Wen is a benign formation. Located in the subcutaneous tissue, on the internal organs. It does not bother the patient for a long time, causing only cosmetic discomfort. If large in size, it may cause compression. If the wen hurts, signs of inflammation appear, pus is released, consult a doctor immediately.
Reasons for the appearance of wen
Fatty compactions in the subcutaneous layer of the epidermis appear due to a malfunction of the endocrine, digestive or immune systems. Hereditary factors play an important role in the growth and development of lipomas.
Wen come in different sizes - from a few millimeters to several centimeters. There is also no specific location on the body; they can be on the head, torso, limbs, and even internal organs. There are not only single seals, but also group ones. If lipomas are close to each other, they may merge into one large wen.
According to statistics, the formation of lipomas does not depend on the patient’s age, but the largest percentage of their occurrence occurs at an average age of 30-50 years.
The presence of a fatty lump in a child should not cause panic among parents. The main thing is to detect pathology in time at an early age and prevent inflammation. It is important to differentiate lipoma from other formations. In children and adolescents, it is better to remove wen, but not earlier than 5 years of age.
Causes of inflammation of the wen
Wen can exist for a long time without causing problems other than aesthetic ones. Its size does not change or changes very slowly. But at a certain point it begins to actively grow and become inflamed. There are several reasons for this:
- friction against clothing is especially important for lipomas on the back and back of the neck,
- hormonal imbalance in the body associated with dysfunction of the thyroid gland or pituitary gland,
- disruption of metabolic processes in the body,
- ignoring the rules of personal hygiene,
- attempts to remove the seal yourself,
- injury to the skin at the site of formation of the wen.
If an inflammatory process is detected in a lipoma, you should urgently consult a doctor to decide on the method of treatment.
Types and symptoms of manifestation
Depending on the internal contents, wen are classified into several types:
- Myolipomas. They are formed from muscle cells.
- Angiolipomas. Consist of blood vessels.
- Fibrolipomas. Formed from connective tissues.
- Myxolipomas. They contain mucus in their structure.
It is not difficult to notice even a small lump on your body. It usually stands out well because it rises above the rest of the skin. If you discover such a problem, you should immediately go to the doctor. After all, it may not be a wen, but a more dangerous pathology (for example, a malignant tumor).
The neoplasm most often occurs in women 30-45 years old. It is localized in areas rich in adipose tissue. The wen is an elastic seal that is quite mobile and does not cause discomfort. It can be small, with a diameter of 0.5-1 cm. But if treatment is not carried out in time, a large wen may develop on the shoulder. It will be large, with a diameter of up to 10-15 cm. This neoplasm grows quickly. Its internal consistency can vary - from thick viscous to very dense.
Wen in the shoulder girdle area usually have an unfavorable localization; they can rub against clothing. This can cause them to become inflamed. In this case, additional symptoms appear. The inflamed white wen on the shoulder begins to fester, the tissue around it turns red and becomes swollen. In this case, immediate assistance from a specialist is required. Otherwise, the pathology can lead to serious complications, including blood poisoning.
Signs of an inflammatory process in a lipoma
The beginning of the pathological process in the compaction can be determined simply:
- The lipoma actively begins to grow, and in a short period of time the increase reaches 2 or more times.
- The skin at the location of the seal turns red and itches.
- The pain increases, especially with pressure.
- Liquid contents are found in the wen itself.
- The patient's general condition worsens - the body temperature rises to subfebrile or higher, the patient complains of weakness.
If one or more signs are detected, you should consult a doctor immediately. This will help avoid rupture of the wen. Particularly dangerous are cases of lipoma spilling inside. This is accompanied by pain, swelling, and a high probability of infection of neighboring organs and tissues. The result may be hair loss in the affected area.
Methods to combat inflammation of the wen at home
The lipoma treatment process must be agreed upon with the doctor. It is not always possible to remove the wen at the time of its inflammation, so anti-inflammatory treatment is prescribed at home.
Doctors recommend using medicinal herbs at home:
- Kalanchoe juice effectively relieves inflammation. To do this, take a leaf of the plant and cut it into two parts. The pulp is applied to the affected area and fixed. The process is repeated every day until the problem is completely eliminated.
- The second effective method is soap and onion ointment. To do this, bake the onions in the oven, cool and puree. Finely grated laundry soap is added to the finished mass. The finished mixture is applied to the wen in the form of a compress. Do this at least three times a day.
- Coltsfoot leaves have proven themselves to be effective in eliminating the problem. It is enough to apply them to the site of the wen overnight. They do this until recovery.
- Doctors often recommend applying Vishnevsky ointment to the affected area to quickly relieve the inflammatory process. In addition, the ointment promotes the resorption of tumors.
To relieve inflammation at home, doctors recommend treatment that can relieve pain and normalize the patient’s general condition, but it is impossible to completely get rid of the pathology.
If pain, redness, or other unpleasant sensations increase during this treatment, you should immediately consult a doctor. The situation may require urgent treatment with medications, and in some cases even surgery.
Diagnostics
Typically, diagnosing wen on the shoulder is not difficult, since the neoplasm is accompanied by pronounced symptoms. But to confirm the diagnosis, the following methods may be required:
- Visual inspection and palpation. Externally, the wen looks like a swelling. On palpation, its elasticity and mobility are noted.
