Localization of wen
Where do children usually develop wen? They can also occur on internal organs, but this is rare. Tumors grow under the skin, in muscle tissue, and in places above the bone tissue. Although lipoma is called a wen, it itself, as a rule, is located where there is almost no fat. Most often, a child has only one wen. However, if more than one of them is detected, then a diagnosis of lipomatosis is made.
Most often, formations are localized on:
- head and neck;
- face and back;
- shoulders and legs.
Causes of wen appearance in children
It is believed that several factors are necessary for the formation of lipomas. Among them are hereditary causes, poor ecology, unhealthy emotional environment (stress), as well as unbalanced nutrition. However, the main factor, according to experts, is the general pathology of metabolic processes in adipose tissue. There are also versions that in older children the disease develops against the background of other diseases - liver problems, pathologies of the pancreas and thyroid gland. A typical wen in a child is a benign tumor. However, in extremely rare cases, there may also be wen in the form of malignant formations. They are called liposarcoma.
Causes of the occurrence and development of tumors:
- genetic predisposition;
- autoimmune hepatitis;
- Gilbert's disease;
- chronic gastroduodenitis;
- hereditary liver pathologies;
- improper metabolism and diseases of endocrine organs;
- hormonal disorders;
- blockage of the ducts of the sebaceous glands and others.
Causes of wen on the face of a newborn
Most parents perceive wen on the face of a newborn baby as a fairly serious danger to his life. Therefore, they begin to actively fight them, not realizing that they are only aggravating the situation and preventing the child’s skin from cleansing.
The appearance of wen on the face of newborns has not yet been fully studied, so identifying the true cause of this phenomenon can be very difficult.
Today we have only a few assumptions:
- The main cause of wen in young children is associated with immaturity of the skin tissue, which causes blockage of the sebaceous glands. Such formations do not require any treatment and disappear on their own after a month from the date of birth of the child.
- Active release of hormones in a pregnant woman immediately before childbirth.
- Artificial feeding.
- Improper metabolism.
- Genetic predisposition (if one of the parents has similar rashes).
- Improper skin care for a newborn, use of linen and clothing made from non-natural materials.
What does a wen look like?
The formation is not very large in size, usually no larger than a match head. However, the tumor tends to grow. Over time, as the lipoma becomes larger, it will interfere with the blood supply to the tissues and organs in the place where it is located. The wen looks like a small lump on the skin. There is a wen on a child’s cheek, on the face in general, on the head, neck, and shoulders. It can also occur on the lower extremities. For example, on the legs or thighs. There can even be a wen on a child’s eyelid, so for many parents the issue of eliminating the pathology in the most gentle way is important. Methods for treating wen will be discussed further. For now, let’s talk about the appearance of the tumor and what it resembles. It is also worth mentioning the internal structure of education.
If the lipoma is on the outside rather than the inside, it may be easier to recognize. This formation has the following properties:
- mobility;
- softness, elasticity;
- no fusion with the skin;
- if the lipoma is large, then it may have a lobular structure;
- tumor size 1.5-10 centimeters;
- education does not hurt or cause concern;
- if the wen is small, then it has a round or oval shape.
The inside of the tumor looks like this. It is made up of adult fat cells that are similar to the other fat cells around. The cells of the formation are connected into small lobules; these lobules are covered with a dense capsule.
Wen can appear where there is no adipose tissue. This phenomenon is an ectopia. This is how congenital tumors usually arise.
The appearance of a wen is a small lump under the skin, which is usually not uncomfortable. However, there are situations when you should see a specialist. Next we will talk about such cases.
When to see a doctor
At first, the lipoma does not manifest itself in any way. In principle, this state of affairs can remain for quite a long time; perhaps, even throughout life, the tumor will not bother its owner. The formation in its usual state looks harmless and is painless. Where the wen is located, there is no itching, no burning and no suppuration. However, this happens until the lipoma becomes inflamed. This situation may arise if a wen on a child’s face or in another open place was exposed to drafts or other unfavorable factors, for example, injuries, blows, etc.
When should you contact a specialist? This must be done urgently if the formation on the skin has hardened or there is pain at the site of the tumor. Wen can be similar to other tumor formations. For example, with such as atheroma, hygroma or lymphadenitis. These tumors are benign. Only a professional can determine exactly what kind of tumor a child has. At the slightest suspicion of inflammation of lymphoma, you need to make an appointment with a dermatologist. The specialist will individually prescribe a treatment regimen for the pathology, taking into account the age of your child and the location of the tumor.
Types of lipomas in children
Wen in children is divided into several types, according to location:
- Small wen on the nose (neonatal milia) is a common occurrence in babies. They resemble white pimples and are located directly on the nose itself, on the wings and around it. They are not dangerous and usually go away on their own without any treatment after three months. If the tumors become inflamed, you should contact your pediatrician for advice on treating the pathological area and relieving inflammation.
