Last Updated on 05.10.2016 by
It is believed that atheroma on the buttock is a consequence of acne in this area. An epidermal cyst is not considered a tumor. The occurrence of such a neoplasm is facilitated by the formation of a capsule when the excretory duct of the sebaceous gland is blocked. Due to the presence of a large number of sebaceous glands in the buttock area, this localization of atheroma is not uncommon. Over time, the cavity fills with dead skin cells, sebum and cholesterol, causing a characteristic bulge to appear under the skin. At the first stages of development of a neoplasm of such localization, it is impossible to notice independently. However, the sooner surgical treatment is performed, the easier the operation will be and the fewer consequences it will have. Moreover, in such cases there will be no postoperative scar on the skin.
Causes
Atheroma on the buttocks can form for several reasons. Among the most likely are:
- acne and the scars that remain after them;
- abscess;
- blockage of the excretory duct of the sebaceous gland;
- hypersecretion of the sebaceous glands;
- regular mechanical damage (for example, from friction with too tight underwear);
- overheating or hypothermia;
- passive lifestyle;
- obesity;
- hormonal imbalances;
- increased testosterone levels.
Causes, symptoms and diagnosis
The neck is covered with a large number of sebaceous glands that work actively. This process is determined by the structural features of the human body. The largest number is located on the back and side surfaces. The growth of the cyst occurs as a result of blockage of the sebaceous duct and regular mechanical friction. There are also the following reasons for the growth of atheroma:
- tendency of the skin to develop acne, acne, seborrhea;
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
- tight clothes;
- diabetes;
- disruptions in the hormonal system;
- overweight.
Just one unfavorable factor and bumps consisting of lipid secretion appear on the neck. In a short period of time, this secretion accumulates and becomes covered with a capsule.
The cyst tends to appear unnoticed in any part of the neck and for a long time the patient may not be aware of its presence, since it does not itch or hurt. The tumor reaches 5-8 mm. in diameter.
Mechanical friction or accidental trauma to surrounding tissues can cause bacterial microflora to enter the cyst. As a result, the lump begins to grow rapidly, turns red, the skin around it swells, pain appears, and purulent contents are visible in the central part. General symptoms include the appearance of general weakness and increased body temperature, which is direct evidence of the onset of intoxication.
Symptoms
Atheroma can be primary or secondary.
Primary is distinguished by its symptoms: a tumor forms under the skin, dense to the touch, grows slowly and does not cause pain. Sometimes it can become inflamed.
The secondary develops quickly and increases sharply in size. Such an atheroma can open on its own if suppuration begins. Prone to inflammatory processes. In addition, this species, after opening on its own, can cause relapses.
How to get rid of atheroma at home?
There are several proven ways to get rid of epidermal cysts. The best effect of treatment can be obtained if it is started as soon as atheroma is detected. It is much more difficult to fight more advanced tumors, and the results are not as productive as we would like to achieve.
However, before starting treatment at home, you should make sure that this formation is atheroma and not another type of tumor.
Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the signs of a cyst:
- formation of a round shape;
- soft to the touch;
- does not hurt, does not itch and does not show any other symptoms if it is not in an inflamed state;
- the skin in the pathological area does not differ from healthy skin;
- in the center of the compaction you can see a dark dot - an enlarged blocked duct;
- when you press on the atheroma with your finger, the tumor does not escape from under the finger, but remains under it.
If the epidermal cyst becomes inflamed, which quite often happens with atheromas, then the clinical picture changes and other symptoms of the disease begin to appear. In this case, the skin color acquires a reddish tint, pain appears on palpation, swelling around the formation increases, and the white or yellowish contents of the blocked duct are visible through the inflamed skin. Sometimes the growth can open on its own and purulent masses with accumulated sebum come out. This process often forms an ulcer on the skin, which requires immediate treatment aimed at disinfecting and relieving inflammation. Levomekol applied to a sterile bandage folded in several layers will help cleanse the wound of pus, relieve swelling and inflammation. This compress is changed twice a day.
To get rid of cystic formation, the following methods are used:
- Ichthyol ointment will have an antiseptic effect on inflamed atheroma. To do this, you need to apply the drug generously (about 2-3 grams) and cover with a cotton swab. The latter should be secured with a bandage or adhesive plaster. The cotton wool soaked in ointment needs to be changed every 7-9 hours. A noticeable improvement occurs within a day. However, you should not stop at the first relief. It is necessary to continue applying ichthyol ointment until the skin in the pathological area is completely healed. Before using this drug, it is better to make sure that the patient is not allergic to it.
- Hydrogen peroxide is also used to get rid of “calm” atheroma at home. To do this, 33% peroxide is applied to the tumor several times a week. At first, there may be darkening of the skin over the cyst. Then pain will appear, which will pass after a few days. Soon the tumor will completely go away, but the dark mark in its place can last from several weeks to a month.