- Ultrasound. Allows you to determine the structure of the wen.
- X-ray. Helps to identify whether the tumor is growing into neighboring tissues.
- Biopsy and histological analysis. They are carried out if there is a suspicion of an oncological process.
Ultrasound is a method for diagnosing a wen on the shoulder.
If the wen on the shoulder is inflamed, it must be differentiated from a boil, since outwardly both ailments are very similar. If inflammation is present, surgical intervention should be performed immediately.
Effective drugs for inflammation of the wen
To relieve inflammation, doctors recommend several pharmaceutical drugs:
- Vishnevsky ointment.
Has antiseptic properties. It is recommended for resorption or opening of lipomas.
- Ichthyol ointment.
Effectively resolves lipoma at the onset of the disease. The ointment is used as a wound-healing and anti-inflammatory agent.
- Dimexide solution.
Very often used for skin diseases and suppurations. It is especially recommended for use in cases of inflammation of large fatty tissues. The drug is applied to the inflamed area at least 2 times a day.
- Antibacterial drugs.
They are used in the most advanced cases, when the accumulation of pus is critical. Amoxiclav and Lincomycin are considered the most effective. Solutions are injected directly into the fatty seal, tablets are taken orally. Injections are given intravenously or intramuscularly three times a day.
For inflammation, complex treatment is recommended, when medications are supplemented with folk remedies.
Ointments
Vishnevsky’s ointment is very effective in combating wen. Its composition is rich in components such as castor oil, xeroform and tar. The ointment has a yellow-brown color and can be used in the treatment of wen in pregnant women. It has an excellent absorption effect and eliminates inflammation. Anyone can buy the drug, since its cost is low. Among the disadvantages of the ointment is its unpleasant aroma. It is very simple to treat a wen with Vishnevsky ointment, after which there is no discomfort and various side effects.
If it is necessary to eliminate a wen on the face, then ointment is applied to a cotton pad and applied to the affected area. Secure the compress with a bandage. Keep it for 12 hours, and the course of therapy will last 3 days. Then rest for a few days and perform the manipulation again. The medicinal properties of Vishnevsky's ointment will help draw out the contents of the wen.
Ichthyol ointment can also be used in therapy. It also copes with the task perfectly and has no side effects. Ichthyolka has a resolving effect, draws out purulent contents and heals the resulting wound. There have been cases when this ointment eliminated the wen much faster than when using Vishnevsky ointment, and there were no scars.
When is surgery to remove a lipoma necessary?
At the first signs of inflammation of the wen, a person experiences severe discomfort, so it is better to remove the seal. In most cases, surgery is performed after the inflammatory process has resolved. The removal option is selected individually.
Direct indications for surgery are:
- high probability of injury to the seal,
- severe pain syndrome,
- purulent discharge mixed with blood,
- rapid growth of tumors,
- large size,
- change in color at the site of the lesion,
- the likelihood of compression of organs and tissues adjacent to the lipoma.
A timely operation will eliminate possible complications and significantly shorten rehabilitation.
The lipoma removal procedure is carried out in several ways:
- laser, in which blood loss is excluded, and the recovery period is short and without complications,
- radio waves, when they operate with a special radio knife, removing the affected area layer by layer, blood loss is minimal, and rehabilitation is only a few days,
- mini-invasive, when the contents are sucked out using a needle inserted into the lipoma, without even a trace of the intervention remaining, but there is a risk of reappearance of the formation, since the capsule is not removed,
- surgical - designed to remove large wen, the only method that eliminates the recurrence of formations.
The latter method has both supporters and opponents. The latter argue that surgical removal is not indicated for everyone, since the effect of anesthesia on the body is unpredictable. In addition, after such an operation scars remain, which is undesirable on open areas of the body, especially on the face.
All types of tumor removal require consultation with a doctor and a complete examination of the patient. They try to perform surgery on an inflamed wen only in extreme cases.
Do skin lesions need to be removed?
When a lipoma is small in size, does not grow and does not cause discomfort to the patient, then it is not worth getting rid of such a formation.
When the wen increases in size, it is worth deciding on an operation to remove it. If the size allows, then in order, for example, to remove a wen under the eye, it is enough to make a small incision and thereby cause minor trauma after surgery. When the wen is large, scars may appear on the face after surgery.
After surgery, the removed formations are examined histologically. When it will be possible to avoid errors in diagnosis, since malignant tumors can be hidden under such innocent formations.
The video explains the reasons for the appearance of wen and how to get rid of them:
Prevention of inflammation of the wen
The presence of even a small lipoma requires careful attention to it. To avoid inflammation in the wen, you need to beware of injuries at the site of the lesion and near it. It is also recommended to normalize your diet, daily routine and strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene. This will help reduce increased sebum secretion. If your hormonal levels are disrupted, you need to register with an endocrinologist and undergo regular examinations. Getting rid of bad habits will also help prevent inflammation of the wen.
The onset of inflammation in a lipoma is a serious reason to consult a doctor. There are many ways to get rid of problems of this kind, so you should not make hasty conclusions or panic. The main thing is not to let the situation get worse and not try to solve it yourself.
