How to get rid of a lipoma on the head: home treatment methods

Fat formation under the skin of the scalp can not only become a serious cosmetic problem, but also lead to the development of inflammation as a result, for example, of injury from a comb. The size of a wen on the head varies from a few millimeters to 5-6 cm in diameter, and such a large tumor cannot be hidden under hair. The treatment of this pathology should be entrusted to a dermatologist or surgeon; you should not try to get rid of a wen on the head on your own, because this risks infection of the wound, incomplete removal and subsequent increase in the formation to an even more impressive size. In addition, any tumor needs careful diagnosis, since the symptoms of a wen may hide another, much more dangerous disease.

Symptoms of a wen on the head

The scalp, back of the head, area behind the ears, and facial skin are areas of the body rich in sebaceous glands. For various reasons, their secretion does not find a way out, the excretory duct becomes clogged, and fat begins to accumulate inside. This is how atheroma develops - a sebaceous gland cyst. It is this pathology that is usually meant by the phrase “fat on the head.”

Atheroma is a bulge of a regular round shape, rising above the surface of the skin. Most often, it does not change its color unless an infection gets into the capsule. Sometimes the contents of the wen are visible through the upper layer of the epidermis, the formation acquires a white or intense yellow tint. On palpation, the atheroma is elastic and painless; it can move to the sides and roll under the skin.

There is another common pathology called lipoma. This is a benign tumor consisting of fat cells enclosed in a connective tissue capsule.

It is quite difficult to differentiate a lipoma from an atheroma on the head, but still these wen have some obvious differences:

• Lipoma is usually localized deeper than atheroma, so its contents do not show through;
• Lipoma looks like a round or oval mound above the surface of the head, while atheroma looks more like a ball rolling under the skin;
• Lipoma has a softer and looser consistency, while atheroma is dense and elastic to the touch;
• The skin over the surface of a large lipoma can be gathered into a fold, which is completely impossible in the case of atheroma;
• A lipoma on the head can reach the size of an orange, while atheroma rarely grows to more than 3-4 centimeters in diameter.

Both types of wen on the head do not pose a great danger to health. If a lipoma or atheroma is diagnosed in a small child, and the formation does not cause discomfort and is not prone to rapid growth, it is recommended to wait until the patient reaches the age of seven in order to be able to remove the wen without general anesthesia and the associated risks.

Which doctor should I contact if I have ruptured?

When a lipoma suddenly ruptures, a surgeon most often comes to the rescue. But, in principle, the necessary assistance to the patient can also be provided by:

• Dermatologist.
• Cosmetologist with medical education.

Doctors strongly recommend contacting a clinic even before the rupture of the wen, at the moment when it begins to suddenly increase in size, causing redness of the skin, swelling and pain. But even if the tumor is in no hurry to become inflamed, but is located in a rather inconvenient place, it is better to consult a dermatologist before any problems arise.

If you have a burst wen, you can contact emergency room specialists at any time of the day. In case of severe inflammation, it is better not to hesitate and not wait until the morning (or the start of the working day), because only competent medical care will help to avoid extremely serious health consequences.

Reasons for the formation of a wen on the head

Excessive sebum production in combination with improper care and injury to the epidermis leads to blockage of the sebaceous gland duct on the scalp. Typically, atheromas on the head occur in people who simultaneously suffer from oily seborrhea, dandruff or hyperhidrosis. There may be several reasons for this, ranging from hereditary predisposition to hormonal imbalance.

As for lipoma, everything is much more complicated here - such a benign tumor often has an unclear etiology. The leading factor, according to modern scientists, is the congenital deficiency of the enzyme TAG lipase, which is responsible for extracting energy and water from lipids accumulating in adipocytes. So, it doesn't matter how much lipid is in a particular person's fat cells - what matters is that those lipids are not broken down correctly. This is why lipomas on the head or other parts of the body often occur in thin people.

Additional reasons for the formation of wen:

• Hormonal disorders caused by endocrine pathologies (hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus) or occurring against the background of age-related changes (pubertation, pregnancy, menopause);
• Liver and kidney failure, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to metabolic failures;
• Poor nutrition, unfavorable environmental conditions, bad habits.

Fatty formations on the head can be single or multiple. In the latter case, we are talking about lipomatosis, a systemic disease of hereditary nature.

Possible complications

If the wen is ignored, the patient may experience painful sensations associated with pressure on blood vessels, the functioning of the nervous system will worsen, and sleep will be disturbed.

When self-medicating, there is a high risk of a purulent abscess. An inflammatory process appears that covers the surrounding tissues. Blood poisoning occurs.

If the wen grows, then this indicates malignancy of the formation, that is, the tumor turns into liposarcoma.

