One of the common problems is various seals under the skin. We often do not pay attention to them, but this may be evidence of some serious illness.
Subcutaneous lumps on the legs may appear due to bacteria entering the wounded area. That is, it could be an ordinary abscess. The infection penetrates the skin through the hair and the infection accumulates under it. In this case, the hair is removed from the affected area very easily and pus with blood comes out of the “hole” left after its removal.
A boil may form on the leg. If there was a bruise, abrasion and the wound was not treated, then pus may accumulate under the skin. Do not squeeze the boil under any circumstances. It must open itself. It is recommended to apply ichthyol ointment, Vishnevsky ointment or levomikol. After several procedures, the boil will open on its own and pus will come out. Dry it with a sterile bandage and then treat the wound (hydrogen peroxide works best). If the boil is deep and large in area, it is better to consult a surgeon; you may need to open the abscess.
However, lumps on the leg can be associated not only with the accumulation of bacteria under the skin. Seals on the leg occur due to local thrombophlebitis. Poor blood flow from the legs causes blood clots to form in some areas. The vein becomes inflamed and a lump forms. It looks blue (due to blood). When light pressure is applied, pain is felt.
Local thrombophlebitis is dangerous for people suffering from varicose veins and cardiovascular diseases. Thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins (that is, the one that we can see with the eye) is not as dangerous as thrombophlebitis of the internal veins. Pain is felt along the vein. At the site of the blood clot, the skin will turn red and the temperature of the affected area of the skin will increase. Thrombophlebitis of the superficial veins can occur as a result of frequent injections, the use of catheters, and after injuries. Thrombophlebitis can be caused by constant use of hormonal drugs.
If you have a lump on your leg, it is best to see a doctor. A bluish lump may be a symptom of hemangioma or thrombophlebitis of the internal veins.
A lump under the skin on the leg is a fairly common occurrence. This formation is a small-diameter ball that is dense to the touch.
The development of compactions is associated with a variety of factors.
You should be wary if a lump appears under the skin, since this neoplasm is often a manifestation of a pathological condition that disrupts the course of life processes. A red spot on a child’s toe appears when the diameter of the blood vessels increases. Patients with diabetes mellitus often have a diabetic blister on the leg and arm.
An intradermal benign tumor may appear - dermatofibroma. A violation of the integrity of the skin leads to the occurrence of pathology. Dense growths are often the result of a painful prick from a plant thorn or bites of small insects. Dermatofibroma can develop after a bruise or at the site of minor skin injuries.
Typically, the lump forms on the leg, shoulders, feet, ankles, and upper back. There is a family predisposition to the pathology. According to statistics, dermatofibroma occurs much more often in women than in the stronger sex. This dark-colored formation, dense in consistency, affects people over 30 years of age; teenagers and children are practically not susceptible to it.
An encysted tumor-like formation, a hygroma, can increase in size up to several centimeters. The localization zones of this painless cystic formation are: wrist joint, hand. After a skin infection, if the sebaceous gland is blocked, atheroma develops.
This tumor develops painlessly and slowly. The pathology is a consequence of non-compliance with personal hygiene rules or an innate tendency to skin abnormalities. Lipoma, or fatty tumor, is a common benign, painless formation located in the subcutaneous connective tissue.
Its other name is wen. The seal resembles a small ball that can move under the skin. Such a mobile single or multiple neoplasm measures up to 4 cm and develops on any part of the body, affecting the limbs and torso.
A hard, reddish lump on the foot often occurs in women who constantly wear narrow, uncomfortable shoes with platforms or high heels. To get rid of seals on your legs, you need to see a traumatologist and orthopedist. It is important to change your shoes. A lump on a child’s leg after a blow or as a result of a cold should be a matter of concern and attention for parents.
A lump on the skin may appear in a child after vaccination. If a dense growth occurs under the baby’s skin after an injection, you should immediately consult a doctor.