- The baby's neck can also become the site of localization of the wen. There is a danger of a deep location of the formation, which can cause compression of the blood vessels. A lipoma on a child's neck should be monitored. If its growth is rapid or it is prone to inflammation, you should immediately consult a surgeon.
- Lipoma on the scalp and forehead is also not uncommon. The formation in the form of a “bump” has a round shape and is soft to the touch. It does not hurt and does not affect the health and well-being of the baby. There is no need to treat a wen on a child’s head. It is removed surgically only after the baby reaches 2 years of age.
- Wen on the face of a child in a newborn are small neoplasms on the cheeks, chin and, rather, cause aesthetic discomfort for their parents. They do not bother the babies themselves at all and disappear on their own after a few months. The main thing is that mom should not start self-medicating the fatty tissues or try to squeeze them out. Which can lead to more dire consequences.
- Lipomas on the legs or arms of children are often single and, in very rare cases, multiple. The latter pathology is called lipomatosis. If the child has not reached the age of two, and the lipoma does not grow and does not manifest itself in the form of changes in skin color, then the formation is not touched until the baby has contraindications to removing the wen.
- A new growth on the gum should not frighten parents. This phenomenon is associated with age-related changes in the gums. As a rule, a wen on the jaw mucosa in a child goes away after teething.
- A lipoma on the baby's stomach, shoulders, chest or back can cause discomfort when it comes into contact with clothing. Therefore, you should not dress your child in tight clothes.
- A tumor in the ear can cause partial or complete hearing loss. It is better not to hesitate to visit a specialist.
- If a wen appears under the eye or on the eyelid, it is better to show the child to the doctor and make sure that the formation does not threaten his vision.
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Diagnostics
A dermatovenerologist can recognize a wen visually, by its appearance.
Differential diagnosis can also be used. It is carried out for benign or malignant formations on the skin. We mentioned earlier that occasionally wen can be malignant. Then they are called not lipomas, but liposarcomas. To verify the diagnosis, ultrasound and computed tomography are performed.
Ultrasound examination helps to see the wen as a hypoechoic formation with a capsule, which is located among the subcutaneous fat layer or between the fibers of muscle tissue. A CT scan is needed to determine the structure of the tumor. For example, it is determined how a tumor absorbs X-ray rays in comparison with the tissues located around the tumor.
Research should be carried out only in a professional medical institution with good equipment. Then the diagnosis will be the most accurate and correct.
Treatment
How to remove a wen from a child? In what ways does this happen? If necessary, only a qualified specialist can fix the problem.
There are different cases of lipoma formation and, accordingly, different treatment is provided for each of them. Let's look at typical cases of lipomas in children.
If a wen is on the face of an infant - how to get rid of it? In babies under one year of age, they look like pimples, white on the inside. Most often they can be seen on the baby's nose or on the child's eyelid. Such formation is usually provoked by a hormonal disorder and after some time disappears on its own. Under no circumstances should the integrity of this pimple be violated. It is prohibited to influence such a lipoma in any way. It cannot be squeezed out, pierced, etc.
The baby must make an appointment with a dermatovenerologist. If necessary, he will prescribe an appropriate course of treatment.
If the formation is located in the occipital region and is subcutaneous, only a surgeon can remove it. The same can be said about lipoma, which is located in the chest area. Surgery is also needed here. If the formation occurs on the chest, it is especially important to eliminate it in girls. In the future, the wen can interfere with the normal development of the mammary glands.
If a wen is detected in a child, treatment can also be conservative. This is practiced when the patient is still quite young in age, and the tumor has just appeared. This type of treatment is carried out therapeutically, using medications. May be assigned:
- special medicinal ointments;
- a special diet in which you should eat foods with a high content of fiber and nutrients.
Conservative treatment is also indicated after the tumor has been surgically removed. It can be prescribed for prophylactic purposes to avoid relapse of the tumor.
gormed.su
Having noticed a wen on a child’s body, any parent will worry: is it necessary to urgently contact a specialist? Is your son or daughter going to have surgery? In fact, there are often cases when a lipoma in a young patient does not require treatment at all, but quite often it is accompanied by an infection and ignoring the problem leads to suppuration.
For what reasons does a child develop a lipoma?
Doctors are convinced that the causes in childhood are no different from those in adults. Wen occurs due to blockage of the sebaceous glands. Representatives of traditional medicine claim that slagging in the body is to blame. Another alternative opinion is an imbalance in metabolism provoked by hereditary or acquired factors. All this is true for the child’s body.
Where can you find them?