Initially, it seems that lipomas do not harm the patient’s health, but this is a misconception. If a wen is detected, you need to seek specialized help. The doctor will monitor the course of the disease for some time; surgery in the early stages of development is not always necessary. It is impossible to start the development of pathology, since there is a high risk of malignancy or infection in the blood.

Is there a danger to life and health?

Very rarely, the wen undergoes malignancy, that is, atypical cells appear in its structure, and liposarcoma develops. To eliminate such a danger, you should undergo a full cycle of examination by a dermato-oncologist. The doctor may prescribe a cytological analysis, ultrasound, or taking part of the tumor for a biopsy. Diagnostics will help you choose the optimal treatment method and exclude other types of pathology with similar symptoms.

The tissues of the head are rich in blood vessels, and the treatment of any pathology localized here should be treated with special attention. At the first symptoms of trouble, you should seek medical advice. Self-removal of a wen on the head is dangerous because there is always a risk of infection and spread.

Possible consequences

Lipoma is a benign tumor, but large, old tumors sometimes become malignant liposarcoma. Particularly dangerous is myelolipoma, which affects blood vessels with adipose tissue, which disrupts the functionality of various organs.

If the wen is opened inside the body, then a severe threat arises. Leaking purulent contents in contact with tissue structures are dangerous due to the following complications:

• Increased temperature .
• Development of the inflammatory process.
• Formation of bleeding ulcers.
• death .
• Cutting off the affected area of ​​the body.

When a tumor is opened, the risk of pathology spreading throughout the body increases. The resulting lipomatosis replaces normal cells with fat and changes the structure of internal organs.

To avoid dangerous consequences, you should not wait for to break through , but rather visit a specialist who will prescribe effective treatment. If removal is delayed, it is recommended to protect the lipoma from external irritants. Squeezing out on your own will only complicate the situation.

Treatment of wen on the head

Wen on the scalp almost always tends to gradually increase in size. Consequently, the risk of pressure from its capsule on surrounding tissues, vessels and nerve endings increases. In addition, such education looks very unattractive from an aesthetic point of view. Therefore, patients with wen on the head strive to get rid of them using modern methods.

Just a few decades ago, the main method of treating lipomas was their surgical excision under general or local anesthesia. This intervention left noticeable scars and scars on the scalp. At the present stage of development of medicine, more gentle and effective methods for removing lipid formations on the head have been developed. A prerequisite for successful intervention is careful peeling of the capsule in which fat accumulates. If connective tissue cells remain, the risk of relapse increases significantly.

Treatment methods:

• Traditional surgical intervention - used in the case of large fatty tumors, including those that have become infected and inflamed;
• Introduction into the cavity of the formation of a special substance that dissolves fats - used to treat small non-inflamed wen;
• Liposuction is pumping out sebaceous secretions with a special lipoaspirator; when using this method there is a risk of relapse;
• Radio wave enucleation - removal of a wen on the head using a radio knife; the procedure takes a minimum of time and does not cause complications or relapses;
• Laser removal - excision of the wen using a narrowly directed laser beam, while the vessels are coagulated, no scars are left, and the wen does not develop again.

The contents of the wen capsule are sent for histological examination to determine the presence or absence of atypical cells. The postoperative period is under the supervision of a doctor to prevent wound infection and takes about ten days.

When can a lipoma burst?

Benign wen are considered relatively safe, but when exposed to certain negative factors, they can suddenly increase in size, become inflamed and fester. This development of events is accompanied by:

• Noticeable changes in the skin (visible redness), as well as an increase in its temperature.
• Pain that is constantly present and intensifies in response to palpation.

Inflammation of the wen may not be accompanied by suppuration. This condition can develop and pass without particularly disturbing a person’s well-being. But with each subsequent inflammation, the risk of suppuration and rupture of the wen will increase.

It is believed that the inflammatory process in the lipoma and its subsequent rupture can occur as a result of:

• Constant mechanical impact (in particular, squeezing or scratching).
• Injury after a blow or fall.
• Wearing tight clothes.

It is worth considering that a burst wen is not just an annoying nuisance. This phenomenon should be considered as a significant reason for urgently seeking medical help.

Relapse Prevention

To prevent wen on the head from appearing again, you need to try to eliminate the factors that cause increased secretion of sebum. To do this, you need to follow the rules of personal hygiene, use high-quality cosmetics to care for your face and hair, but not over-wash your hair - the more often we do this, the more actively the sebaceous glands work, trying to compensate for dryness in this way. You should comb your hair as carefully as possible so as not to damage the epidermis. And remember that the first symptoms of a suspicious tumor or lump on the head are a reason to immediately consult a doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment will allow you to correctly differentiate the pathology and eliminate the wen without scars.

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