A pyogenic granuloma is a fairly common skin growth which is seen as a round, small and bloody red colored lesion. It bleeds a lot because it contains a large number of blood vessels. These growths are known to afflict children and young adults, though they may develop at any age.
They are also rather commonly seen in pregnant women. The hormonal fluctuations which occur during pregnancy make these growths develop.
Pyogenic granulomas are benign lesions that respond well to treatment. Get your lesion evaluated and discuss with your health care provider the most optimal line of treatment for you.
Signs and symptoms of pyogenic granuloma
The granuloma begins as a small lesion growing rapidly and the duration lasts for a couple of weeks. It becomes raised, reddish and is characteristically lesser than 20 millimeters. It may be smooth topped, or may have a rough surface, more so, if it bleeding a lot.
Common sites for pyogenic granuloma are – fingers, hands, face, neck, lips, eyelids and genitals. Rarely, they may develop in the eye on conjunctiva or cornea.
Causes Of Pyogenic Granuloma
A pyogenic granuloma develops after an injury, but the exact reason is not precisely known yet. Bug bite is another significant cause for their development. Scratching the skin frequently or roughly triggers granuloma formation too.
Hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy may also be the cause for development of pyogenic granulomas. Certain drugs and medications too are known to set off a granuloma formation.
Treatment Options For Pyogenic Granuloma
The treatment for a pyogenic granuloma depends up on its size and its location. Confer with your health care provider and understand what is the best treatment option for you. Small pyogenic granulomas may not need any treatment at all; they tend to go away on their own.
- Cryotherapy is recommended for some; liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the pyogennic granuloma.
- Sclerotherapy using sodium tetradecyl sulphate as a sclerosant is another effective remedy to manage granulomas succssfully. The chemical is introduced in to the blood vessels, which makes them shrink.
- For large growths, your dermatologist will scrape it off and cauterize it. Cauterizing puts a stopper to bleeding and can decrease the risk of recurrences.
- These growths are also effectively removed using laser surgery.
- Some doctors curette the granuloma; i.e. the granuloma is scooped off with a curette. After curettage, you will see a bleeding area left behind. This is then cauterized or electrically burnt to stop the bleeding and the risk of recurrence is considerably diminished.
- Do not pick at the granuloma or try to get rid of it on your own. A pyogenic granuloma bleeds for a long time, and hence make sure you visit a doctor to remove it.
- Pyogenic granulomas which develop on the eye need to be surgically removed or treated with ointments containing corticosteroids, which decrease the inflammation.
- If you are pregnant, your physician will advise waiting to see if the growths fade away on their own after delivery. This approach is the safest for the fetus.
- The most effective way to get rid of the pyogenic granulomas involves surgically removing the entire lesion and using stitches to close the wound. This is an invasive procedure, compared to just scraping off.