Wen (lipoma) is an extremely unpleasant phenomenon, especially if it is located in areas that are not covered by clothing.
It is recommended that the tumor be treated by a specialist. However, in certain cases it is possible to do this at home.
Removing a lipoma at home is allowed only if the lipoma is small (up to 1 cm) and is located close to the epidermis. You can use both pharmacy and folk remedies for this.
What are wen?
Wen are nothing more than benign tumors. It is correctly called “lipoma”. It is formed in the subcutaneous tissue. Hence its name. It looks like a ball rolling when palpated. It will not be possible to get rid of it by simply squeezing it out due to the lack of an excretory duct. They can be single and located in groups, merging.
They are more common in females over the age of forty. Although children and males also suffer from this disease, they are much less common. Lipoma is completely filled with adipose tissue, so it is often difficult to diagnose it on your own.
They are localized in any part of the body; people are especially often concerned about the location on the face, as it has a direct negative cosmetic and psychological effect.
When to see a doctor with a lipoma on the body
The decision about which doctor to see and in what timeframe is ultimately made by the patient himself. It is advisable to quickly seek the advice of a specialist from the moment you discover a wen on your forehead or other structures and bodies similar to it. You should be aware that the smaller the tumor, the easier it is to treat, and after the necessary measures are taken, a slight scar will remain. With a professionally performed procedure it will not happen.
The longer you delay the examination, the greater the chance that the wen may become inflamed and develop into liposarcoma. In the absence of malignant degeneration, there is the option of increasing in size, which will extremely complicate its further removal. When a lipoma reaches a significant size, it can begin to compress nearby tissues, neurovascular bundles, and interfere with movement in the limbs. If the tumor is located on the face, it will cause a cosmetic defect.
If the wen is inflamed, then a trip to the doctor should be made as soon as possible. In the absence of timely treatment, the infectious process will spread to the surrounding adipose tissue, and inflammation may spread to neighboring areas of the body. Generalized inflammation of fatty tissue is called phlegmon, which is quite difficult to cure. If phlegmon occurs, massive antibacterial therapy or extensive surgical intervention is performed.
Do not delay your visit to a specialist - do not allow complications.
Types of wen on the face
These include:
- Milium;
- Xanthelasma.
Milium is also called millet. It looks like a white nodule rising above the skin. Consists directly of adipose tissue. The most common localization is on the skin of the cheeks; the nose and sometimes the chin are affected. They can be up to 5 millimeters in diameter.
There are single formations, as well as groups. They do not progress, do not bother, do not cause any problems. They can only cause psychological discomfort.
Xanthelasma is yellow in color due to its composition. And this type of benign tumor consists directly of subcutaneous fat. They take various shapes, the range of sizes has no restrictions.
Localization: mainly on the eyelids. Occurs at older ages, more often in females. They grow together with other xanthelasmas and form “clusters” on the eyelids, creating serious discomfort and a negative psychological effect.
Diagnostics
To determine the type of formation, the child must be shown to a pediatrician or pediatric dermatologist. In most cases, a visual examination and medical history is sufficient for diagnosis. In severe cases, the doctor will prescribe additional examinations and consultation with specialized specialists. This may be needed if:
- the wen is large in size;
- the lipoma is located on the neck, mucous membranes of the mouth (gum tissue) or in the ears (auditory canal);
- signs of a purulent-infectious inflammatory process appeared.
For any type of formation, the child is prescribed biochemical tests of urine and blood to exclude the possibility of renal pathologies or diseases of the endocrine system. In some cases, ultrasound diagnostics may be required.
Etiology
The reasons for the appearance of these benign formations on the skin are not fully understood. As a rule, there is no one reason. A combination of various factors leads to the formation of wen:
- Heredity factor. Often, the body is predisposed to the growth of lipomas from birth;
- Lipid metabolism disorders. A person develops high-viscosity fat, and the fat ducts become clogged. Excess cholesterol is to blame;
- Diseases of the urinary system, liver diseases. Too much fluid removal from the body due to diseases of these organs and systems contributes to the thickening of fat and difficulty in its outflow;
- Pathologies of the endocrine system; Presence of diabetes mellitus of all types;
- Menopause is a provoking factor;
- Incorrectly selected skin care and/or lack thereof. It is necessary to choose the right cosmetics;
- Problems with the digestive system;
- Focus on foods high in fat and sugar, drinking alcohol;
- Having combination and oily skin types.