In oncological diseases, such seals are insidious. Usually, outside of an exacerbation, this pathology does not bother the patient for some time. Only modern diagnostic methods make it possible to identify dangerous symptoms at the very beginning of damage to cartilage tissue by cancer. The disease is well treated if treated promptly. However, patients usually consult a doctor when chondrosarcoma (a tumor of significant size) is already easily palpable.
It is almost impossible to independently identify the cause and type of compaction, so you should consult a doctor. A dermatologist or oncologist will make a diagnosis based on anamnesis, clinical examination and comprehensive examination. A biopsy under local anesthesia is performed if the tumor changes, bleeds, or is accompanied by pain.
Ultrasound diagnostic procedures help to understand the nature of the lump under the skin. What to do if a lump appears? The tumor may not be treated if the growth under the skin does not cause pain, discomfort, and is small in size. If a lump on the foot causes itching and pain, the main treatment for the lump under the skin is surgery.
Having determined the type, nature, and type of pathology, the doctor prescribes a cytological analysis. Depending on the severity of the damage to the body, the number of painful lesions, the location of the growth, and the age of the patient, the doctor chooses the optimal treatment method.
Most medical procedures are performed using local or general anesthesia if the patient does not have allergic reactions to anesthesia drugs. Neoplasms are removed using classical surgical treatment. The surgeon performs cosmetic sutures.
It is also important to prevent the occurrence of subcutaneous lumps on the leg. Self-massage of the legs will help prevent the occurrence of pathological seals in the skin. To maintain your health for a long time, you need to constantly wear orthopedic insoles for your feet, proper shoes with wide toes and heels below 3 cm.
The surface of the skin should be examined regularly. If any subcutaneous neoplasm occurs, examination and recommendations from a specialist are necessary.
Often, while washing in the shower or examining themselves in the mirror, women discover a small lump in the form of a ball under the skin. Such neoplasms can appear on any part of the body, but are usually localized on the arms, legs and face. Usually such lumps are benign; only in rare cases do they represent symptoms of cancer.
The described defects come in several varieties.
It is formed due to blockage of the ducts of the sebaceous glands, as well as as a result of infection of wounds, the presence of foreign bodies in the skin, for example, when wearing a piercing. In fact, atheroma is a cyst with liquid or purulent contents. Most often observed on the back and neck.
Also called lipoma. It is a benign soft tissue tumor with an elastic structure. It can be easily felt under the skin; upon palpation, the neoplasm is mobile and painless.
Occurs due to internal organs extending beyond the abdominal wall. It looks like a large round ball that protrudes in a vertical position and disappears in a horizontal position of the body. May be accompanied by unpleasant symptoms.
It is a round smooth cone of dark cherry color and has a small diameter. As a rule, it does not require treatment; the provoking factors of angioma are not clear.
It is a kind of subcutaneous “bag” that appears at the location of the hair follicles. The cyst is usually localized on the back and chest, sometimes on the genitals.
In case of infectious pathologies, external damage to the skin, complicated by bacterial flora, inflammation of the axillary, cervical, inguinal, and submandibular lymph nodes occurs.
The neoplasms look like white small ulcers under the skin. Around the hair follicles there is a red areola, indicating irritation of the epidermis.
Fractures, bruises, punctures, injections and surgical interventions can provoke the temporary appearance of dense, painless nodes under the skin. Over time, they disappear on their own.
Let us consider the reasons for the appearance of the neoplasms in question on the upper extremities.
Consists exclusively of connective tissue with a fibrous structure. The dense ball has a red-brown tint, rises noticeably above the skin, and is practically painless.
Represents pathological growth of soft tissue. It can be felt as a motionless fleshy lump and can be located in the deep dermal layers. Neurofibroma is dangerous because it can develop into cancer.
Localized on the joints of the hands and wrists. The neoplasm tends to increase in size, although it does not cause any discomfort. It is easily palpated and has a dense, “jelly” consistency.
In almost 100% of cases of such complaints, the dermatologist diagnoses milia or millet. They arise due to the accumulation and hardening of the secretion of the sebaceous glands. Such discharge cannot come out, forming small round rashes located near the eyelids, nose or cheekbones, less often on the chin, cheeks, and forehead.
