Purulent atheroma

A characteristic difference between atheroma and lipoma is the tendency of sebaceous gland cysts to inflammation and suppuration.

Atheroma is considered a benign neoplasm located in the gland canal and developing as a result of its obstruction. Due to the fact that the excretory duct has an outlet, often filled and closed with dendrite (epithelial and fatty elements), it is this opening that can serve as a channel for the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms. Such cases occur with mechanical irritation of the atheroma, for example, when wearing tight clothing, and are also caused by failure to comply with personal hygiene rules and other factors (overheating, lack of air access, bruises, cuts, scratches).

Most often, purulent atheroma is determined in those areas that are subject to injury or irritation, the "leaders" in this list are the scalp, face, groin area and armpit area. Atheroma of the head, inflamed and suppurated, sometimes reaches gigantic sizes due to the accumulation of purulent exudate. Purulent atheroma of the groin is also characterized by large sizes, it is often mistaken for inflamed lymph nodes or other diseases with similar symptoms.

When suppuration occurs, the cyst capsule is filled with bacterial decay products, which mix with the dentrite, forming thick pus with a characteristic unpleasant odor. The clinical manifestations of an inflamed cyst are obvious:

• Enlargement of atheroma.
• Swelling of the skin in the area of the cyst.
• Redness of the skin (hyperemia).
• Clear white outline of the center of the abscess.
• Painful sensations (pulsation).
• Increased local body temperature in the abscess area.

A purulent atheroma in the form of a subcutaneous abscess can open on its own, but the cyst capsule remains inside the sebaceous duct and can be filled again with the products of hypersecretion of the gland.

How to treat purulent atheroma at home?

• At home, you can perform aseptic treatment of the abscess, but squeezing it out or opening it is unacceptable.
• To reduce pain, use any anti-inflammatory ointment, lubricating the cyst with it, without touching the middle of the abscess (on the sides). Levomekol, Vishnevsky balm, ichthyol ointment have a good effect.
• Further treatment steps are determined by a doctor, whom you should contact as soon as possible.

Treatment of purulent atheroma by a doctor may be as follows:

• Opening of the abscess under local anesthesia.
• Removal of purulent contents.
• Sanitation of the cyst cavity with antiseptics.
• Drainage of the wound.
• Prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs, both external and in tablet form.
• After the symptoms of inflammation subside, the cyst is enucleated along with the capsule.
• Purulent sebaceous cysts are operated on both an outpatient and inpatient basis if the abscess is diagnosed as extensive, threatening complications in the form of intoxication.
• Removal of purulent cysts is always accompanied by the imposition of large sutures. In addition, a visible scar is formed due to the fusion of the wound itself, since the skin tissue is dissected twice - during the opening of the abscess and directly during the enucleation of the atheroma

In conclusion, it should be noted that purulent atheroma is, first of all, an irresponsible attitude to one's own health on the part of the patient. 85-90% of the causes of suppuration are associated with poor hygiene, self-medication and untimely seeking of medical help. To avoid an inflammatory, purulent process, atheroma should be removed in the so-called "cold" period, when the cyst has formed, it has no signs of inflammation, and the capsule is filled only with dendrite.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ]