Atheroma of the earlobe: causes, symptoms, treatment

Atheroma refers to the formation resulting from clogging of the sebaceous gland. Atheroma of the earlobe is a spherical cyst lined from the inside with a layer of epidermis and filled with a curdled mass from white to light yellow. The size of the atheroma can vary from 3 to 40 mm. In the inner cavity of the atheroma, fat masses accumulate, dead cells, sometimes hair.

Externally, the atheroma looks like a tight ball hanging from the lobe. Skin over atheroma does not change color and structure. These formations can appear at any age, the incidence rate does not depend on sex.

The causes of the disease

Most often, atheromas are formed in places of large accumulation of sebaceous glands: on the face, chest, back, scalp, neck and eyelids.

The reason for the formation of atheroma are disruption of the sebaceous glands due to malfunctions in the metabolic processes of the body. As a result of blockage of the excretory duct, free access to the surface of sebum and accumulation of it in the gland cavity is disturbed. Quite often the occurrence of atheros is observed in people with acne, seborrhea, who suffer from excessive sweating.

Symptoms of

If, by touching your earlobe, you feel a firm seal with clearly defined edges, most resembling a pea, then you need to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Often for atheroma take another kind of neoplasms - lipomas.

If the color of the atheroma began to change to brown, then the inflammatory process has joined, and the treatment becomes more complicated.

Atheroma species a great variety

Depending on the location of the site, several types of formations are distinguished:

• Atheroma, the lobe is quite a frequent occurrence. This is painless at the palpation of the elevation above the skin, sometimes reaching the size of a walnut. Atheroma of small size, as a rule, does not cause inconvenience to the patient, but is dangerous because it can become inflamed or regenerate into a more dangerous kind of cyst. Yes, and aesthetically, it does not give pleasure, especially to women. It is very sad that many people do not understand the whole danger and are dragged to the doctor until atheroma inflames and suppuration begins.
• Atheroma on the back most often occurs in people prone to severe sweating, neglecting personal hygiene.
• Atheroma on the face and atheroma on the neck are frequent companions suffering from acne or acne. Disturbed metabolic processes and hormonal failures contribute to the clogging of the sebaceous glands and cause the appearance of unpleasant neoplasms.
• The atheroma behind the ear is often found when reaching a large size or starting inflammation. Because of its location, it is poorly visible and many find it difficult to diagnose it at an early stage.

Methods of treating

disease All types of formulations are treated equally. Do not delay the trip to the doctor, even if the harmless ball under the skin does not bother you. If you do not get rid of atheroma in time, it will still become inflamed, suppuration will begin, the edema will rise, the temperature will rise. In this case, treatment will be lengthy and antibiotics will not be avoided.

If, however, the inflammation has begun, it is necessary to contact a surgeon who will open the cyst and extract the contents. After the inflammatory process stops, you need a second operation, during which the capsule will be removed. If this is not done, then the atheroma will grow and become inflamed again and again.

Atheroma is extracted under local anesthesia. On the skin a thin incision is made and the capsule is extracted together with the contents. If necessary, stitches are applied, which are removed for 4-5 days. The earlier the operation to remove the atheroma, the less noticeable traces will remain on the skin. Atheroma of the earlobe, removed in a timely manner, leaves no traces.

In addition to surgical, more modern methods of treatment, such as laser and radio wave removal of atheroma, are also used. In the early stages, laser cautery is used to remove small cysts. Radio wave removal of atheroma consists in evaporation of the cells of the expanded epithelium and the contents of the capsule by radio waves.

In no case will the atheroma of the earlobe be squeezed out by itself. Due to the narrowness of the obstructed duct, this attempt will not succeed and may lead to the onset of inflammation.

The modern level of surgery and new methods of treating atheroma allow manipulation without shaving the hair. This is a very important moment for women, who often draw with a doctor to the last for this very reason.

To prevent the appearance of this non-dangerous, but aesthetically unpleasant disease, one should first of all get rid of chronic diseases. Proper nutrition plays an important role, especially if there is a tendency to fullness. And do not forget about hygiene.