Sometimes the cause of the symptom in question is a cyst. It is usually localized in the oral cavity and looks like a ball-shaped lump in the lip or cheek. Cysts can also appear on the scalp, eyebrows and near the ears.
This clinical phenomenon is characteristic mainly of women. It occurs due to several factors.
Wearing inappropriate, uncomfortable shoes
Beautiful, but tight shoes provoke poor circulation and joint damage. As a result, salt deposition occurs, which outwardly looks like a round subcutaneous growth.
In those places where the walls of the dilated veins are especially weak, thick blood accumulates and stagnates, forming a soft and mobile ball of a bluish-violet hue.
It is an inflammation of small vessels and fatty tissue. In medicine, it is not considered an independent disease, but a symptom of one of the types of hemorrhagic vasculitis.
The red lump on the leg may well be erythema nodosum.
Erythema nodosum is believed to be of viral origin. However, a number of researchers are confident that the theory of the viral origin of erythema nodosum is untenable.
There are still a number of assumptions about the sources of this disease, therefore it is generally accepted to consider it polyetiological.
For example, it is believed that in young children, erythema nodosum occurs as a hyperergic reaction to tuberculosis infection. It has been noticed that in some children the onset of the disease coincides with an exacerbation of tuberculosis of the lymph nodes, internal organs, or bones. In older children and adults, erythema nodosum develops as a kind of vascular toxic-allergic reaction to a fairly wide range of acute and chronic intoxications and infections. To a large extent, this applies to streptococcal infection, since during the disease high titers of ASH, ASL-O and ASA are detected, and hemolytic streptococcus is detected in the blood.
The effectiveness of treatment with antibiotics and antistreptococcal serum confirms this theory . Along with coccal antigens, intestinal flora is also suspected of developing erythema nodosum.
A number of girls and young women suffer from erythema nodosum due to individual intolerance to sulfonamides, antibiotics, bromides, salicylates, as well as when administered vaccines and serums.
Acute erythema nodosum occurs in childhood and adolescence, and girls suffer from this disease much more often than boys; this usually occurs in the fall and spring. Before the appearance of red lumps, a prodromal period lasts, during which malaise, weakness, pain in the bones and joints, low-grade fever, and gastrointestinal disorders . The disease can occur in both acute and chronic forms.
Children and adolescents mainly experience an acute course, which is characterized by fever and rheumatoid pain in the joints and muscles. Painful to the touch, symmetrical, dense inflammatory nodes that have the shape of a hemisphere soon appear on the extensor surface of the legs. They are swollen and tense, and range in size from a pea to a walnut. The nodes rise somewhat above the neighboring areas of the skin and do not have clear boundaries; they have a fluid-stagnant color. During resolution, the nodes become flatter and change color from time to time, like a “blooming bruise,” eventually reaching a brown color. Ulceration of the nodes has not been observed, but in some cases they merge together and resolve in about a month, leaving behind no scars or atrophy. Sometimes peeling and temporary pigmentation may occur after them. If, after the resolution of the first series of nodes, the next one appears, the course of the disease can last for one and a half to two months.
The acute form in younger children requires identification or exclusion of tuberculosis infection and, based on the results of the study, treatment is prescribed. In older children, they try to determine a focal infection or rheumatism. If there are no indications for tuberculosis, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used. Calcium chloride or gluconate, sadicylates, naprosyn, reopirin, brufen, pyrabutol are often prescribed.
Aminocaproic acid (5% solution) is also used, a teaspoon or a dessert spoon up to four times a day, for a course of one and a half to two weeks. It is also possible to use Ambien in syrup, a teaspoon three times a day for children from one to three years old, as well as a tablet three times a day for a week and a half.
The most common diseases that are accompanied by subcutaneous lumps are:
1. Lipoma . The tumor is formed from adipose tissue. The lump is painless, has the same color as the skin, and when touched, a dense formation is felt. As a rule, a lipoma is a benign tumor and does not cause discomfort. Such tumors occur due to metabolic disorders in the body. Statistics show that women are more susceptible to this disease than the stronger sex.
