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One of the types of neoplasms on the skin is a keratoma – a skin disease that is almost asymptomatic and does not cause obvious inconvenience to its owner. Keratomas are, in fact, benign formations that do not pose a serious health hazard. The only possible problem is the likelihood of degeneration into a malignant neoplasm, which can already directly threaten a person’s life. For this reason, skin neoplasms, moles, tumors and keratomas must be constantly monitored by a doctor – a dermatologist or oncologist, and in some cases, therapeutic measures should be taken to remove them.
What is a keratoma, why does it appear
Keratoma is a specific formation of the skin, which is formed from the cells of the surface of the epidermis. It can have various sizes – from a few millimeters to 3-5 centimeters in diameter. Usually keratomas are brown, gray or brown in color, and may look like freckles. Over time, its surface becomes keratinized.
The formation grows precisely from the cells of the epithelium, which has a multilayer structure, where each layer lies on top of each other. The outer layer of cells gradually dies off, becomes horny and turns into scales, which fall off under mechanical action, for example, during washing. They are replaced by deeper layers, which also die and fall off over time – this is how the continuous process of skin renewal takes place.
If in the normal rate of the process of development of new cells and the death of old ones is balanced in such a way that the number of newly appeared cells corresponds to the number of keratinized and dead cells, then in cases where there is a disorder in this system, various formations form on the skin, including benign tumors from keratocytes – cells of the epidermis.
A benign formation is, since it consists of unchanged cells, and appears only due to their excess number. However, on average, in 8-20% of cases, a keratoma can degenerate into a cancerous tumor if some external factors contribute to this, for example, sunburn abuse or work associated with the contact of toxic substances with the skin.
Keratomas can be single, or localized in groups. They can be located on any part of the body, more often on the chest, neck, face, arms, less often on the lower extremities.
The reasons for the appearance of these tumors in medicine are not yet fully known, however, doctors focus on the fact that frequent and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays, on the beach or in a solarium, contributes to the growth of keratomas.
Types of skin keratomas known to physicians
The most common types of keratomas are:
- seborrheic;
- age;
- senile;
- horny;
- solar;
- follicular.
Seborrheic keratoma capable of delivering tangible discomfort to its owner. In appearance, it is a brown or yellowish spot of a small size. Over the years, it grows, darkens, becomes covered with a stratum corneum and cracks. As it grows, the seborrheic type of tumor hurts, itches, itches, and sometimes it can fall off, leaving behind bleeding wounds.
Age-related keratomas affect the elderly. They also look like spots of brown or yellow color, which grow over time, and can reach 5-6 centimeters. A large keratoma perceptibly rises above the skin, and its surface resembles a thimble due to the fact that it is covered with numerous small pits. It is most often formed on the neck, face, back of the hands.
The senile type of tumor is often found in people over the age of 30 years. Over time, it grows and becomes covered with a gray crust, which can undergo inflammation and cracking.
Horny keratoma is a so-called “skin horn” – a tumor that resembles an animal horn in shape. It develops, as a rule, from neglected senile or seborrheic keratomas.
Solar keratoma is the result of prolonged exposure to the sun and the abuse of sunburn, and therefore it is localized, most often, in those places that are open to sunlight – on the face, arms, back, chest. Education has a brown, gray or brown color.
The follicular type of tumor is extremely rare, and is usually located on the head, in its scalp, or above the upper lip. It looks like a gray nodule that grows up to one and a half centimeters in size.
Why keratomas are dangerous, why they need to be treated
By itself, a keratoma rarely poses a serious danger to human life. Up to a certain point, almost any keratoma is harmless, however, over time, due to mechanical damage, concomitant diseases or exposure to ultraviolet radiation, a small and harmless skin formation can turn into a malignant tumor.
In addition, keratomas, in some cases, can even cause significant discomfort, for example, they begin to itch, hurt, peel off, bleed, become inflamed. Such signs are one of the manifestations of the process of degeneration of a keratoma into a malignant tumor.