- Medicinal plants such as aloe, kalanchoe and golden mustache are also known for their medicinal properties. The washed and slightly dried fleshy leaf should be cut lengthwise into two parts. The juicy side is applied to the epidermal cyst, covered with cellophane film on top so that the juice does not leak out, and fixed with a bandage. The leaf of the plant should be changed after a few hours. Treatment takes 14-18 days, depending on the size and condition of the tumor. The same is done with Kalanchoe and golden mustache, only the leaves are slightly crushed to release the healing juice.
- Vishnevsky ointment is used to accelerate the release of pus to the outside. In addition, it helps to disinfect the problem area, improve skin nutrition and reduce the inflammatory process. However, before applying the ointment to the atheroma, you should make sure that there is no allergic reaction to the components of the drug. To do this, you can test apply a small amount of ointment to the inner bend of the elbow and wait a few minutes. If there is no redness of the skin, itching, or burning, then you can safely begin treating the cyst with Vishnevsky ointment. The drug is applied in a layer of 1-2 mm to a bandage or napkin and applied to the seal, securing with a bandage. The compress must be changed 2-3 times a day and monitor the condition of the skin formation. When the contents come out, it is carefully removed from the surface of the skin and the wound is wiped with alcohol.
Treatment
Treatment is carried out surgically. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis using enucleation. Under local anesthesia, the doctor excises and enucleates the encysted atheroma. If suppuration begins, the formation is removed within healthy tissue and the cavity is thoroughly cleaned of pus.
In case of inflammation, drainage can also be installed for some time to completely remove all pus.
Recovery depends on the size of the atheroma, the weight of the patient and how much subcutaneous fat he has. Usually the scars disappear completely after six months, but if the size is very large, the scar may remain forever.
If the size of the formation is small, you can use other treatment methods that are not so traumatic for the body:
- laser removal;
- radio wave method.
Alternative medicine methods
There are many “grandmother’s” recipes for treating atheroma, which are not difficult to use ointments and have the desired effect on the tumor:
- Lamb fat has an anti-inflammatory effect and removes pus. To use for these purposes, you should heat the fat and cool it to 35-40 degrees. Then soak a cotton swab in it and rub the fat into the sore spot 3-4 times a day.
- Using an ointment made from sour cream, honey and salt is usually one of the most effective and simplest ways to get rid of cystic formation at home. The 1:1:1 components are mixed, applied to the seal and fixed for several hours. The procedure is repeated 4-5 times a day.
- Baked onions are known for their medicinal properties. It is crushed and mixed with grated laundry soap. A compress is made from the resulting pulp, which is changed 2-3 times a day.
- Often used to get rid of the formation of a film on the skin from a boiled chicken egg. The film is removed from the shell and placed on the cyst. At first, redness and even pain will appear, but this is a normal process with this method of treatment. Soon the inflammation will subside, and the atheroma will significantly decrease in size.
- Compresses made from honey and cinnamon also have a positive effect on the disappearance of formation.
Self-treatment of epidermal cysts and other skin tumors using unconventional methods sometimes does not give the expected results and can cause an abscess. It is better to initially contact a surgeon and get professional advice regarding the treatment of a tumor on the body.
The article has been verified by the editors
Useful video
In the video below, you will learn how to cure atheroma:
Patient reviews of surgery to remove atheroma are almost always positive. Regardless of the type of intervention, it is always painless and not associated with negative experiences. But there are also some negative aspects. Some types of atheroma excision are not so cheap, in addition, they leave scars that do not always disappear, which have to be removed in a cosmetologist's office. But in general, absolutely all methods of getting rid of pathology guarantee an almost complete absence of relapses and a complete cure for atheroma.
Prevention
After the operation, you must carefully follow all the doctor’s instructions :
- change the dressings covering the open wound daily;
- Take antihistamines, painkillers and antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.
Depending on the size of the tumor and the absence or presence of an inflammatory process, the presence of a scar after surgery can be predicted.
After the wound begins to heal and its edges are stitched (or glued with special medical glue), it is necessary to use a plaster that protects the wound from germs and pathogenic microorganisms.
In some cases that have deviations from the normal healing process, the surgeon carries out an individual treatment procedure for such a patient.
Important : when removing a suppurating cyst, as well as in the case of incomplete enucleation of its capsule, relapses of atheroma are possible - its repeated formation and growth.
Cost of the operation
Destruction of atheroma in the usual way using a scalpel will cost the patient about 1,500 rubles. More complex procedures using a laser or radio wave knife will cost 5 thousand rubles and more.
