Growths on the skin – types, causes, symptoms, treatment

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Growths on the skin can occur at birth or develop later in life. Although harmless in most cases, growths on the skin should be closely monitored for any changes that might indicate the development of cancerous skin cells. There are many, many different types of skin growths, both benign and cancerous. Here are some of the common skin growths.

Growths on the skin – birthmarks

Birthmarks are abnormal skin discoloration that is present at birth or appears shortly thereafter. They can be flat or slightly lifted from the skin. They can be of a variety of colors, including red, brown, black, light brown, pink, white, or purple. Birthmarks are generally harmless. There are two main categories of moles: pigmented moles and vascular moles.

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Pigment moles (commonly known as moles) can grow anywhere on the skin and at any time. They are usually black, brown, or skin-colored and appear singly or in groups. These may be birthmarks (birthmarks) that are present at birth; Mongolian spots that look like bluish bruises and appear more often in people with dark skin; or café-au-lait spots, which are flat, light brown in color and roughly oval in shape.

Vascular nevi develop before or shortly after birth and are associated with the vascular system (blood vessels). There are several different types of nevus.

  1. Angel’s kisses, which usually appear on the forehead and eyelids.
  2. “Stork bites” that appear on the nape of the neck, between the eyebrows on the forehead or on the eyelids of newborns. They may decline as a child grows, but often persist into adulthood.
  3. Port wine mark (from Latin. nevus flammeus), which are flat dark red or purple birthmarks made up of dilated capillaries (small blood vessels). They often appear on the face and are permanent.
  4. Cherry or strawberry hemangiomas, consisting of small, densely packed blood vessels that grow rapidly and can appear anywhere on the body. They usually disappear by the age of nine.
  5. Cavernous hemangiomas (from Latin. cavernous hemangioma) are similar to strawberry hemangiomas, but extend deeper into the skin layers. They can often be a bluish-purple color. They also tend to disappear naturally in school age.

People with 50 or more birthmarks are more likely to develop skin cancer. In some cases, abnormal moles can be painful, itchy, scaly or bleed. It’s important to keep an eye on your moles so you can catch any changes early. Monthly visual inspection of the body is recommended, including all areas that are not exposed to the sun (such as the scalp, armpits or the soles of the feet).

The so-called ABCDE scale. These are the first letters of the five criteria for evaluating a pigmented nevus (in English):

  1. A – Asymmetry – A significant asymmetry of the mole means an increased risk of developing it into melanoma.
  2. B – borders – irregular edges of the mole also mean an increased risk of melanoma.
  3. C – color – the uneven color of the nevus resulting from the uneven distribution of melanocytes may indicate the formation of melanoma.
  4. D – diameter – if the mole is more than 0,5 cm, it can turn into melanoma.
  5. E – evolution – the change in appearance of the birthmark over the past three months is also an alarming signal.

Growths on the skin – perifollicular keratosis

Perifollicular keratosis (lat. keratosis pilaris), this is an inherited skin disease that causes changes that look like goose bumps on the back of your arms, thighs or buttocks. The patches of nodules tend to be dry and itchy, especially during the winter months. Perifollicular keratosis occurs at any age. Since it is hereditary, there is no method of preventing the disease. In some cases it resolves on its own over time; in other cases, the condition is chronic. Perifollicular keratosis is not harmful, but it is very difficult to treat.

Perifollicular keratosis is caused by the build-up of keratin, a protein in the skin that protects it from infection. Keratin clogs the hair follicles, causing a rough, rash. Treatment options include:

  1. medicated creams or lotions with 12% ammonium lactate, which softens the affected skin.
  2. moisturizers (urea) to help loosen and remove dead skin cells.
  3. topical corticosteroids for short-term, temporary relief of symptoms.
  4. topical retinoids that reduce clogging of hair follicles.

To relieve symptoms, keep the affected area moisturized and avoid harsh soaps.

Growths on the skin – lumps, tumors and cysts

Skin Lesions with defination

There are literally hundreds of different types of nodules, tumors, and cysts associated with the skin. Fortunately, the vast majority of them are harmless and painless. These include, for example:

Dermatofibroma (aka hard fibroma)

Small, firm, red or brown bumps caused by a build-up of fibroblasts (soft tissue cells under the skin). They are often found on the legs and may itch. Dermatofibromas can be surgically removed or cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen) applied if they become painful or itchy.

Leather cyst

A skin cyst is a benign tumor that contains hair, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands. Round small bumps, usually white or yellow. They most often appear on the face, back, neck, torso and genitals. Usually mild; sometimes leads to basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. When squeezed, it can produce a thick yellow discharge. Treatment may include the prescription of antibiotics. The dermatologist can remove the secretion and the sac (sac) that make up the walls of the cyst to prevent recurrence. Laser surgery can be applied to sensitive areas of the skin, such as the face

Freckles

Dark, flat spots that usually only appear on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Freckles are common in people with blonde or red hair. Freckles do not require any treatment.