Usually, doctors recommend that, if suspicious moles or neoplasms are found on the skin, visit a dermatologist-oncologist to check them for malignancy and potential danger, and then constantly monitor them with a doctor if they do not initially present a particular problem.
Otherwise, the doctor may recommend that you immediately get rid of the tumor, and not expose yourself to the need to constantly be observed by a dermatologist, as well as the risk of developing cancer.
Keratoma treatment: what methods exist
The most relevant type of keratoma treatment offered by modern medicine is their removal. However, not every tumor of this type is subject to mandatory removal – most people who have this neoplasm live a long life and die for completely different reasons.
Thus, it is possible to cure a keratoma only by removing it, but such a need does not always exist. The only type of formation that must be removed in any case is the skin horn.
Only those tumors that threaten to degenerate into malignant are subject to the removal procedure. In order to identify them in time, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist once or twice a year for the purpose of preventive examination and monitoring of neoplasms in dynamics, and remove only dangerous keratomas.
At the request of the patient, the doctor can also remove those keratomas that create a significant cosmetic effect, or are located in places where they are often injured due to friction or mechanical stress.
The most commonly used methods for getting rid of keratomas are:
- laser removal;
- electrocoagulation;
- cryodestruction;
- radio wave removal;
- destruction by acids;
- surgical intervention.
In each case, the doctor selects for the patient the most appropriate way to get rid of the tumor. Firstly, the existing contraindications of each method are taken into account, and their presence in the affected person. Secondly, removal methods may be suitable for one type of keratoma, and not suitable for another. For example, if a malignant lesion is suspected, the doctor will prescribe a radio wave, laser or surgical method to the patient, since other techniques are ineffective in this case. Laser and radio wave methods are less traumatic, and if the appearance of a noticeable scar after the procedure is undesirable for the patient, one of them is selected.
Keratomas that cause inconvenience as a cosmetic defect can be removed with acids, cryodestruction, or electric cauterization.
Laser removal of keratomas: how it happens
This method is considered one of the most effective – in the process of exposure to a directed light beam, a sharp increase in temperature occurs in the tumor cells, as a result of which they are completely destroyed. The percentage of relapses after laser removal is no more than 5-8% of all cases. Usually, one session is enough to completely get rid of the tumor. Skin recovery after the procedure lasts 1-2 weeks, after which only a small inconspicuous scar remains in place of the keratoma.
Laser destruction is recommended for patients diagnosed with the beginning of the process of malignant degeneration of the keratoma.
The implementation of the procedure is possible in an outpatient setting, and for this it is not at all necessary to place the patient in a hospital of a medical institution. Today, dermatologists’ and oncologists’ offices in polyclinics, hospitals, cancer centers and private clinics are equipped with laser systems.
Electrocoagulation as a way to treat keratosis
Electrocoagulation is a process of cauterization of a neoplasm with an electric current. In the process, the keratoma is exposed to an electric current discharge. To cut out the affected tissues, the doctor uses an accurate and powerful electric knife.
As a result, tumor cells are burned. After the procedure, a crust remains at the site of formation, under which the wound heals. The crust falls off on its own after about 1,5-2 weeks, and in its place a pink or red patch of skin becomes visible. After about a month, the affected area acquires a normal flesh color. When treating a small keratoma, this method of removal leaves virtually no traces.
When performing operations on the face and hands, that is, in places where the formation of significant cosmetic defects is unacceptable, the electrocoagulation technique is not used because of the risk of extensive scars.
Cryodestruction: treatment of formations with liquid nitrogen
In the process, the doctor uses a special spray can with a nozzle that sprays liquid nitrogen at a certain temperature onto the treated area. The procedure takes place mainly without the use of anesthesia, and the patient feels cold and tingly at the treatment site. The tissues of the formation are destroyed due to exposure to very low temperatures, and the keratoma dies. After this method of treatment, a crust also remains, which, after about a month and a half, is replaced by normal-colored skin.
