Pilomatricoma: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Pilomatricoma is a skin tumour that occurs in the hair follicle. These tumours are usually non-cancerous and affect mainly children and young adults. Pilomatricoma are neoplasms that are rare and can be found on the skin of the face, neck, eyes and sometimes on the scalp too. These small outgrowths of skin may appear as nodules which can be encapsulated in a layer of epidermis. The size of the outgrowths can range from 0.5 to 3 cm. But in rare cases they can enlarge and look really unsightly. Pilomatricomas usually do not cause any problem and they are rarely cancerous. So, their removal is not extrememly necessary but in case they grow too big or remain as a persistent outgrowth, doctors usually recommend getting them removed. Pilomatricomas grow very slowly without causing any pain. They can cause the skin to turn bluish-red or tent sign on the skin which shows angles on the skin when stretched. Pilomatricomas are not inherited but are acquired genetic disorder caused by a probable mutation in a gene that aids in making a protein that is present at the junctions of cells and tissues helping them adhere to each other. There is no mediation for treatment of pilomatricomas. They can be removed only with the help of surgery.

Pilomatricomas are usually non-cancerous and do not pose too much problem if they remain on the skin. But due to their unsightly appearance on the skin, it is generally recommended to remove them. Their removal is not successful with any medication or injection. So, to remove them, doctors or surgeons carry out excision. Cutting out the tumour is quite an easy task and is not extensive at all. The procedure just requires a local anesthesia to make the area numb and then cut it off. After removing the tumour it is sent for some tests to confirm whether it is cancerous or not. As the tumour can be removed completely from the skin, they normally do not reappear. Also, the excision is recommended to keep a wide margin of 1 to 2 cm around the lesion to avoid any future chances of recurrence. Mohs micrographic surgery can be used for better removal of the lesion along with some portions of the surrounding skin so that even if it is cancerous then all the risks of recurrence due to any remnant are removed. Mohs micrographic surgery is basically a surgical procedure to treat skin cancer but cutting frozen section of the affected skin. Mohs surgery can be used safely and effectively for excision of lesion on the scalp and neck.

Children and young adults are more prone to getting pilomatricomas. Girls have 50% more risk of getting it but white skinned men have been found to have them more. Hence, whoever gets this tumour and finds it unsightly will be eligible for treatment.

The risk of pilomatricoma occurrence decreases with increasing age. So, older adults or middle aged ones will not have the disorder. If the lesions do not cause much problem, they may not require removal.

The excision of the lesion can have minor side effects like redness on the removed site, itching, bruising and swelling can also occur on the operated area.

Post treatment guidelines for the surgery would be to avoid using soap on the area till it heals completely. Follow-up care must be done as recommended by the doctor and the patient must also visit the doctor for about 2-4 weeks after the surgery for monitor it appropriately.

It may take only about 30 minutes remove the lesions completely. After the lesion is removed, the area may take 2 to 3 weeks to heal completely.

The price of pilomatricoma treatment in India ranges from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000.

Yes, the results of the treatment are usually permanent as while carrying out the surgery a margin of 1 to 2 cm is kept around the lesion to be removed so the any future risk is also removed.

There are no alternative to the treatment.