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Dermatosis
papillosa nigra: These are common, benign, epidermal tumors
that may be a variant of seborrhoic keratosis, unique to black
race. It is associated with a familial predisposition. They
appear as brown to black, comedone like globoid lesions on the
face and neck. |
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They usually begin at puberty or adolescence and
slowly increase in size and number until the third to fifth
decades.
Treatment is for cosmetic reasons and includes
curettage and electrocautery. |
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Skin tags: These
are common epidermal outgrowths seen as minute flakes or balls of skin.
These appear after the age of 30 at the sites of wear and tear (axillae,
groin, neck, eye lids) and are especially associated with obesity.
These lesions can get irritated by clothing or chains on the neck. These
should not be mistaken with warts that have finger like projections and
look fleshy, which are caused by viruses and hence contagious.
Treatment is mainly for cosmetic reasons or when it gets strangulated or irritated.
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In the presence of
large number of skin tags, investigations for endocrinal disorders may
be needed. |
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Skin Tag (Acrochordon) on
the neck
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Syringoma:
They are benign tumors of sweat glands and seen as skin
coloured or pinkish, shiny, raised, flat lesions on the face
(eyelids and centre of the cheeks),
chest and neck. They appear in large numbers in patients with a
familial tendency.
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They first appear during adolescence and
further increase during adult life. They become more prominent
under humid conditions and are mistaken for acne vulgaris (pimples).
Treatment
includes electrocautery, cryo and excision.
See
Syringoma After Electrocautery |
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Melanocytic
nevi (Mole): It is a benign tumor of melanocytes (pigment
producing cells of the skin). There are two types:
those present
at the time of birth (congenital) and those appearing later
(acquired). Presence of a large number of nevi may be a familial
trait. They appear at childhood, increase sharply at adolescence
and then grow slowly during early adult life to reach a plateau
by middle age.
Based on the site at which the proliferation
of the cells occur, they are seen clinically as black spots or
black, raised, dome shaped lesions.
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If the moles suddenly enlarge, become itchy or ulcerate, suspect
malignancy...
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Moles are most commonly seen
on the face and the trunk and rarely on the palms and soles.
By their smooth and
shiny surface, moles have to be differentiated from seborroic
keratosis and warts. Whenever moles suddenly increase in size,
ulcerate, bleed or become itchy, malignant transformation should
be suspected and should be subjected for biopsy.
Treatment:
Very early lesions can be treated by
cryo. Treatment of choice is
complete excision (punch or elliptical) and subjecting to
histopathological examination.
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| Basal
Cell Carcinoma: |
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