The disadvantages of the method include the inability of the doctor to control the depth of freezing, as a result of which a too painful wound may form, which, after healing, will leave a noticeable large scar. In addition, cryodestruction “sins” with a high probability of relapse, since it is difficult for the doctor to control whether he managed to freeze all the affected cells.
However, for the removal of small tumor foci that are localized on the trunk or limbs, it is quite advisable to use the cryodestruction method.
What is the radio wave method
Removal of the keratoma in this case occurs through the use of a radio knife. The tool cuts out the affected area from the skin, acting like a scalpel in a surgical operation. In this case, smaller incisions are formed on the skin, which practically do not bleed. After the procedure, there are no noticeable scars, and the procedure itself is almost painless.
The radio wave knife, in addition to the destruction of pathologically altered tissues, simultaneously coagulates damaged blood vessels and affects nearby tissues. Given that the affected cancer cells tend to spread into the plane of adjacent tissues, the removal of a basalioma by the radio wave method makes it possible to exclude the likelihood of a recurrence of a cancerous neoplasm.
Treatment of keratoma with acids and special substances
This method excludes surgical intervention in the skin – the effect on the tumor is produced by aggressive components: acids and cytostatics. For these purposes, creams, ointments, lotions and emulsions are used externally.
Most often, the active ingredients in these drugs are trichloroacetic or glycolic acid, Podophyllin or 5-fluorouracil. Treatment of the affected area should be done by a doctor, since only a doctor can correctly calculate the dosage in order to prevent the occurrence of a chemical burn.
The application of drugs lasts for some time, and gradually an ulcer forms at the site of the keratoma, which must be lubricated with special drugs to accelerate healing.
Surgical removal of a keratoma
This method is carried out as an operation, during which the doctor cuts out the tumor itself and a small area of skin around it with a scalpel, after which it stitches the edges of the wound. Surgical removal by excision of the skin, of course, is effective, but the wound after it heals noticeably longer than, for example, after a radio wave procedure. In addition, a postoperative scar remains at the site of the keratoma.
Surgical intervention of this nature is usually performed using local anesthesia, however, in some cases, if there are no contraindications, the doctor may offer the patient general anesthesia, for example, if the area affected by the keratoma group is very large.
Treatment of neoplasms at home, traditional medicine
Despite the danger of self-treatment, many people still, at their own peril and risk, try to treat keratoma according to traditional medicine prescriptions, or using various preparations containing acids and cytostatics at home.
There are other recipes for getting rid of keratomas using the experience of traditional medicine. For example, removal can be carried out using aloe juice – for this, the young leaves of the plant are thoroughly washed and frozen for 3-4 days. Then they are thawed at room temperature, a cut is made, and it is applied as a compress with a gauze bandage all night. In the morning, the affected area must be wiped with salicylic alcohol. The course of such treatment is 3 weeks.
Another recipe suggests the use of finely grated potatoes as a compress – potatoes crushed in this way are applied to the area of skin affected by keratoma, a clean cotton cloth is applied on top, and the place is wrapped in cling film. After 40 minutes of such a compress, the product should be washed off with warm water.
For daily rubbing of senile keratoses, heated castor oil can be used – it softens the surface of the formation, and helps to avoid cracks and inflammation on it.
Judging by the reviews of doctors, such methods as removing celandine juice, using coniferous oils, as well as applying various drugs offered in pharmacies, can only be effective for keratomas in the initial stages of formation, if they are small. However, it is best not to self-medicate, but to visit a doctor who will help determine the type of neoplasm and choose the best method for getting rid of it.
Keratoma treatment is the process of removing them. Many people on whose skin these benign tumors are present live calmly with them without feeling any discomfort, however, there are cases when it is necessary to get rid of a keratoma, first of all, if it has begun to degenerate into a cancerous tumor, or if a brown growth on the skin represents a significant cosmetic defect. The task of the attending physician is to choose the right specific removal method that is suitable for the affected person.