What kind of education is this
Dermatofibroma forms in the deep layer of skin - the dermis, where fibroblasts and collagen fibers grow, and the skin above them thickens and darkens. It is believed that this is not a true tumor, but a reactive growth in response to local damage: a mosquito bite, a splinter, a shaving cut. That is why the favorite place is the shins of women. The formation is limited to the skin, grows very slowly or does not grow at all, does not metastasize and does not turn malignant. Sometimes there are several nodules.
- Overgrowth of connective tissue in the dermis
- Size is usually 0.5–1 cm
- Color from flesh to dark brown
- Most often in women 20–50 years old
- Favorite location: shins
- Often associated with microtrauma
What does a person look like and feel?
Most often, a nodule is found by accident: when shaving your legs or in the shower, your hand stumbles upon a dense pea. It rises slightly above the skin or lies in its thickness, the surface is smooth, sometimes slightly flaky, the color is brownish, lighter along the edges. There is usually no pain, but pressure or friction with clothing may cause discomfort, and when shaving, the nodule is easily injured and bleeds. For years, dermatofibroma remains the same, occasionally darkening or flattening a little.
- A dense nodule, fused to the skin, but movable with it
- Retraction when compressing the skin from the sides - a symptom of dimples
- Brown or reddish-brown color
- No pain or itching in most cases
- Slow growth or no change at all
- Injuries from shaving and rubbing
How to distinguish from dangerous formations
The doctor’s main task is to rule out melanoma and other malignant skin tumors, as well as the rare dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, which grows quickly and invades deep tissues. The main tool is dermatoscopy: under magnification, dermatofibroma shows a characteristic pattern with a central whitish zone and a delicate pigment network along the edge. If the appearance is atypical, the formation is large, growing or changed, it is excised and sent for histological examination - this gives a final answer. Soft tissue ultrasound helps assess depth.
- Dermatoscopy as the first step
- Assessment of symmetry, boundaries and color according to the rules for examining moles
- Ultrasound of soft tissues in a deep location
- Excision with histology for any doubts
- Photographic recording and observation of a typical picture
- Examination of the entire skin, not just one nodule
Should I delete
A typical dermatofibroma does not require treatment: it is enough to observe it. Removal is discussed when the nodule is in the way - it is constantly injured when shaving or rubbing with clothing, it hurts, is located in a visible place and is aesthetically disturbing, and also when the diagnosis is in doubt. The standard method is excision within healthy tissue followed by histological examination; a small scar remains in place, which sometimes looks more noticeable than the original nodule. Superficial methods without histology are used less frequently, because the formation lies deep and can return.
- Observation of a typical picture
- Surgical excision with histology
- Removal for permanent trauma
- Cosmetic indications
- Mandatory histology for any doubts
- Possible recurrence if removal is incomplete
Surveillance and prevention
There is no special prevention, but caring for the skin of the legs helps reduce the number of new nodules: careful shaving, protection from insect bites in the warm season, treatment of small wounds. All adults benefit from having their skin examined by a dermatologist once a year, especially if they have a large number of moles, fair skin, or work in the sun. Between visits, it is worth examining the skin yourself every few months and photographing formations - this makes it easier to notice changes.
- Annual skin examination by a dermatologist
- Self-examination and photographic recording of formations
- Neat shaving of the legs, fresh blades
- Protection against insect bites
- Treatment of abrasions and splinters
- Call your doctor if there is growth, discoloration, or ulceration.