Keloids

Smooth, firm, raised, fibrous growths on the skin that form at the site of wounds. Keloids are more common in African Americans. Keloids respond poorly to most treatments. Corticosteroid injections can help flatten them. Other treatment options include surgery or silicone patches to further flatten keloids.

Lipomas

Round or oval lumps under the skin caused by fatty deposits. Lipomas are more common in women and tend to appear on the forearms, torso and neck. Lipomas are generally harmless, but if the lump changes shape, your doctor may perform a biopsy. Treatment may include surgical removal.

Inflammation of follicle

It appears as red pimples around the hair areas. Inflammation of the hair follicles caused by infection or chemical or physical irritation (e.g. shaving, fabrics). The incidence rate is higher among people with diabetes, obesity or a compromised immune system. Treatment includes topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, antifungal medications, and elimination of the cause.

Squamous cell keratoacanthoma

Red, domed, thick protrusions with a crater-like depression filled with horn masses in the center. Most often it appears on the skin of the face or on the back of the hands. It is more common in men over the age of 50.

It is assumed that the change is due to: exposure to tar, mineral oils, exposure to sunlight, mechanical trauma to the skin and immunosuppression. It usually does not require treatment, but a biopsy should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment consists of surgical removal, curettage or cryotherapy. In the case of severe changes, improvement is achieved with the use of oral retinoids.

Neurofibromas

It may take the form of soft, pedunculated, flesh-colored nodules located on the skin or oval, hard nodules growing under the surface of the skin (sometimes also skin discoloration, resembling coffee stains). It grows slowly and is usually painless. It usually doesn’t need treatment, especially if it doesn’t cause any symptoms. If a nerve is affected, it can be surgically removed.

Growths on the skin – contagious mollusk

The contagious mollusk (Latin. molluscum contagiosum) is a common skin disease caused by the virus. The virus is spread easily from person to person. People can get a mollusk by sharing towels and clothes. Skin contact also spreads the virus. Whenever lumps are visible on the skin, the molluscum contagiosum is contagious.

Often the only sign of a mollusk is pink or flesh-colored bumps on the skin. These lumps can appear anywhere on the skin. Most people have 10 to 20 lumps on their skin. If a person has a weakened immune system, multiple lumps often appear. People with AIDS may have 100 or more tumors.

A dermatologist can often diagnose molluscum contagiosum by looking at the skin. Sometimes the mollusk looks like a different skin condition. They can look like warts, chicken pox, and even skin cancer. If this happens, the dermatologist will scrape some infected skin. The infected skin will be examined under a microscope. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment helps prevent the virus:

  1. spreading to other parts of the body.
  2. spreading to other people.
  3. getting out of control in people with weakened immune systems.

There are many treatment options. The treatments prescribed by your dermatologist will depend on your age, health, where the lumps appear on your body, and other factors.

  1. Cryosurgery: the dermatologist freezes the tumors with liquid nitrogen.
  2. Laser surgery: the dermatologist uses a laser to destroy the nodules. It can be an effective treatment for people with a weakened immune system.
  3. Topical therapy (applied to the skin): a dermatologist can use various acids and blister-forming solutions to destroy tumors. They work by destroying the top layers of the skin. Tricholacetic acid is often used to treat people who have a weak immune system and many nodules. When a patient has multiple nodules or large nodules, the dermatologist may need to repeat the treatment every 3 to 6 weeks until the nodules have cleared. These procedures cause some discomfort. When treating nodules, it’s normal for new tumors to appear while others disappear.

Growths on the skin – seborrheic keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis (lat. seborrheic keratosis) also known as a seborrheic wart, most people will develop at least one seborrheic keratosis in their lifetime. Fortunately, these changes are mild and don’t become cancerous. They are characterized by brown, black or yellow growths that grow singly or in groups and are either flat or slightly raised. They are often confused with warts. In general, no treatment is required unless the growth is irritated by rubbing against clothing. However, because it looks similar to solar keratoses (lat. actinic keratosis), a dermatologist will likely perform a tissue biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

If the seborrheic keratosis becomes irritated or unsightly, removal is carried out by one of three methods.

  1. Cryosurgery: freezes growth with liquid nitrogen.
  2. Curettage: the doctor scrapes the growth off the skin.
  3. Electrocoagulation: used alone or in combination with curettage to burn tissue and stop bleeding

Growths on the skin – warts

Warts (from Latin. wart) are small, harmless growths that most often appear on the hands and feet. Sometimes they look flat and smooth, other times they have a dome-like appearance. The warts may be surrounded by lighter or darker skin. Warts are caused by various forms of the human papillomavirus (HPV). They occur in people of all ages and can spread from person to person and from one part of the body to another. The warts are benign (non-cancerous) and generally painless. They can disappear without any treatment. However, in most cases, removing a wart takes time.

