What are skin polyps?

Skin polyps are painless skin nodules over face, neck, chest, back, armpit, or groin. Their size and shape are irregular. Their size can vary from few mm to few cm. It is a result of the fibro-epithelial hypertrophy of skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Cause

It may be related to repeated friction or obesity. Some of them were related to human papilloma virus (HPV 6 & HPV 11) infection.

Symptoms

Skin polyps are usually painless. Patients usually complained of skin nodules over friction area of neck, chest, back, armpit, or groin. With friction from towel, collar, and necklace, patients may experience a little bit of pain or discomfort.

Treatment

Most skin polyps do not require treatment unless they are symptomatic. Skin polyps need to be removed if there is bleeding, infection, or suspicion of cancer. If a skin polyp is suspicious for skin cancer, a biopsy must be performed for histopathological examination.

Surgical treatment is the fastest and simplest method to remove skin polyps. Patients may consider the following surgical options:

Laser Surgical Therapy

Surgeons use a carbon dioxide laser to vaporize and destroy the skin polyps (usually) under local anesthesia or (rarely) under general anesthesia. The wound usually heals in one to two weeks after surgery. Please consult your surgeon for advice.

Surgical Excision

Surgeons use a scalpel or diathermy to remove the wart in one piece (usually) under local anesthesia or (rarely) under general anesthesia. The local recurrence risk is low after surgery. The wound usually heals in two to three weeks after surgery. Please consult your surgeon for advice.

FAQs

Q: Will it induce the growth of more skin polyps after removing skin polyp(s)?
A: No. There is no evidence that removing skin polyps causes more polyps to grow.
Q: Are skin polyps cancer or precancer lesions?
A: No. They are benign skin lesions that are not going to transform to skin cancer.
Q: Do I need to remove all skin polyps?
A: No. If you feel discomfort over the skin polyps or find it disfiguring, you should consider removal of the skin polyps.
Q: How to differentiate between skin polyp and sebaceous cyst?
Skin Polyps Epidermal Cyst
Shape Irregular pedunculated skin nodules Roundish nodule below skin surface
Discharge No discharge upon compression May have some white discharge upon pressure