It is important to understand that lipomas do not lead to cancerous degeneration and are therefore harmless. Based on this, there is no need to take measures to remove them yourself.
In case of severe cosmetic and psychological discomfort, it makes sense to go to a dermatologist to treat the disease.
Step-by-step instructions for safe home squeezing
It is necessary to crush the wen yourself at home, adhering to the rules for treating the skin. If the location is difficult to access, it is advisable for another person to carry out the procedure.
Technique:
- First, the surface of the hands, fingers and nails is treated with an antiseptic - Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, ethyl alcohol. Then you need to put on sterile gloves.
- Disinfect all lipoma removal instruments. It is recommended to use special tools.
- Wipe the formation with a sterile swab soaked in an alcohol solution.
- If necessary, the affected area can be numbed with a lotion of lidocaine solution to reduce sensitivity.
- Using a medical needle, you need to make a puncture and a white mass will easily begin to squeeze out of the wen. The seal must be removed along with the capsule. Otherwise, the procedure will have to be repeated due to relapse.
- The formation should not be pierced deeply, so as not to damage the nerve, not to introduce infection into the deep layers of the skin and not to provoke prolonged bleeding from the wound.
- Finally, be sure to treat the wound cavity with a disinfectant and apply a gauze pad with hydrogen peroxide, securing it with a bandage.
Approaches to choosing treatment
Conservative methods include compresses and lotions according to traditional medicine recipes. How to remove wen on the face using folk recipes can be understood by asking and rummaging around on the Internet.
During treatment, it is important to prevent the wound from becoming infected if you still resort to surgical removal. An experienced doctor will tell you how to get rid of wen on your face.
Most often, fat removal is carried out on an outpatient basis using superficial chemical peeling or laser therapy. After such manipulations, no sutures are required, which means that the cosmetic positive effect will be achieved to the maximum.
How to get rid
Let's consider 2 options for how to remove subcutaneous wen on the body yourself:
Pharmacy drugs
In pharmacies you can buy topical products that help eliminate lipomas.
Such drugs are aimed at softening tissues, improving metabolic processes and blood circulation.
They can be used to eliminate tumors on the skin of the face and body, but care must be taken that they do not come into contact with mucous membranes.
Before using any medication, you need to make sure that there are no contraindications to it.
The following methods are popular:
- Cream or balm "Vitaon". The composition contains esters and plant extracts that help relieve pain and inflammation and restore the skin. The product acts gently and gently, so it can also be used for children. It is applied to a gauze bandage and applied to the tumor. The course of application is long - about a month. Usually during this time it acts positively and promotes the resorption of the lipoma.
- Vishnevsky ointment. The popular ointment contains birch tar, xeroform, as well as castor oil or fish oil, which complement the action of the main substances. The ointment improves blood circulation in the lipoma area, has astringent, antimicrobial, and drying properties. As a result, the neoplasm tissues dissolve over time and come out. The ointment is applied to the tumor, covered with a napkin, and fixed with a band-aid. When it dries out, you need to replace the bandage. As a rule, 3-4 days of use are sufficient for the resorption of the wen.
- Ichthyol ointment. Includes medical petroleum jelly and ichthyol. The latter ensures active blood flow to the lipoma and its resorption. The product also fights inflammation and microorganisms, softens and heals the skin. The ointment is applied to the tumor twice a day, covered with a gauze cloth and a band-aid. Carry out the procedure until the tumor disappears.
- Ointment "Videstim". Includes retinol, which promotes the breakdown of neoplasm tissue, as a result of which it decreases or disappears completely. The product is applied to the area of the tumor twice a day, covered with a gauze cloth and a band-aid.
Folk remedies
In folk medicine, there are many recipes aimed at removing lipomas.
They can take the form of ointments, compresses, infusions.
Before use, you must make sure that you are not allergic to the substances used.
- Compress made from aloe (Kalanchoe) leaves. You need to cut a leaf from the plant, wash it, dry it and turn it into pulp. The mass is applied to the lipoma, covered with polyethylene and fixed with warm material. You need to keep the compress for 12 hours. You can leave it overnight.