2. Subcutaneous cyst . The symptoms of a cyst are the same as for a lipoma, the difference is periodic inflammation of the lump. In some cases, contents are released from the cone.
3. Hygroma . This compaction in the form of a ball under the skin does not cause virtually any discomfort, except for a visible cosmetic defect. Most often, a lump occurs on the hand under the skin on the wrist or palm. It is an accumulation of liquid and can burst on its own under any mechanical stress.
4. Fibroma . A benign tumor that does not hurt, does not itch, and does not protrude much above the surface of the skin. Fibroma occurs after injuries, inflammatory processes, and may be associated with a hereditary factor. The lump can be soft or hard, and the color of the lump varies from brown to red.
Many people wonder whether it is possible to treat lumps under the skin at home? The answer is clear: under no circumstances should you try to squeeze out, puncture, or influence it by any mechanical means. If you find a defect, contact a specialist. First, visit a therapist, and only after that a specialist: oncologist, surgeon or dermatologist.
Some lumps go away on their own and do not require treatment. For example, lipomas are removed when they become a visible cosmetic defect, and the doctor may even recommend not touching a small cyst if it does not cause discomfort. If the cyst becomes inflamed, then special injections or surgery are prescribed. Fibroma and hygroma are removed surgically. If the lump is associated with an infectious disease, then first you should undergo a course of treatment aimed at eliminating the problem.
If you find a lump under the skin, be sure to consult a specialist. Only he will be able to finally exclude or confirm your concerns, explain why the ball has formed under the skin, and prescribe the correct treatment.
In the last 20 years, infiltrates and abscesses after injections have represented a pressing problem in medicine. This is explained by the altered reactivity of the body in modern people. A local reaction after vaccine administration in the form of infiltrate and abscess is recorded in 15–25% of cases. Young mothers are concerned about the question: is lumpiness after vaccination dangerous for the child?
Let's figure out in what cases compaction is a normal reaction of the body to vaccination. Let's consider possible complications at the injection site. Let's find out what to do if a child has a lump on his leg after vaccination. Let us clarify in what cases, when compacting, you should seek medical help.
After vaccination, children often develop a lump (infiltrate) at the injection site. This lump appears in a child after vaccination for the following reasons.
This reaction is not dangerous; the infiltrate is a consequence of the body’s immune response to the introduction of a foreign substance into the child’s muscle. A compaction of no more than 8 cm without pronounced redness and severe pain is a normal reaction of the body to vaccination.
A seal forms after any vaccination. But more often, a bump on a child’s leg forms after a DTP vaccination. This is a common reaction to the vaccine and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
With normal infiltrate sizes not exceeding 8 cm and a temperature not exceeding 37.5 °C, medical intervention is not required. Do not apply ointment or lotions to the injection site. Put your child on loose cotton clothing to prevent the baby from scratching the infiltration. If your child tries to scratch the injection site, stroke the lump through the shirt. Calm your baby and give him water in small portions. Do not feed abundantly, it is better to give food several times a little. So, the baby will tolerate the vaccination more easily. On the first day, do not take your child for a walk or give him a bath. If your baby is sweaty, wipe the skin with a terry cloth soaked in warm water, then dry with a dry towel.
If you gave your baby vitamin D before vaccination, then stop it for 5-6 days after vaccination. Vitamin D regulates calcium metabolism in the body, the content of which fluctuates while taking the drug, and this affects the degree of allergic reaction after vaccination. For a few days after vaccination, instead of vitamin D, give crushed “Calcium gluconate” tablets.
If a child is prone to allergic reactions, do not give Suprastin, which dries out the airways and makes it easier for microbes to penetrate from the environment. For this reason, instead of Suprastin, give Zyrtec or Fenistil drops. Do not give children Aspirin in any dosage form. This drug irritates the stomach and causes complications in childhood.
