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It is a small benign skin growth. It occurs when there is an overgrowth of the fibrous tissues which are located in the skin’s deeper layer. Dermatofibromas can occur anywhere on the body but are mostly fund on lower legs, upper arms and back. It is also called histiocytoma, fibrous histiocytoma, and histiocytoma or sclerosing hemangioma. Dermatofibroma appears as a red, gray, pink or brown mass and the color may change over time. It feels like a hard mass and when the sides are pinched the growths center dimples inwards.
Features of Dermatofibroma
There is little or no pain
Itchiness and tenderness although this is rare
It occurs as one although in rare cases the nodules may be multiple
The nodule is small and firm
The bumps may change color over time
They normally appear on the lower legs but can be found on upper arms or torso
When pinched or laterally compressed they dimple inward
They appear darker in people with dark skin
The surface of the bump can be shiny, scaly or dull
Reddish brown bump
Usually, they are 3-10mm in size
They may burst and bleed when irritated
Risk factors
Gender: Women are at more risk of developing dermatofibroma than men.
Age: Dermatofibroma is seen in adults and rare in children.
Causes
The exact cause is not known but some of the cases may be:
A minor skin injury such as an abrasion or cut
Cellular changes resulting in an overproduction of cells
Folliculitis; an inflammation of one or more of your hair follicles
A benign skin tumor of unknown cause
An insect bite
Diagnosis
A dermatologist will visually examine the bump and gently squeeze the sides to see f it causes a dimple in the center.
If the doctor suspects cancer, he may perform a biopsy.
Dermatofibroma removal
The bump may go away on its own. It is not self-limiting ad no medical treatment has been found to be effective. If the growth is visible and bothersome you may choose to have it removed. Since the bump is in the skin’s deeper layer excision is required. Surgical removal usually leaves a permanent scar.
Cryosurgery: This procedure involves the dermatologist applying a cooling agent to the nodule. The commonly used cooling agent is liquid nitrogen. This procedure freezes the upper part of the growth. However, after some time the bump reoccurs requiring additional treatment. This treatment leaves a noticeable scar because the dermatofibroma is deep in the skin.
Surgical excision: This surgical procedure excises the dermatofibroma below the skin surface where it grows. The scar is very noticeable and it may appear more unattractive then the dermatofibroma as it is larger than the dermatofibroma. In addition, this method only gets rid of the top cells and thus the dermatofibroma may grow back after some period of time.
Carbon dioxide laser treatment: This is an effective way of removing dermatofibroma. It removes the top layers of the affected skin with a low risk of creating a scar as compared to surgery. The laser heats the skins deeper layer which encourages the production of collagen protein to help repair damaged skin.
About Dermatofibroma Removal
Key facts to plan your treatment: how long it takes, your hospital stay, anaesthesia, risks and recovery.
Recovery
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After care
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