Pyogenic granuloma is a relatively common skin disorder that causes the appearance of a bright red mass between 2 mm and 2 cm in size, rarely reaching 5 cm.
Although, in some cases, pyogenic granuloma may also have a darker color with brown or dark blue tones, this skin change is always benign, needing to be treated only when it causes discomfort.
These injuries are most common on the head, nose, neck, chest, hands and fingers. In pregnancy, granuloma usually appear in mucous membranes, such as inside the mouth or eyelids.
What are the causes
The true causes of pyogenic granuloma are not yet known, however, there are risk factors that seem to be related to greater chances of having the problem, such as:
- Small lesions on the skin, caused by the bite of a needle or insects; Recent infection by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus; Hormonal changes, especially during pregnancy;
In addition, pyogenic granuloma is more common in children or young adults, although it can occur at all ages, especially in pregnant women.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis is made in most cases by a dermatologist just by observing the lesion. However, the doctor may order a biopsy of a piece of granuloma to confirm that it is not another malignant problem that may be causing similar symptoms.
Treatment options
Pyogenic granuloma only needs to be treated when it causes discomfort and, in these cases, the most used forms of treatment are:
- Curettage and cauterization: the lesion is scraped with an instrument called a curette and the blood vessel that fed it is burned; Laser surgery: removes the lesion and burns the base so it doesn't bleed; Cryotherapy: cold is applied to the lesion to kill the tissue and make it fall alone; Imiquimod ointment: it is used especially in children to eliminate minor injuries.
After treatment, pyogenic granuloma may reoccur, as the blood vessel that fed it is still in the deeper layers of the skin. If this happens, it is necessary to have a small surgery to remove a piece of skin where the lesion is growing in order to remove the entire blood vessel.
In pregnancy, granuloma rarely needs to be treated, as it tends to disappear on its own after the end of pregnancy. That way, the doctor can choose to wait for the end of the pregnancy before deciding to take any treatment.
Possible complications
When the treatment is not done, the main complication that may arise from pyogenic granuloma is the appearance of frequent bleeding, especially when the injury is pulled or a blow is struck.
So, if bleeding happens many times, the doctor may suggest removing the lesion permanently, even if it is very small and is not disturbing.
