Bumpy Syringoma Wart And Milia Remove Them Like This Highlight Clip

Hello. I am Lee Sang-ju, a dermatologist at Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon. Today, we will take a closer look at benign tumors, which are particularly easy to confuse among the various skin conditions that appear on the face. These are bumpy lesions that do not disappear quickly like acne or dermatitis and persist for several months or more. We hope you will take some time to look in the mirror and check which condition your facial symptoms are closer to.

• Characteristics: This condition, commonly called 'water warts' by parents, actually occurs mainly in children rather than adults. It is a contagious skin disease caused by the Molluscum contagiosum virus. It is slightly redder or pinker than the skin color, and is characterized by a central depression that looks like a hole.
• Treatment: In children, treatment is possible by gently squeezing out the core with a curette or tweezers. Laser, electrocautery, and cryotherapy are also available, but these may leave scars or prolong the treatment period, so dermatologists generally prefer simple removal. It rarely appears in adults.

• Characteristics: Seborrheic keratosis, more commonly known as 'seborrheic keratosis', is a benign lesion that occurs due to skin aging. It mainly appears after middle age, showing various shades and sizes from brown to black. It is characterized by a bumpy, raised surface and can occur not only on the face but also on the chest, back of the hands, arms, and legs. It is easy to confuse with freckles, but while freckles are almost flush with the skin surface, seborrheic keratosis is slightly raised, making it distinguishable.
• Treatment: In the past, it was treated with chemical peels, cryotherapy, or electrocautery, but recently, precise laser treatment with fewer side effects is mainly used. In particular, ablative lasers such as CO2 laser can be used to burn and remove the lesion. Recently, long-pulsed Alexandrite laser has been used to induce the formation of scabs that naturally fall off, with the advantage of allowing daily life without applying regenerative tape after treatment.
• Precautions: Seborrheic keratosis tends to increase with age and is mostly a benign tumor that does not cause malignant changes. However, it can rarely be difficult to differentiate from skin cancer, so if the size suddenly increases or changes such as ulceration or necrosis appear, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis through a biopsy.

• Characteristics: This is a condition caused by the proliferation and enlargement of sebaceous glands, which are sebum-secreting glands. It is commonly observed after middle age, appearing yellowish and slightly raised compared to the skin color. It often has a characteristic navel-like depression in the center, resembling a volcanic crater.
• Treatment: It is mainly removed using lasers for cosmetic purposes. Since sebaceous glands can be located deeper than expected, attempting complete removal too aggressively may leave scars. Therefore, for deep lesions, careful treatment to avoid scarring may be more cosmetically desirable. It does not progress to malignancy or cause complications.

• Characteristics: This is a benign tumor originating from the eccrine sweat gland ducts. It mainly appears around the eyes, especially under the eyes, as skin-colored papules 1-3mm in size. It is common in middle-aged women and can also occur from the age of 20. Many people visit the clinic for cosmetic concerns, and they may feel stressed because it looks like wrinkles when applying makeup or due to its convex shape. It is more common in women and often has a family history.
• Treatment: CO2 laser or high-frequency insulated needle electrocautery such as Agnes are mainly used. Syringomas are often located deep in the dermis, making treatment difficult, and aggressive removal can leave scars.

• Course and Prevention: Syringomas can occur in multiples and tend to increase in size and number with age, so early removal is recommended. Recurrence may be frequent if there is a family history. Other than cosmetic issues, it does not cause other complications or become malignant, and no specific prevention methods are known.

• Characteristics: These are small, white or yellowish millet-shaped lesions, about 1mm in size, that form close to the skin surface. They are characterized by being filled with keratin and commonly appear on the cheeks and eyelids of the face. They also frequently appear in areas of skin damage, for example, where the skin has been scraped after a fall. Under a microscope, accumulated keratin can be observed inside.
• Treatment: The key to treatment is to remove the keratin inside the milia and eliminate the cyst. After making a small hole with a needle or carbon dioxide laser, the contents are extracted using a comedone extractor. The wound usually heals within a week after treatment. Unlike acne, the contents do not come out unless a hole is made, so attempting to squeeze it out yourself may cause secondary infection or scarring. It is advisable to have the procedure performed by a dermatologist.

• Characteristics: This is a contagious skin disease caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Unlike other lesions mentioned previously, it is characterized by a flat surface. It appears to be tightly attached to the skin and can occur in anyone regardless of age, including children and young adults. It appears on various parts of the body, such as the forehead, chin, nose, around the mouth, back of the hands, and edges of the face.
• Treatment: Since it is a viral disease, if left untreated, it can spread to other parts of one's own skin or to others, so early removal is recommended. It is also advisable to use separate towels. Although wart medication, cryotherapy, and electrocautery are available, dermatologists mainly use laser treatment. Laser treatment usually shows results in 1-2 sessions and has fewer side effects than other treatment methods.

• Characteristics: The medical term is soft fibroma. They appear in various sizes from 1mm to several cm and are characterized by soft, polyp-like (sac-like) forms attached to the skin. They commonly occur on the eyelids, neck, and armpits. They are associated with pregnancy and obesity, and frequently appear on the necks or armpits of overweight individuals. Although believed to be related to hormones, the exact cause is still unknown.
• Treatment: Small skin tags can be easily removed with a laser. Larger skin tags that hang like sacs are treated by excising them with surgical scissors or cutting them with a laser.

Various benign skin tumors that appear on the face can look similar and be easily confused. However, since each disease has different characteristics and treatment methods, an accurate diagnosis is very important. Most benign tumors do not turn into malignant conditions like skin cancer, but rarely, in cases like seborrheic keratosis, if the size suddenly increases or changes such as ulceration occur, a biopsy may be necessary for differential diagnosis from skin cancer.

Treatment is mainly for cosmetic purposes, and the most commonly used method is laser treatment. In particular, carbon dioxide laser (CO2 laser) can provide effective treatment with less bleeding during the procedure and minimized scarring.

If you find it difficult to judge on your own or have suspicious lesions, it is advisable to seek an accurate diagnosis and safe treatment plan from a dermatologist.