ANGIOFIBROMAS

 

Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas.

 



General Information:

Angiofibromas:

  • Usually develop on the nose, and occasionally elsewhere on the face
  • Appear as a smooth somewhat clear pink-flesh coloured 1 mm to 3 mm “bumps”
  • Are a collection of small blood vessels, scar-like tissue and fibroblasts (cells which make collagen or scar tissue)
  • Often become raised, get gradually larger with time, and may sometimes bleed.
  • Angiofibromas do not disappear spontaneously
  • Develop for no known reason.  They are not warts and are not contagious. 
  • Are not cancers.  Will never develop into skin cancer.
  • In rare circumstances multiple angiofibromas (more than 10) along with other skin lesions may be a sign of a syndrome known as Tuberous Sclerosis.  Please show your doctor if you have any other spots on your skin.

Treatment:

  • The skin next to the angiofibroma is injected with a local anesthetic to numb the area
  • The angiofibroma is removed and the base treated with a medication so that it does not bleed.  Stitches are usually not necessary
  • The removal is not painful
  • After the procedure you may bathe normally
  • For 1 week after the procedure, apply a small amount of antibiotic, and change the bandage daily
  • After an angiofibroma has been removed a crust or scab will form.
  • This will heal and leave a pink mark that will gradually fade.
  • After the removal, there may be a residual white mark
  • There is a small chance that the angiofibroma could grow back
  • There is no cream at this time that will remove angiofibromas and there is no way to prevent them from developing
  • Removal of benign (non-cancerous) lesions such as angiofibromas is not covered by OHIP or private health insurance



























 

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