Angiofibroma

Serving Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Grimsby and surrounding areas

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
    • Tuberous sclerosis is associated with other skin findings including brown spots, white spots, lesions are fingernails and toenails
    • Please show your doctor if you have any other spots on your skin
  • 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 2 weeks 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

What if you are interested to learn more?

For your convenience, the services above are available in my office.

If you would like to learn more:

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  • Or give us a call at 905-549-1025