At temperatures above 37.5–38.0 °C and at the same time the redness of the lump increases, lubricate the area with Troxevasin gel. You can also make a lotion with a 0.5% Novocaine solution, which will relieve redness and reduce pain. At the same time, give your child the antipyretic medicine Ibuprofen in the form of syrup or put a suppository with paracetamol.
If the temperature has not decreased, give Nimesulide suspension. Usually the redness goes away after a few days, and the seal resolves within 1 month.
What else can be done to help the baby if the lump on the child’s hip does not go away after vaccination? In addition to Troxevasin, the following agents can be used.
Attention! Do not place a warming alcohol compress or massage on the seal. Do not wet the infiltrate. The next day, the child can be bathed using a series, but the seal should not be rubbed with a washcloth.
If a lump occurs in a baby after vaccination, you can use safe folk remedies. Here are some recipes.
When applying a compress to the seal, do not use cellophane or cling film, which creates a greenhouse effect, increasing the inflammatory process. Infants up to 1 year old with compaction can be given antihistamines - “Fenistil” in drops according to age and weight. The drug will relieve pain and swelling of the lump, and also calm the baby.
The following symptoms after vaccination in the child may be a cause for concern for the mother:
If such symptoms appear after vaccination, you must call an ambulance or take the baby to the nearest hospital.
In some cases, the lump on a child’s leg increases in size after vaccination, and the skin over it turns red and becomes painful to the touch. This occurs when the rules of asepsis are not observed, when pathogenic microorganisms enter the wound during the administration of the vaccine. The formation of an abscess is also caused by the use of a vaccine that was stored or transported in violation of the rules. A complication after vaccination in the form of an abscess also occurs due to the individual sensitivity of the body to the components of the vaccine.
If such symptoms appear after vaccination, it is recommended to consult a surgeon. To exclude or confirm an abscess (abscess), an ultrasound is performed in doubtful cases. For an abscess, surgical intervention is indicated.
To summarize, let us emphasize the main ideas of the article. After vaccination, in response to the introduction of an antigen, the body produces an immune reaction in the form of an infiltrate. If its size does not exceed 8 cm and the temperature does not exceed 37.5 °C, then the mother has no reason to worry. In case of compaction with a simultaneous increase in temperature for more than 6 days, external medications should be used, and painkillers and antihistamines should be given internally. In some cases, for various reasons, more often after DPT vaccination, a complication develops in the form of an abscess, which requires surgical intervention.
Having discovered a lump under the skin on our leg, we often immediately think about the worst thing - cancer. Meanwhile, there are much more harmless neoplasms, and they are much more common than malignant ones.
Subcutaneous lumps on the legs, when it comes to the feet, are most often the result of wearing uncomfortable shoes. As a result of exposure to friction, the skin gradually becomes rougher and skin growths form. If measures are not taken, they will quickly lead to coarsening of deeper tissues. In this case, there is only one solution - surgical intervention. That is why regular pedicures are not a luxury, but a mandatory item of sanitary and hygienic standards for a modern person.
If the lump on the leg is located above the ankle, the reasons for its appearance can be considered purely medical:
What is the difference?
To understand exactly why a lump appears on your leg, you should know the main characteristics of all the ailments listed above. For example, a lump on the leg under the skin with redness indicates that an inflammatory process has begun. It is characteristic of an abscess, cyst and, in particular, the result of trauma. Getting a small piece of glass or metal under the skin, even a scratch - all this can lead to the appearance of a seal. In this case, the patient may not experience other health problems, but most often some additional symptoms still arise:
Lipoma, like atheroma, does not cause pain and is not visually noticeable. Rheumatoid and lymph nodes may hurt. Malignant neoplasms are also usually not accompanied by additional symptoms. They can be detected using a blood or tissue test. Only a qualified doctor can do this. This is why it is important not to delay going to the hospital: the sooner the correct diagnosis is made, the greater the chance that trouble will bypass you.
Self-treatment and, especially, traditional methods, in this case, will do more harm than good - a cyst can burst when heated, an abscess can lead to blood poisoning, and a simple wen can lead to extensive internal inflammation. Don't take risks!