The location of the nipple is often characterized by its type.

Common warts (from Latin. common warts) they can appear anywhere on the body, although they most often appear on the backs of the fingers, toes, and knees. These changes in skin color usually grow where the skin breaks, such as where the skin is scratched or bitten by an insect. They can range in size from pinhead to 10mm and may or may not appear singly.

Filamentous warts they look like long, narrow flesh-colored threads that appear singly or in multiple places around the eyelids, face, neck or mouth. They can cause itching or bleeding, but can be easily treated with over-the-counter medications.

Flat warts (from Latin. flat warts) appear on the face and forehead. They are flesh-colored or white in color, with a slightly raised, flat surface, and usually appear in multiples. Flat warts are more common in children and adolescents than in adults.

Genital warts (genital warts, verrucae genitales) appear around the genitals and pubic area. The lesions start small and soft, but can become quite large. They often grow in clusters. They are both sexually transmitted and are highly contagious. In fact, it is recommended that you avoid having sex with anyone who has a visible genital wart. Genital warts should always be treated by a doctor.

Plantar warts they appear on the soles of the feet and can be painful because they are on the supporting surfaces. They have a rough, cauliflower-like appearance and may have a small black spot in them. They often appear in clusters and can merge into a larger wart called a mosaic wart. Plantar warts can spread quickly.

Subungual and periungual warts they appear as rough growths around the fingernails and / or toenails. They start out as almost undetectable changes in the size of the pins and grow to the size of a pea with rough, irregular bumps with ragged edges. Subungual and periungual warts can hinder healthy nail growth. Due to their location, they are difficult to treat and generally require medical attention.

Most warts respond to over-the-counter preparations, and:

  1. cryotherapy consisting in freezing the nipples with liquid nitrogen or nitrous oxide.
  2. electrosurgery, which involves the destruction of skin lesions using high-frequency alternating current.
  3. laser surgery, which essentially heats the wart until the tissue dies off and the wart eventually comes off.
  4. over-the-counter freezing products (dimethyl ether), sprays that freeze warts and cause them to die.
  5. salicylic acid preparations that dissolve the protein (keratin) that makes up the wart and the thick layer of skin over it. It comes in gels, pads, drops, and patches, and wart removal takes 4 to 6 weeks.

You should always contact a dermatologist if a wart causes pain, changes in color or appearance, and with all genital warts.

Other types of growths on the skin

Less commonly, growths on the skin are caused by more serious conditions that require treatment. Some bacterial and viral infections cause growths and only get worse if they are left undiagnosed and untreated. These serious conditions include:

  1. chickenpox, a common childhood virus characterized by red, itchy bumps that form all over the body;
  2. impetigo, a bacterial skin infection common in young children that is highly contagious and causes reddish blisters that ooze and develop a honey-yellow scab on the skin;
  3. MRSA infection, a disease caused by staphylococcal bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) that usually live on the skin, causing a swollen, painful lump with a white center.
  4. scabies, an infection of the skin caused by a tiny mite called human scabies (Sarcopts scabiei), causing an itchy, pimple-like rash.

Neoplasms, tumors on the skin: causes

There are a lot of various factors that can trigger the uncontrolled division of the cellular elements of the dermis, and lead to skin neoplasms. But among the most important causes are frequent injuries, due to which cells must regenerate more often. As a result, uncontrolled reproduction of epidermal cells can start. Different types of radiation (ultraviolet, X-ray, ionizing) can also act as provocateurs.

Important hereditary predisposition, skin phototype, the presence of pigmentation, moles in the provocation of a neoplasm on the skin of the face or body. Usually these elements are benign, but some can undergo malignancy, which leads to their transformation into cancer.

Types of neoplasms on the skin

Any tumors or neoplasms localized on the skin can be classified into three large groups:

  • benign elements;
  • precancerous formations;
  • malignant tumors.

Although benign skin neoplasms themselves do not threaten the patient’s life, but if they are located in an inconvenient place and grow to large sizes, their presence leads to organ dysfunction, they put pressure on the nerve trunks, causing pain, disrupt blood circulation, pinching arteries or veins.

If skin neoplasms classified as benign are constantly affected by various external aggressive factors – infectious agents (bacteria, fungi or viruses), trauma, chemical irritants, radiation, a transition to precancerous and malignant lesions is possible. However, hereditary predisposition to such diseases is also important.

Types of benign skin tumors

Although the cells in benign elements on the skin have lost control in relation to division, they can be quite identified, they partially retain their functional activity. Such tumors of the skin of the face or body have the specificity of growing very slowly, pressing on the surrounding tissues, shifting them, but not penetrating into the surrounding organs.