Author of the article:
Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich |
Ph.D. surgeon, phlebologist Education: Moscow State Medical and Dental University (1996). In 2003, he received a diploma from the educational and scientific medical center for the administration of the President of the Russian Federation. Our authors
Dangerous signs of complications after surgery
- Addition of inflammation after removal of an uncomplicated form of the cyst, appearance of pus;
- An increase in temperature indicates tissue infection; normally, hyperthermia disappears within 2-3 days;
- Dehiscence of wound edges – discovered during dressing;
- Leakage of blood through the bandage - increased bleeding is diagnosed in hepatitis, hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, enlarged spleen, as well as in patients using anticoagulants (Aspirin, Cardiomagnyl, Heparin, Thromboass).
The appearance of any of the above signs is a reason to consult a doctor, who will assess the risk of complications and carry out therapeutic measures.
Folk remedies
Treatment of atheroma with folk remedies involves relieving the inflammatory process and reducing the size of the wen. If the atheroma has opened, it is necessary to go to surgery to remove the remaining capsule. For atheroma, treatment with folk remedies is carried out using medicinal plants and other means that our grandmothers used. To achieve maximum effect, it is necessary to begin therapy immediately after a small wen appears.
Treatment with garlic
A good remedy for wen is garlic ointment. To prepare it, you need to grind the garlic into a paste, mix it with sunflower or olive oil and rub it into the area where the cyst is located up to four times a day.
Peony root decoction
Grind three tablespoons of peony root and boil in half a liter of water. After the broth has been infused for two hours, it must be strained. Lotions are made from the broth several times a day.
Lamb fat
Another remedy that can be used to open atheroma is lamb fat. First, you need to melt it, then cool it to a comfortable temperature and rub it into the affected area several times a day. Lamb fat warms, after which it breaks through the atheroma capsules, but not into the tissues, but onto the surface of the skin. After the capsule has leaked out, you should consult a doctor to have it removed.
Onion
In order for the wen to open faster, you can make compresses from onions and laundry soap. To do this, the onion should be peeled, baked and mashed, the soap should be grated on a fine grater and combined with the onion. The mixed ingredients should have the consistency of thick sour cream. This mixture is applied to the wen twice a day.
Chicken egg film
Eggs are very good for the skin, as are their shells. But in first place in terms of usefulness is the film, which is located on the inside of the shell. It must be removed from a fresh egg, applied to the neoplasm and secured with a band-aid. After a day, the film will dry out, then it needs to be replaced with a new one. During the healing process, the cyst may turn red, but there is nothing to worry about.
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Aloe
This medicinal plant is widely used in medicine, including for suppurating skin formations. In order for the effect to be maximum, it is necessary to use a plant that is more than three years old, since young aloe does not have such a healing effect. The sheet must be washed and dried slightly with a paper towel. After this, you should cut the aloe lengthwise, apply the cut to the atheroma and wrap it with polyethylene. The sheet needs to be changed twice a day for two weeks.
Burdock
To treat wen, the roots of the plant are used, which should be crushed using a meat grinder and filled with alcohol. The tincture is placed in a dark place for a month, and it must be shaken from time to time. The tincture should be consumed for two months, one tablespoon twice a day.
Artemisia root
To prepare a decoction with which lotions are made, you need to take three tablespoons of dry wormwood root, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over it and leave. After cooling, the broth is filtered. A gauze napkin is moistened in this infusion and applied to the wen for several minutes. Wormwood root helps reduce atheroma within two weeks.
Coltsfoot
In order to get rid of the neoplasm, it is necessary to apply fresh coltsfoot leaves to it, and then fix it with a bandage. The bandage is removed at night and applied again in the morning.
Silver treatment
Silver is famous for its healing properties; it is often used to treat various skin diseases, including the treatment of atheroma. In order for it to resolve, it is necessary to apply a silver product to the area where the wen is located several times a day.
Removal
Before proceeding with removal, the doctor, despite the fact that it is not difficult to make a diagnosis in this case, must still refer the patient for diagnostic tests. In controversial issues, an ultrasound examination is performed, and the patient is sent for a consultation with a dermatologist and oncologist.
Atheroma is often confused with lipoma. But its main difference is the presence of a capsule filled with liquid. Lipoma does not have such a capsule. If atheroma is detected in the stage of inflammation and suppuration, its removal is carried out within the walls of the hospital. The following methods are used:
- Radiosurgery . Radio waves burn out pathological tissue. The advantages of this method are described above.
- Surgical method , when the abscess is dissected and drained. It is also called the classical method. The advantages of this method are wide availability, low price, and when removing atheromas on the head, the swelling is not as pronounced as with other methods.
- Laser coagulation . The laser leads to the destruction of the cyst and its contents. Relapses with this method are extremely rare; it is a bloodless technique and there are no scars after surgery. But due to the high cost of the equipment, the method is not always available to everyone.