- Compress with a golden mustache. You need to cut off a leaf of the plant, wash it and knead it. The mass is applied to the wen and fixed in the same way as the previous compress. You need to apply it overnight or for 12 hours in a course of 10-12 days.
- Celandine juice. The juice of the plant is applied to the new growth pointwise, kept for about 20 minutes, then washed off. It is recommended to carry out the procedure three times a day.
- Compress with sunflower oil and vodka. Vodka and oil are mixed in identical proportions. The resulting liquid is applied to the lipoma, fixed and left for 12-14 hours. Treatment lasts until the lipoma disappears.
- Red clay mask. Two tablespoons of red clay powder should be mixed with a large spoon of sour milk or kefir and add a little salt. The mixture is applied to the neoplasm area for 20-30 minutes, then washed off. It is recommended to repeat the procedure until the tumor disappears.
- Ointment with chestnut. You need to wash, peel and grind five chestnut fruits using a blender. The mass is mixed with a spoon of honey. You can also add crushed aloe leaf. The product is applied like a compress three times a day or applied in a thick layer to lipomas located on the face.
- Ointment with laundry soap and onions. A small onion should be peeled and baked in the oven. Then you need to grind it in a meat grinder, mix it with a tablespoon of pre-grated laundry soap. The composition is applied twice a day like a compress.
- Garlic and lard ointment. You need to take lard and garlic in a ratio of 2:1. The ointment is applied to the tumor 2-3 times a day. The course is individual.
Prevention methods
These include:
- Playing sports, maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
- Skin care taking into account its characteristics, which a dermatologist will help determine;
- Regular cleansing of facial skin in a clinic or beauty salon;
- Regular medical examination for diseases of organs and systems, as they lead to the formation of wen, as we wrote above;
- Timely contact with a specialist when a single formation appears in order to accurately diagnose and prescribe treatment, this will help prevent the growth of wen.
Is it possible to squeeze out the wen or will it go away on its own?
To avoid possible complications, such as infection of a self-exposed area or nerve injury, non-professionals should not squeeze out wen. You should contact a surgeon who will remove the annoying formation in a matter of minutes.
It’s also a good idea to get rid of the possible causes of lipomas. To rule out endocrinological disorders, consult a doctor of the appropriate profile, get tested, and determine whether the metabolism in the body is proceeding correctly.
Increasing physical activity, reviewing your diet, and reducing the amount of fatty and sweet foods in your diet will help.
The answer to the question whether it is possible to squeeze out a wen will always be negative if we are talking about unprofessional manipulation. The risk of infection, incorrectly performing “surgical intervention”, which will lead to re-accumulation of fat in the capsule, is the reason why you need to go to a specialist.
Photos of wen on the face
Surgical treatment of lipoma
The use of surgical methods is justified if the lipoma is large or growing rapidly.
The risk increases if the tumor is in the neck, as it can block important blood vessels.
The situation is the same with wen located in the ears: if the wen begins to grow, it can block part of the auditory canal and reduce hearing acuity.
There are several methods of radical therapy that will help remove fatty tissue in childhood.
Using a special laser knife, the lipoma and its capsule are excised from the connective tissue. The operation can be performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia. For children under 10 years of age, use of the method is recommended only if there are serious indications. Some clinics do not perform this operation on adolescents under fourteen years of age.
This is the cauterization of the tumor with electric current. This treatment method is considered effective only for small lipomas, since it is not always possible to control the complete removal of the tumor. If the pathological tissue is not completely excised, the chance of recurrence will be about 38-40%.
Skin care after wen removal
For several days after removal, the problem area must be treated with a cotton swab soaked in iodine or any alcohol tincture (you can use calendula or St. John's wort).
This is necessary to disinfect the skin and prevent re-infection. For this purpose, medicinal antiseptic solutions, for example, Miramistin or Chlorhexidine, work well.
After removing the wen, it is important to maintain facial skin hygiene. While the baby is small, instead of washing, you need to wipe the skin with a cotton swab dipped in boiled water. The procedure must be repeated 2 times a day (further - as necessary, for example, if the child spits up or gets dirty).