3 Ways to Prevent and Treat Syringoma

Preventing Syringoma Is Not Always Possible

Syringoma, a non-cancerous bump or clusters of bumps that is caused by an overgrowth of cells within the sweat glands, can be inherited and often runs in families. It also may occur in patients with Down's syndrome, Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Typically, syringomas develop in young adulthood but can occur at any age. Additionally, individuals of Asian or African American decent are at a higher risk of developing eruptive syringomas, which appear abruptly in adulthood. Diabetics are also at a higher risk of developing clear-cell syringomas. Currently, there there aren't any ways to prevent syringoma if you have a genetic predisposition for the condition. Also, the causes of the condition are poorly understood, and therefore, few preventative measures can be taken.

Remove Lesions with Minimal Scarring

Treatment of syringoma involves the removal of lesions with minimal scaring and prevention of recurrence. However, this may be difficult, as most lesions occur around the eye area and form clusters. The condition can also occur on other areas of the body including underarms, lower abdomen and the vulva. Surgical treatments include surgical excision with primary suturing, scissor excision with secondary intention healing, electrocautery and electrodesiccation and curettage. Other less invasive approaches include carbon dioxide or Er:YAG laser ablation, cryotherapy, dermabrasion and trichloracetic acid. These less aggressive approaches decrease scarring risk by using heat, cold or lasers to treat syringoma.

Maintain a Proper Diet and Exercise Regimen

General preventive measures that you can take to reduce the risk of syringoma include maintaining proper lipid levels, blood pressure, glucose levels and a healthy body weight. You can also eat a healthy diet low in sodium and saturated fats, manage stress and anxiety, reduce alcohol consumption and avoid illicit drug use. Individuals considered at high risk for syringoma should be aware of the condition and seek medical treatment with early signs of the disease. Early intervention may also help to prevent recurrences.