Different types of neoplasms on human skin are distinguished, depending on the predominant cells and localization of the process, the possibility of transition to more serious forms of the disease.

Adipose tissue lesions can be in the form of lipoma and atheroma . The first has the appearance of a rounded formation from the fat layer, does not have a tendency to go into cancer. Atheroma in its origin is an epithelial cyst, it can in rare cases transform into liposarcoma.

Viral elements – warts, papillomas, condylomas have the form of bulges, growths on a stalk or a wide base. Some forms may become malignant due to frequent injury, or initially have rapid growth and large sizes (Buschke’s warts).

Dermatofibromas originate from connective tissue, are more common in young women, grow slowly and have little or no symptoms. In extremely rare cases, they can become malignant. Outwardly, they look like a nodule in the depths of tissues with a convex hemisphere, a smooth or slightly flaky surface.

Nevi , moles are pigmented areas of the skin formed by clusters of pigment cells. Usually occurs due to excessive solar radiation. Although they themselves are not dangerous, but about half of all melanomas (cancerous skin lesions) form in the area of ​​birthmarks or nevi.

Types of precancerous skin neoplasms

With increased congenital sensitivity of the skin to the sun, other types of radiation, xeroderma pigmentosa may occur. It starts as a large number of freckles that turn into neoplasms that look like warts. With frequent UV exposure, the elements pass into different forms of cancer (squamous or basal cell).

Bowen’s disease – neoplasms in the form of spots and nodules, plaques or tubercles, prone to fusion and the formation of surfaces that are covered with growths. It is especially common in the elderly. Often pass into undifferentiated forms of skin cancer.

Keyer’s disease – bright red nodes that have a velvety appearance, prone to ulceration and covered with papillomas. Rarely goes into cancer, but often injured, hurts and bleeds.

Senile keratomas are limited nodules in which the skin is intensively divided, they turn into plaques, become covered with dense crusts.

Cutaneous horn – occurs in areas where the skin is injured. A cone-shaped seal of the skin up to several millimeters long is formed. prone to cancer.

Malignant neoplasms of the skin

They account for up to 10% of all pathologies. They often occur in elderly patients, differ from benign elements in that the formation cells are difficult to differentiate already in the initial stage of growth. Cells lose their functions, grow into neighboring organs and tissues, metastasize through blood capillaries and lymphatic vessels. This group includes melanoma , as well as non-melanoma cancers (squamous, basal cell), epitheliomas , Kaposi’s sarcoma .

Prevention of skin neoplasms

There is no specific prevention of formations on the skin. Of the preventive measures, it is important to note the removal of papillomas, moles or warts at the initial stage of their development. It is also worth limiting sun exposure, using sunscreen, avoiding injuries and skin friction.

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Growths on the skin – when to see a doctor?

Most skin growths are harmless and not cause for concern. However, we should contact a doctor if:

  1. growths on the skin change or deteriorate in appearance, or persist for a long time;
  2. we feel pain or growths on the skin cause discomfort;
  3. we do not know the cause of skin growths;
  4. we suspect we have an infection or skin cancer.

Your doctor will do a physical examination and check the growths on your skin. Expect answers to questions about growths, medical history, and lifestyle habits. Your doctor may also perform a skin biopsy to see if the growths on the skin are cancerous. This procedure involves taking a small sample of skin tissue from the affected area for analysis. Depending on the results, the doctor may refer us to a dermatologist or other specialist for further evaluation.

Growths on the skin – treatment

Treatment of skin growths depends on the underlying cause. Most of the most common causes of growths on the skin are harmless, so we likely won’t need treatment. However, if growths disturb us, they can be removed for cosmetic reasons. For example, a dermatologist can remove warts by freezing them. A dermatologist can also surgically remove some growths on the skin, including cysts and lipomas. Other growths that are itchy or irritated can be treated topically with ointments and creams.

In cases where additional treatment is required, the doctor will prescribe medications that will help eliminate the growths on the skin and the root cause of them. Antibiotics may be needed for a bacterial infection such as MRSA. For a viral infection such as chicken pox, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medications and home treatments. Some viral infections, such as cold sores, cannot be cured. However, your doctor may give you medications to relieve your symptoms.

If your doctor determines that the growths on the skin are cancerous or precancerous, they will most likely remove them completely. The patient will also need to have regular check-ups so that the doctor can check the area and make sure the cancer does not recur.

Growths on the skin – prognosis

For most skin growths, the long-term outlook is excellent. Most growths are caused by harmless, temporary conditions that don’t require treatment. If growths on the skin are caused by an infection or a long-term condition, timely treatment should either remove them or relieve symptoms effectively. The prognosis is also good when skin cancer is detected early. However, frequent checkups will be needed to make sure the cancer won’t come back or grow. The prognosis for the more advanced forms of skin cancer varies depending on the situation.

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