Cutaneous horn is a rare disease that is most often diagnosed in people in old age, outwardly it is very noticeable and brings a lot of negative feelings to the patient. Its appearance can be a reason for examination.
What is the skin horn?
Representing a not very aesthetic disease formed by external cells of the upper layer of the epidermis, the skin horn looks like a horny process of animals - that's why the disease has a similar name.
Most often this condition appears independently and is considered a benign neoplasm, or is the initial stage of oncology - squamous cell carcinoma, which is considered one of the most aggressive malignant diseases.
Where can this dermal outgrowth of cylindrical form occur and what varieties can it be?
Localization
Having a cylindrical shape, the dermal horn has a pronounced dense or dense consistency, its color varies from light beige to brown with a yellowish tinge, and the dimensions can be quite small and very pronounced.
Reminiscent of the horn of animals, this disease brings a lot of trouble to the person who fell ill. But this condition has a great danger in connection with the possibility of its degeneration into a malignant neoplasm.
This disease is more common in women;the place of its localization is predominantly the face area( on the skin of the ears, on the cheeks) and the head( the hairy part of it), occasionally this state is observed on the semilucid and mucous membranes.
Photo of the cutaneous horn on the eyelid of the
face. Externally, this lesion has a pronounced substantial base area, towards the top, which is sharpened and markedly narrowed. More frequent cases of its formation in single specimens, multiple neoplasms of this type are relatively rare.
Species of
This neoplasm is benign in nature. However, under the influence of certain factors and even without visible causes, its nature may change, and the tumor can become malignant.
The cutaneous horn can occur in two main types:
- primary form of - this type of disease is not dangerous, but has not been adequately studied at the present time. The formation of the horn itself, its densification and gradual darkening of the color, on it in this form there is no current of inflammatory processes and other lesions.
Transition of the benign nature of this form of the disease to malignant is possible to a lesser extent, however, when the growth of such education begins, one should closely monitor the development process;
- secondary form - at this stage, malignancy occurs and for this reason this stage of cutaneous horn is considered very dangerous. It can occur with the development of the inflammatory process in other tumors on the body, while the course of this process is often characterized by a chronic course.
Also, the appearance of a secondary form of this condition can be caused by skin trauma, overgrowth or degeneration( usually malignant) of warts and papillomas.
Both forms have pronounced differences, a greater chance of complete cure has the earliest stage of the disease.
Causes of the development of the disease
The most obvious reasons for this condition include the growth and increase in the volume of the skin, the upper layer of the epidermis. This may begin due to the progression of silyl keratosis, damage to the tissues of the wart or papilloma.
To provoking factors of dermal horn formation:
- is unduly prolonged exposure to the open sun without using special means;
- is a long-term disease caused by a viral infection;
- skin injury and entry into the wound of the virus.
The risk factors for physicians include manifestations of red and tuberculous lupus.
This disease can occur even in children, the causes of this are most often skin injuries and not completely cured infectious diseases.
Clinical picture of senile horny formation
The appearance of this new growth of benign character begins usually with the appearance on the surface of the skin of the seal, which expands and acquires a pronounced density.
Its color as it increases in size also changes to light yellow and then to brown.
As the size increases, the formation takes the form of a horn, its upper part is considerably narrower than the base. And on the circumference of the base is visible a red inflamed streak. The main focus of inflammation is located in the upper part of the dermal cone.
With the growth of the horn, its gradual consolidation occurs - the skin in this place becomes more rigid, along the length of the growth there are longitudinal grooves in large numbers.
The growth of the length of the horn can occur at a slowed pace, however, its rapid growth rate is often encountered. And it is by the size of this neoplasm that a preliminary prognosis can be obtained:
- if the total body length of the horn is less than 1 cm, the neoplasm can be diagnosed as basiloma or synovial keratoma;
- with a greater total body length of the horn is diagnosed with a greater percentage of confidence keratinizing papilloma, seborrheic wart.
Diagnosis
When any tumor is present, it is necessary to conduct its histological analysis, which will determine the nature and put a further prognosis of the disease.
When forming this character, one should not confuse it with different types of warts, papillomas, calluses. After carrying out a histological examination, a differential examination should eliminate the squamous cell form of skin cancer, for which a biopsy of the piece of tissue taken for analysis is performed.
The most vulnerable area of this neoplasm is its base - it is where all the many processes that caused pathological tissue proliferation and the formation of the cutaneous horn occur. For a more detailed analysis, the tissue is taken from the base of the horn, which allows to determine what type of neoplasm it belongs to - good or malignant.
Methods of treatment
The achievements of modern medicine can quickly cope with this unpleasant disease. Treatment of cutaneous horn can be carried out both in cosmetic and cosmetology centers, and in oncological medical institutions.
After the operation to remove the skin build-up, a scar or a small scar may remain on the surface of the skin.
The most commonly used methods are:
- if the tumor has reached a large size, then surgical excision of the cutaneous growth is applied - after the operation, a seam is applied to this place;
- cryodestruction - carried out with the help of the impact on the newly formed liquid nitrogen, the operation is performed quickly, and often there is no visible trace and scar at the site of the growth of the skin;
- to the most modern and least destructive methods for removal of the cutaneous horn is the impact of the laser beam - the operation takes quite a bit of time, and after it does not require a significant rehabilitation period.
This method - laser removal is considered the least painful, and the removal of the overgrown tissue is effected by the action of light.
Traditional medicine also offers its methods of treatment and stopping the growth of this new growth, but they can not be compared with the removal of build-up by their effectiveness.
Prognosis and prophylaxis
As a preventive measure, it is possible to recommend, if possible, avoid trauma to the skin, reduce the time spent in the open sun and use sunscreen when taking sunbaths, and regulate your diet: in it, according to physicians,vitamin C.
Regular inspection of your entire body skin will allow to detect the onset of any pathological process in time;this is an important preventive measure, since the initial stage of any disease is easier to cure.
Stay healthy!