- A lump on the nose of a baby under three months of age is also called neonatal milia. In this case, experts recommend taking a number of measures to prevent lipomas from scratching and, as a result, their suppuration. It is important to regularly trim your baby's nails and wear baby mittens. If inflammation cannot be avoided, it is enough to treat it with an antiseptic. As a rule, by three months the problem goes away on its own.
- The safest location is the leg. In this case, theoretically, you can do nothing except try to find the cause. It could be a hormonal imbalance in a child’s body, the consequences of which can be much more serious than a cosmetic defect on the skin.
- A large wen on the neck, especially with suppuration, is a good reason to inquire about prices for lipoma removal. The fact is that the formation can penetrate into tissues and lead to circulatory problems. Therefore, you cannot hesitate to consult a specialist.
- If a lipoma appears on the chest, it can cause discomfort when wearing tight clothes. To save the child from discomfort, it is better to remove it.
- On the head, a lipoma can make itself felt in the forehead or on the scalp. If the connective tissue is affected, the formation will be dense, which also indicates its great depth. They can be removed by children over five years of age.
- Sometimes a wen appears on the face and parents mistakenly try to squeeze it out or resort to other folk methods. Such actions can lead to a mark in the form of a scar, therefore, instead of experimenting with the baby’s face, it is best to go to a dermatology clinic or make an appointment with a cosmetologist.
- Sometimes a wen is found on the gum of an infant under one year of age. As a rule, in this case it does not cause discomfort to the baby and disappears on its own with teething.
But if a lipoma is found in the ear, under no circumstances should it be ignored! So be vigilant and don’t let your child’s health take its course.
Surgical method for removing wen
If a child’s wen is too large, what to do? Usually in this case surgery is needed.
Surgical intervention may be prescribed in several cases:
- if the tumor is larger than 5 or 7 centimeters;
- if the lipoma grows very quickly;
- if the tumor develops rapidly in an infant in the first year of life;
- if there are white wen on the child's face.
During surgery, when it is performed on a small child, only general anesthesia is used. If the child is an older child or a teenager, then a local anesthetic is injected subcutaneously. General anesthesia is also used when operating on a lipoma on the face of a child.
The operation is performed on an outpatient basis if the lipoma is small. For newborns and children of the first year of life, surgery is performed only inpatiently. Surgery is also performed in a hospital if a tumor of significant size needs to be removed.
Before the lipoma removal procedure, certain types of tests are performed. This is a general blood and urine test. The blood is also tested for clotting and its group is determined. In addition, sometimes a test is prescribed to check for syphilis and/or HIV, etc.
Symptoms of a wen on a child’s face
In most cases, wen on the face develops without any symptoms. A characteristic feature of wen is that it appears on areas of the body with minimal fat. On the face they appear in the form of a protruding tubercle.
Lipomas on the face of newborn children are a completely natural phenomenon. They are rashes of small diameter. Their location is the forehead, nose and chin.
Xanthelasmas can be seen through thin skin in the form of yellow plaques of various shapes and sizes with blurred contours. Over time, their diameter may increase, but usually this happens for a very long time.
Xanthelasmas have a soft consistency and begin to move upon palpation. Unlike a subcutaneous pimple, it is impossible to squeeze out a wen. Due to the close location of the wen to the nerve endings, pain may occur when pressed.
Wen are often confused with other types of formations (atheroma or cyst) that require surgical intervention due to rapid growth.
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Methods for eliminating lipoma tumors
The attending physician decides how best to remove the formation. The decision is made after analyzing the medical history, taking into account the child’s age, state of health and tumor size.
The methods for removing lipoma are as follows:
- radical method using a scalpel;
- mechanical method or liposuction;
- laser method.
If the tumor is removed mechanically, using a scalpel, then this operation is good because the possibility of recurrence of the lipoma is almost completely eliminated. However, this radical method has a significant drawback. After surgery, a scar is visible on the skin. Over time it may just look like a stripe. However, it can also be quite noticeable.
Laser method. It has a lot of advantages - minimally invasive, quick recovery, less pain. The possibility of infection during surgery is practically eliminated, and the risk of bleeding is low. The scar remains unnoticeable and not rough. This operation is used to eliminate small tumors, as well as if the lipoma is located on the genitals or nipples.
The liposuction method is minimally invasive and has proven itself in good aesthetic terms. Among the disadvantages of this mechanical method is the possibility of recurrence of lipoma.
In this case, the contents of the formation capsule are drawn in with a syringe. The capsule itself remains in place. There is no need to cut the skin, so the cosmetic effect of liposuction is the best.
The duration of surgery by any method is from 30 minutes to one hour. If lipoma removal is required using a laser, then you need to carefully select a clinic. Such operations are carried out exclusively with the help of high-quality expensive equipment. Doctors must have appropriate high-level qualifications and permission to perform such operations.