A wart that bleeds: pyogenic granuloma

granuloma piogénico

Have you ever had a red, strawberry-colored, fast-growing bump that bleeds at the slightest touch? These bleeding warts are called pyogenic granulomas… Today I will talk about them on the blog :)

What is a pyogenic granuloma?

These are bright red, wart-like bumps that can range in size from a few millimeters to a little more than a centimeter. They are most common in children or young adults, but can occur at any age. It is usually not painful, but it is uncomfortable because it bleeds easily, which makes it a bit of a nuisance. It is characteristic that around the lump we observe a “collarette” of skin that surrounds it at its base.

In children they can appear on the face and in adults we usually see them on the extremities.

granuloma piogénico

More pictures of pyogenic granuloma

Why do pyogenic granulomas appear?

As with so many other diseases in dermatology, the cause of pyogenic granulomas is not clear, but in many cases their appearance is related to a small abrasion or wound that for some reason, instead of healing normally, heals in a way that we can call “peculiar”, forming the red and bleeding lump in the wound area.

They can occur as a result of minor trauma or be caused by certain medications.

On the other hand, they are known to occur more frequently in people taking certain medications such as retinoids, epidermal growth factor inhibitors, cyclosporine, HIV protease inhibitors, and some chemotherapy drugs (capecitabine, etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, docetaxel).

granuloma piógeno

How are pyogenic granulmas diagnosed?

A pyogenic granuloma can be diagnosed with the naked eye by a dermatologist. Its appearance is very characteristic, and if we also know that it has grown rapidly in a short time, the diagnosis is quite clear.

However, sometimes it is necessary to differentiate it from other skin lesions such as infantile hemangioma, Spitz nevus or even melanoma, in addition to conventional warts, of course.

How are pyogenic granulomas treated?

They are usually removed by a very simple procedure under local anesthesia, which consists of curettage (a kind of scraping) of the lesion and coagulation of the area to stop bleeding. There is usually a blackish scab for a while, which heals in a few weeks, leaving the skin smooth.

In small cases, we can significantly reduce its volume by placing a small pile of salt covered with a bandage over the lesion. This will gradually dry it out.

Pyogenic granulomas are usually treated by simple surgery.

Occasionally, laser, topical timolol or slightly deeper surgical techniques requiring stitches may be used.

Do you think you have a pyogenic granuloma?

As an online dermatologist I can help you with diagnosis and treatment assessment.

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