Syringoma Treatment

A syringoma is simply a benign tumor of the sweat ducts. Typically found on or around the eyelids, they can be found elsewhere on the face, as well as the upper chest, vulva, armpits, and umbilicus (known more colloquially as the belly button). They occur more often in women than in men and typically beginning to appear in adolescence and manifest as eruptive syringomas later in life. Asians and dark-skinned individuals are more susceptible to eruptive syringomas. Treatment typically involves electrosurgery or laser.

Before Considering Treatment

As syringoma is a harmless condition, treatment is typically undergone strictly for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes. Treatment is this only recommended if the syringomas cause any emotional or psychological damage to the patient. This is especially common in those who have severe syringomas on the face.

Surgical Treatment

There are a number of methods of treatment that exist for treating syringoma, though the most highly recommended are laser therapy using a carbon dioxide laser and pinpoint electrocautery. According to the Department of Dermatology at the Baylor College of Medicine, pinpoint celectrocautery is the preferred method of treatment due to its success rate and minimal time spent healing.

With pinpoint electrocautery, the area is numbed with an injection of lidocaine to minimize pain. An small, electrified metal tip is injected into the syringoma where it is burned away. Once completed, a scab will typically develop for five to seven days and the area will become swollen. In the end, the tumor will shrink or clear up completely, and downtime is minimal.

Conversely, according to an article published in Dermatologic Surgery in December of 1998, a combination of trichloroacetic acid and carbon dioxide laser has shown to be an effective way to treat syringomas and help to diminish side effects such as scarring and swelling.

Though laser surgery and pinpoint electrocautery are the preferred methods of treatment for syringomas, other methods of treatment exist, including surgical excision, dermabrasion, and cryosurgery, among others; however, their effectiveness is up for debate. Additionally, no method of treatment can prevent a recurrence.

Other Treatment

Though the surgical methods mentioned in the section above are the most effective way to treat syringomas, there are topical treatments available. One such treatment is Nevexen, an all-natural topical used for treating not only syringomas but also moles, warts, skin tags, and genital warts. It should be noted, however, that all information concerning Nevexen comes from the website for the product itself, and as such there is no guarantee as to its effectiveness.

Tags: methods treatment, pinpoint electrocautery, carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide laser, dioxide laser, effective treat, effective treat syringomas