Can it go away on its own and resolve?
The neoplasm itself never resolves by any means . Even if you pierce the tumor with a needle and squeeze out its contents, the cavity (capsule) will still remain, which will lead to the formation of a new atheroma .
But if the pathology is asymptomatic and does not bother the patient, it is better not to rush to remove it, but to observe the tumor with a dermatologist .
General information about atheroma
Atheroma is a specific cavity in the skin that is formed as a result of the accumulation of a pasty secretion in the duct. Its development is facilitated by blockage of the external opening of the sebaceous gland, which prevents the free release of secretions. The substance is characterized by a pronounced unpleasant odor and has a spherical shape. The size of the formation is comparable to the size of a chicken egg. The appearance of atheroma occurs in different parts of the body where the skin comes into contact with clothing. Wen are often noticed in the following places:
- Back.
- Skin on the face.
- Armpits.
- Head.
- Ear area.
- Mammary gland.
- Chin.
Removing atheroma at home is possible only after consultation with a specialist and studying the clinical picture. The patient also needs to determine the predisposing factor that caused the occurrence of the pathology. Often it is a failure in the patency of the ducts or the appearance of a follicle. In turn, such formations appear due to injury or when testosterone levels in the blood increase, which helps block the hole. As a result, sebaceous secretions actively accumulate, and the follicle begins to grow in size and turns into atheroma.
In addition, the cause of the unpleasant phenomenon can be damage or rupture of the sebaceous glands, which leads to the penetration of the follicle under the skin layer, while the secretion continues to be produced by the body. In the chronic form of atheroma, it becomes purulent and is accompanied by the formation of acne. Other causes of the disease include the following:
- Genetic predisposition to skin diseases.
- Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Impact of bad environment.
- Fast pace of life and lack of adequate rest.
- Physical work.
- Failures in metabolic processes.
Diagnostics
The specific type of atheroma is determined during a physical examination. Although there are some differences in size, most atheromas are similar in structure. A dark dot is often visible at the top, which is caused by the expansion of the sebaceous duct of the hair. The larger the single cyst, the larger the hairline and visible point.
Laboratory and instrumental studies are used in rare cases to confirm the diagnosis. Ultrasound or computed tomography helps to clearly visualize the skin tumor. Self-diagnosis is strictly not recommended.
How is drug therapy for cysts performed?
Treatment of atheroma without surgery involves applying warming ointments or compresses. Topical medications should widen the duct of the gland and remove the blockage so that the exudate can flow out through the natural channel.
You can try to cure atheroma without surgery using the following means:
- Liniment according to Vishnevsky. This medication can relieve swelling and inflammation from the layers of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Squeeze the ointment onto a napkin and apply to the affected area. Place a bag or oilcloth on top of the gauze. Repeat the procedure 1-2 times a day and throughout the night. Small atheroma resolves in 5-7 days.
- It is possible to treat atheroma with Ichthyol ointment. It contains resins from ancient fish, which are found in rocks. The unique property of ichthyol to pull accumulated fat from the cyst and cleanse the capsule has found its application in medicine. Therapeutic compresses with this ointment are applied daily for a week. If the dynamics are positive, treatment is continued for up to a month.
- To treat atheroma, Dimexide solution is used as a compress. This medication warms up the stagnant fat inside the capsule, softening it. Dimexide is able to break through the canal and draw out the contents of the cyst. You cannot use a concentrated medicine for a compress. It is necessary to mix the drug and warm purified water in half. Compresses are applied for 3-4 hours. To warm up, be sure to use cotton wool or a warm scarf over the oilcloth.
- Burning with iodine gives positive dynamics in some patients. Iodine is applied daily to the skin in the projection of atheroma; an iodine mesh can be made. The success of the method can be noticed only after 2-3 weeks. If persistent redness and burning occurs, the procedure must be stopped.
Local use of drugs with a warming effect is justified in the initial stages of atheroma, when the size of the cyst is up to 3 cm.
To improve immune responses, patients are prescribed multivitamins. Doctors have long noticed that the stronger the immune system, the faster skin diseases go away.
In case of suppuration and inflammation of the seal, treatment is carried out with antibacterial drugs. A thin layer of Levomekol or Triderm is applied to the reddened skin over the infected cyst. The course of treatment with antibiotic ointment takes 7-10 days.
What to do if it hurts and itches?
Often, atheroma begins to bother its “owner” - quite painful sensations appear at the site of the growth and unbearable itching. The skin around the tumor becomes red and inflamed. an infection enters the affected sebaceous gland .
If treatment for such an atheroma is not started , the inflammatory process moves into the deeper layers of the epidermis , and the atheroma itself may burst. Therapy for an inflamed tumor is somewhat different from conventional treatment - first the inflammatory process in the tumor is relieved, and then it is excised.