Atheroma is a tumor-like skin formation that occurs in people regardless of their age and sex. According to some reports, this disease affects 7-10% of the world's population. There are cases when atheroma was detected even in newborn children. Externally, the tumor resembles a lipoma, better known as a fatty. Distinguish them and put the correct diagnosis can only a dermatologist. Let's try to figure out what kind of education - atheroma.
Atheroma is a benign tumor
Atheroma on the human skin looks like a shell, which is filled with a thick mass of yellowish hue with a rather unpleasant odor. Sometimes in the middle of this formation there is a hole from which its contents are extracted. There is such a tumor in different parts of the body, mainly where the hair grows, that is, on the skin of the head, face, neck, back and genital area.
Atheromas can be congenital and secondary:
- Congenital atheromas are benign skin tumors.
- Secondary atheromas are the formations arising from the expansion of the sebaceous glands.
However, it should be noted that atheroma can not yet be called a tumor, since its formation is not associated with excessive cell proliferation.
External signs of atheroma
To detect atheroma is not particularly difficult. Sensing the skin, you can see a small seal, quite soft and moving. If the atheroma is not inflamed, it is painless, and its size varies from 5 to 40 mm. This tumor-like formation can remain small for a fairly long time or increase in size, creating a visible cosmetic defect.
If the atheroma becomes inflamed, it becomes painful during a touch, the skin over it acquires a reddish hue. Also, the body temperature can rise, symptoms of general malaise appear.
Why are atheromas formed?
The direct cause of atheroma formation is occlusion of the excretory duct of the sebaceous gland.
This process is facilitated by the following factors:
- the period of puberty and / or hormonal changes in the body.
- seborrhea , that is, inflammatory processes directly in the sebaceous glands;
- acne disease ;
- increased sweating;
- traumatization of the skin, due to constant rubbing of her clothing;
- diseases of the endocrine system;
- complication of dermatitis;
- non-compliance with personal hygiene or improper skin care.