enzyme, which is responsible for extracting energy and water from lipids accumulating in adipocytes. Thus, no matter how many lipids are in the fat cells of a particular person, the important thing is that these lipids are not broken down correctly. That is why lipomas on the head or in other parts of the body often occur in thin people.
Additional reasons for the formation of wen:
Hormonal disorders caused by endocrine pathologies (hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus) or occurring against the background of age-related changes (puberty, pregnancy, menopause);
Liver and kidney failure, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to disruption of metabolic processes;
Improper nutrition, unfavorable environmental conditions, bad habits.
Fat formation on the head can be single or multiple. In the latter case, we are talking about lipomatosis – a systemic disease that has a hereditary nature.
Is there a danger to life and health?
Very rarely, a wen undergoes malignancy, that is, atypical cells appear in its structure, liposarcoma develops. To eliminate such a danger, you should go through a full cycle of examination by a dermato-oncologist. The doctor may prescribe a cytological analysis, ultrasound, taking part of the tumor for a biopsy. Diagnosis will help to choose the optimal method of treatment, to exclude other types of pathology with similar symptoms.
The tissues of the head are rich in blood vessels, and the treatment of any pathology localized here should be treated with special attention. At the first symptoms of trouble, you should seek medical advice. Self-removal of a wen on the head is dangerous, because there is always a risk of infection and spread.
Diagnostics
During the visit to the doctor, he will conduct a visual examination, if necessary, prescribe an ultrasound examination, analysis for cytology and histology. If the tumor is large, it is necessary to determine the depth of its location and choose the optimal method of removal using X-ray or computed tomography. Before the operation, you will also need to take standard blood and urine tests.
Treatment of warts on the head
Wen on the scalp almost always tends to gradually increase in size. Consequently, the risk of pressure of its capsule on the surrounding tissues, blood vessels and nerve endings increases. In addition, such an education looks very unattractive from an aesthetic point of view. Therefore, patients with wen on their heads tend to get rid of them using modern methods.
A few decades ago, the main method of treating wen was their surgical excision under general or local anesthesia. Such an intervention left noticeable scars and scars on the scalp. At the present stage of development of medicine, more gentle and effective methods have been developed for removing lipid formations on the head. A prerequisite for a successful intervention is a thorough peeling of the capsule in which fat accumulates. If connective tissue cells remain, the risk of recurrence will increase significantly.
Treatment methods:
Traditional surgical intervention – is used in the case of large wen, including those that have undergone infection and inflammation;
Introduction into the formation cavity of a special substance that dissolves fats – is used to treat small non-inflamed wen;
Liposuction – pumping out the sebaceous secretion with a special lipoaspirator, when using this method there is a risk of relapse;
Radio wave enucleation – removal of a wen on the head with a radio knife, the procedure takes a minimum of time, does not cause complications and relapses;
Laser removal – excision of the wen using a narrowly focused laser beam, while the vessels are coagulated, there are no scars and scars, the wen does not develop again.
The contents of the wen capsule are sent for histological examination to determine the presence or absence of atypical cells. The postoperative period takes place under the supervision of a doctor to exclude infection of the wound, and takes about ten days.
Relapse prevention
To prevent wen on the head from reappearing, you need to try to eliminate the factors that cause increased secretion of sebum. To do this, you must follow the rules of personal hygiene, use high-quality cosmetics for face and hair care, but do not overwash your hair – the more often we do this, the more actively the sebaceous glands work, trying to compensate for dryness in this way. Comb your hair as carefully as possible so as not to damage the epidermis. And remember that the first symptoms of the appearance of a suspicious tumor or induration on the head are a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment will allow you to correctly differentiate the pathology and eliminate the wen without scars and scars.